A look back at the people who made Pakistan less than proud in 2011.

PT Report Islamabad, January 28: Federal Interior Minister, Rehman Malik, has coined a new term “Gilgiti Group”, to describe alleged terrorists who gunned down several people, including three lawyers, the other day. The minister said that the so-called “Gilgiti Group Squad” has smuggled weapons to Karachi in oil tankers. He revealed that mother of one [...]

Newsline looks back at the biggest events of 2011 and gives them a satirical spin.

It’s ironic that while bikini-clad wrestlers face-off in what Ijaz, as match commentator, pitches as the match of the century, the bigger denouement to a thrilling clash of wits may be just round the corner.

Spats, brawls, scuffles, tiffs and quibbles: call them what you want but 2011 was full of confrontations and Newsline recaps the biggest face-offs of 2011.

By Alex Rodriguez for The Los Angeles Times

Dealing a heavy blow to Pakistan’s embattled government, the Supreme Court on Monday initiated contempt proceedings against Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani for refusing to revive a long-standing corruption case against the nation’s president.

Gilani, a top ally of President Asif Ali Zardari in the ruling Pakistan People’s Party, must appear before the court Thursday, when the justices will listen to his explanation for not going ahead with the case.

If the court moves forward with the contempt proceedings and Gilani is convicted, he could be disqualified from office and forced to step down. He also could be forced to serve up to six months in jail.

Zardari’s government is locked in battles with the Supreme Court and Pakistan’s powerful military, both of which have had an acrimonious relationship with the president since he took office in 2008. The crisis has stirred talk of the government’s possible ouster, though experts say it probably would happen through legal action taken by the high court rather than a military coup.

The military has ousted civilian leaders in coups four times in Pakistan’s 65-year history, but military generals have said they have no plans to mount a takeover.

Nevertheless, they were deeply angered by an unsigned memo that a Pakistani American businessman contends was engineered by a top Zardari ally to seek Washington’s help in preventing a military coup last spring. In exchange, the memo offered several concessions, including the elimination of a wing of the Inter-Services Intelligence agency that maintains links with Afghan insurgent groups.

The businessman, Mansoor Ijaz, says the then-ambassador to the U.S., Husain Haqqani, approached him with the idea. Haqqani, who was forced to resign after the allegations surfaced, denies any involvement in the creation or conveyance of the memo. A Supreme Court commission is investigating the case, and on Monday it ordered Ijaz to come to Pakistan and appear before the panel Jan. 24.

The high court’s move to start contempt proceedings against Gilani involves money-laundering charges in Switzerland that Zardari was convicted of in absentia in 2003. The case was appealed by Zardari and his late wife, former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, and was later dropped at the request of the Pakistani government in 2008.

Since 2009, Pakistan’s high court has repeatedly ordered the government to write a letter to Swiss authorities asking that the case be reopened. Gilani and government lawyers have refused, arguing that as president, Zardari enjoys constitutional immunity from prosecution.

Last week, the court warned Gilani that it could remove him from office if he did not abide by its demand. Government lawyers were supposed to appear in court Monday and explain why Gilani’s administration had ignored the court.

Instead, Atty. Gen. Maulvi Anwarul Haq appeared before a packed courtroom and told a high court panel that the government had not given him any instructions about what to say in court. The head of the panel, Justice Nasir Mulk, said Gilani’s inaction gave the court no recourse but to pursue a contempt case against him.

Outside the courtroom, Haq said that if the court eventually issues a contempt finding against Gilani, “this conviction has ramifications…. Under the constitution, with a conviction it’s disqualification from office.”

Before the court issues its findings, it probably would hold evidentiary hearings, Haq said. If Gilani on Thursday tells the court he will ask Swiss authorities to reopen the corruption case, the justices probably would consider dropping the contempt proceeding, said Tariq Mehmood, a lawyer and retired judge.

Gilani has given no indication he plans to give in. He will, however, appear in court Thursday to explain the government’s rationale, he told parliament late Monday. “We have always respected the courts,” he said. “The court has summoned me, and in respect of the court I will go there on Jan. 19.”

Zardari’s administration hopes to become the first civilian government to finish out its term, which ends in 2013. The political turmoil may thwart that plan, as opposition leaders increasingly push harder for early elections. Though Zardari is widely criticized in Pakistan for failing to revive the country’s moribund economy and tackle corruption, his party remains confident that it can weather the storm and retain power for a second term.

Even if Gilani is removed from office, Zardari continues to hold together a coalition that controls parliament’s lower house, which elects the prime minister. On Monday, however, Interior Minister Rehman Malik, a staunch ally of the president, doubted it would come to that.

“The prime minister will stay,” Malik told reporters outside parliament. “The government is in command. Our flight may be a little bumpy, but God willing, we will have a smooth landing in 2013.”

Filed under: Afghanistan, Democracy, Pakistan, Pakistan Army, Pakistanis Tagged: Asif Ali Zardari, Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, Husain Haqqani, Mansoor Ijaz, Pakistan, Pakistan Peoples Party, Pakistan Supreme Court, PPP, Yousuf Raza Gilani

Be it Veena Malik, Shoaib Malik, or Rehman Malik, there is one thing I have realized; it’s not easy being a Malik in Pakistan.

The Maliks of Pakistan are forever surrounded by controversies. Despite stiff competition amongst politicians and artists who struggled to top the “hall of shame, 2011,” guess who has managed to secure the first position once again? Our very own, very dear, very entertaining, Dr Abdul Rehman Malik. To acknowledge his outstanding performance, he has even been awarded a PhD degree by the Syndicate of Karachi University in recognition of his “matchless services to the country.”

Some of his golden words uttered during the year 2011, that range from outlandish to hilarious, are listed as follows:

1) Statement: “If someone insulted Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), I, too, would shoot him”.

Event: On the assassination of Salmaan Taseer. The government responds in a way the authorities are supposed to: by promising the laws would stand, but Rehman  Malik comes up with this bizarre statement instead.

Look my dear friend, who knows one fine day some Qadri pops out of my convoy and kill me for XYZ reason under the garb of blasphemy law, would any media man come to rescue me?

2) Statement: “I am thankful to the Taliban who did not carry out any attack on Shia Muslims and showed respect to their rituals.”

Event: During the event of Ashura, Rehman Malik passed another shocking statement to the media. He actually thanked the Taliban for not attacking Shia processions! And no, he did not stop there. Rehman went on to say that he had appealed to the Taliban, asking them to spare the processions of Shia Muslims, and that he was grateful that they  responded positively to his appeal.

My friend, we must not pass sweeping statements on Taleban, like us they are human too. Shouldn’t we thank them for sparing us for at least one day, isn’t it a good deed?

3) Statement: ”The Tablighi missionary centre in Raiwaind is the breeding ground for extremism and terrorism in Pakistan as the centre has a major role in brainwashing the extremists.”

Event: Rehman Malik made this statement to the audience at the security think-tank International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS) while speaking on the topic of ”Countering Extremism in South Asia’.

You need to watch movie “Khuda Kay Liye” and listen to Naseeruddin Shah closely, he says “Islam main Darhi hai, Darhi main Islam nahin”, now try to figure out what I mean.

4) Statement: ”If Google and Youtube do not help the Pakistan government, then Pakistan reserves the right to block these services to prevent terrorists from using it”.

Event: The Interior Minister when talking to the media at the FIA headquarters, urged the internet service providers to extend their help to the government for exterminating the menace of terrorism from the country.

I have warned Government of Googlistan and Republic of Youtube to cooperate with Pakistan at their best and they have agreed to keep a strict eye on terrorists using their web space to disrupt Pakistani soil. We will not spare them.

5) Statement: ”I had given a warning yesterday that there should be no match-fixing. This time I am watching it very closely. If any such thing happens we will take action”.

Event: Before the World Cup semi-final against India, Pakistani cricketers were warned beforehand not to indulge in any match-fixing by the Interior Minister Rehman Malik who said he was keeping a “close watch” on their activities.

My every statement has a philosophy behind it; we kept a close eye to watch players and didn’t let them match fix. They win, lose or even play under pressure due to my policing is not my headache. I want results.

6) Statement: “PML-N had embraced Osama bin Laden and was responsible for bringing Osama bin Laden from Egypt to Pakistan for his treatment”.

Event: Speaking at the National Assembly, Malik denied opposition leader Chaudhry Nisar’s claim that the government was sleeping while the US operation was carried out. He lashed out at PML-N for bringing Bin Laden to Pakistan.

All of you talk about 100 suitcases Nawaz Shareef brought to Saudi Arabia but forgets what he brought from there; Osama Bin Laden was packed in one of those suitcases, I will tell you the whole story at the “right time”.

7) Statement: ”Extortionists should quit extorting and leave the city”.

Event: Talking to the media after addressing a ceremony held at the Karachi Chamber of Commerce, Interior Minister Rehman Malik warned the extortionists and target killers to quit and leave Karachi else stern action will be taken against them. I bet they were scared.

Stupid warnings always work in my case; good extortionists would listen to me and leave the city, while “bad apples” will be left with no option but to disappear as well.

Statement: ”When it is reported that 100 people were killed due to target killing, investigations reveal that only 30 were its victims while 70 others died at the hands of their wives or girlfriends.”

Event: During the press conference in Quetta, when target killings were on an all time high in Karachi, the Interior Minister said that the reported figure of deaths due to target killing were not accurate because half the men were killed by the women in their lives. Now that’s some imagination Mr Malik has there. Too many action-thriller films I would say.

Along with Interior ministry I am given a task to handle “internal affair ministry” as well.

9) Statement: “They were wearing black clothes like in Star Wars movies, (one) with (a) suicide vest. They had small beards and two of them were between 20-22 years old while the third who blew himself up was about 25.”

Event: This classic comment erupted from Malik’s mouth when he was talking to the media after the PNS Mehran attack. Our dear Interior Minister came up with another bizarre analogy and compared terrorists’ outfits to Star Wars characters. Told you he was into action flicks and stuff.

One of your private Tv channels portrays me as Chulbul Malik but I proved them I am a Starwars Freak.

10) Statement: “All ground intelligence shows that Ilyas Kashmiri is dead. What I can say is that there is a 98 % chance he is dead”.

Event:  Interior Minister Rehman Malik told the media that although he had no physical proof, he was ’98 % sure’ that senior al Qaeda operative Ilyas Kashmiri was killed in a US drone strike in South Waziristan. Let’s add clairvoyance to his list of countless other outstanding traits, shall we?

You won’t ever see me boasting about percentages or issuing loose statements.Can’t do much about this, I am a Maths Man too.

Image via Wikipedia

ISLAMABAD: In an intriguing political development, PPP leader and former president Supreme Court Bar Association, Aitzaz Ahsan, is being tipped as the likely replacement of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani. Highly informed sources close to President Asif Ali Zardari told The News that barring certain procedural hiccups, the decision to bring in Aitzaz may be as good as final.

Whatever else may be said about President Zardari, one thing is for certain: the co-chairperson of the Pakistan People’s Party has a special knack for surprising his friends and foes alike. This Tuesday, addressing crowds at Garhi Khuda Bux on the fourth death anniversary of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, President Zardari left political observers perplexed once more with his garrulous eulogising of Aitzaz Ahsan.

The president thanked Aitzaz for coming to Naudero and, in an unprecedented move, announced that Aitzaz’s speech was next, after the president’s. Indeed, Aitzaz Ahsan appeared to be the keynote speaker at the event.

According to a source extremely close to the president, it seems that serious discussions are underway about replacing Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani with Aitzaz. “It is a fact that this option is being considered,” the source told The News. “Gilani may go. It’s a serious option. We can say with certitude that Aitzaz as prime minister is becoming a bigger and bigger possibility everyday.”

Aitzaz has been sidelined by the PPP in recent years because of his leading role in the lawyers’ movement for the restoration of deposed judges. His membership of the central executive committee of the party was also suspended early in 2009 and he has since been excluded from important party activities. Aitzaz has, however, insisted he would not quit the party that he had invested decades of his political career in and made sacrifices for. These investments and sacrifices may just have paid off now as well placed sources reveal that PM Gilani may be asked to resign, with Aitzaz coming in to take his place.

According to a highly placed source, Monday night, before the public gathering in Naudero, Aitzaz received fawning calls from Qamar Zaman Kaira, Fauzia Wahab, Sherry Rheman, Raja Pervaiz and other PPP leaders. “Aitzaz was a little taken aback by this,” the source said. “Zardari has been making hour-long calls to Aitzaz almost every day now, even prior to Dec 6 [when the president left for Dubai for medical treatment]. The president has been telling Aitzaz he wants to reward him and be friends again like they used to be.”

The News spoke to Aitzaz briefly while he was boarding a plane back home from Naudero and asked him if he were being considered for the PM’s slot, which he categorically denied. “You have to be an MNA to be prime minister,” Aitzaz told this correspondent. When asked if, hypothetically speaking, he were seriously considered for the slot, would it be a possibility under the constitution, Aitzaz said: “Sure, you can do it through a bye-election, but why would you for such a short term?”

A constitutional lawyer confirmed: “If the PPP wants to go the PM route with Aitzaz, it can get him elected through a bye-election in 30 days. It’s very much possible.”

Ever since the memo controversy first erupted on the political scene, observers and sources in the know of things have suggested the names of several PPP leaders that the army chief has personally asked Zardari to act against. The names of interior minister Rehman Malik and minister for petroleum and natural resources Dr Asim Hussain have come up again and again but sources now suggest PM Gilani is at the top of the list of those whose backs the army wants to see.

The tension is also clear from Gilani’s unusual outburst before the National Assembly last week when he warned of conspiracies against the civilian government, accusing army generals of acting as a ‘state within a state’ and reminding them that they were accountable to Parliament. “Gilani has turned the tone to defiant mode and has been busy raising alarm,” said a commentator. “That is not the language or the way of Zardari.”

Most importantly, say observers, replacing Gilani may have become inevitable from the point of view of a president who is interested only in his and his government’s survival. “It’s clear the army doesn’t want to intervene directly and has thus thrown the PPP to the courts,” explained an insider. “But if Aitzaz enters the picture, the Supreme Court will have little incentive to knock out the government. In this way, Zardari would neutralise his two biggest threats: the army and the courts. It’s a pitch-perfect move and almost assures that elections will be held as planned in 2013.”

Observers also suggest that this move would make sense as the PPP begins to lay down the planks of its electoral campaigns. “Aitzaz is a great strategist and he’s won the hearts and minds of the people as the leader of the lawyers’ movement,” said an insider. “For a party so inextricably associated with corruption, who better than the clean Aitzaz to lead the election campaign? It’s an intriguing move that could pay off.”

A frazzled PM Gilani may have also given the game away at the hurriedly-called press conference on Monday when he said whether or not he stayed prime minister, the government, and parliament, would complete their term. “The Gilani presser yesterday and Zardari’s unprecedented praise in Naudero; sounds like they’re setting the scene for something. Gilani has said himself: whether he is PM or not, the PPP will complete five years. And so the best person for the remaining time is none other than Aitzaz.”

Sources say Aitzaz was offered the governorship of Punjab this year after the assassination of Salman Taseer and after Sardar Latif Khosa had already been appointed. He was also offered the chairmanship of the Pakistan cricket board later. A source very close to the president said Zardari didn’t appoint Aitzaz as Punjab governor in January because his psychic told him he would double-cross him.

But today, from the point of view of Zardari the grandmaster at political chess, Gilani’s removal and Aitzaz’s entry seem like just the kind of gamble the president is known for taking. As one insider confirmed: “It’s safe to say that PPP’s 2013 re-election campaign will be led by Aitzaz Ahsan and Aseefa Bhutto Zardari.”

© 2011, Mehreen Zahra-Malik. This article may not be reproduced in any form without providing an active attribution link/ reference to The Pakistan Forum. All attribution links within the article must also be retained.

Raza Habib Raja

It is often alleged that ISI is supporting him. It may actually be true but ISI is not the only one supporting him. It is alleged that reactionaries support him. Well may be true again but once again they are not the only one. It is said that a segment of urban middleclass with passion for Allama Iqbal’s Islam  supports him. Yes it does but here too, it is not the only one. Imran is now being supported by many in ADDITION to the categories I have just mentioned.

Ladies and Gentlemen, urban middleclass alone cannot fill huge venues and as far as almost all the reports are concerned, the massive rallies were attended by people from all walks of life.

Something else is happening here APART from the alleged ISI support. ISI can arrange logistics, can perhaps pressurize or bribe media, but cannot suddenly create mass scale conversion from all walks of life to Imran Khan’s PTI. Hassan Nisar, who by all accounts is a liberal and very outspoken journalist nailed it right that Imran is like a wild cat after seeing whom the opponents have simply closed their eyes. He also pointed out that while it is true that Imran’s party is a one man show even PPP during its rise was like that. Politics in our part of the world takes the same trajectory. And it is that fact which is most tragic.

And it is the time that we realize and acknowledge it: He has the mass support now. As one of my friends aptly pointed out after the Lahore rally that denial is not a river in Egypt.

YES, HIS MESSAGE AND IDEOLOGICAL ORIENTATION IS NOT RIGHT. Sorry Imran Khan supporters, your leader needs to improve his rhetoric. Yes he panders to  establishment narrative and frankly I do not think whipping Allama Iqbal style of Islam is the right thing to do. But the problem is that this is something which almost all have done at one point or the other.

Yes, it is a one man show and as someone pointed out that if Imran were to die, where would PTI go. All these are valid criticisms  but the problem is that  almost all his alternatives are riddled with the same issue. Imran is a one man show but so are other parties who are reliant on dynasty politics. Dynasty politics is also an improvised form of personal politics.

Yes critics are right when they point out that in reality Imran’s party (since it has invited turncoats)  is no different but then this also begs a question: Why vote for his alternatives then? So the voters are looking at just one factor: Imran’s personality. Yes it is perhaps a very narrow criterion but in their heads they have a justification that if all the parties are the same then the sole difference is perhaps the main leaders. So the comparison in their head  is not between PPP, PML N and PTI but between Zardari, Nawaz and Imran. It is a sorry state of affairs but this is what happens when you blindly follow and promote personalized politics. In Pakistan before Imran’s rise began, this is what the supporters of other parties have been doing: just promoting personality and legacy politics. When you do that, eventually you are yourself preparing the grounds for the rise of people like Imran. If a Sharif or Bhutto is larger than their parties, then why complain if Imran is larger than PTI?

Yes, critics are also right when they talk about Imran’s appeasing attitude towards Taliban but his surge of popularity has not come due to his appeasement towards Taliban. And in recent times even his stance about Taliban is changing as now he has to cater to people from a wider ideological bent.

Due to complex interplay of many factors he is becoming larger than life. For someone who has been called a media construct by a host of journalists ( I am also one of those though technically I cannot be called a journalist), the rise is amazing and this fact is difficult to fathom as it runs completely contrary to our earlier assertions. I have myself called him a political minnow and so have some very famous journalists whom I respect a lot.

We have mocked at him, called him a political minnow, a political nobody and have portrayed him as someone whom only some urban middleclass professionals, right wing zealots and a  few crazy internet trolls could like. Well, all of them still like him but now the support base has increased to include many others.

It is obvious that massive rallies have shocked all the political analysts  and consequently the reaction is understandable: It has to be solely the grand conspiracy of establishment  and its mouth piece, the electronic media.

Yes it is partly true but in my opinion it does not explain all the reality.

Well media is not monolithic and has various channels and so to assume that somehow or the other all the channels have been bought over by the army to prop up Imran is stretching it too much. Yes, it is somewhat pro Imran but then it has been pro Imran for many years now and the reasons are generally commercial because media’s main target market, the urban middleclass likes to watch Imran. However, Imran’s surge in popularity is recent and it is no longer just confined to urban middleclass. This is crucial to understand because we can no longer deny that Imran is popular now. In fact for the past many months all the opinion polls conducted by foreign reputable firms have been indicating Imran’s surge in popularity and that popularity cut across the supporters of all the political parties and various income groups.

Of course, at that time I brushed their findings aside (with mocking comments), but was stunned into believing when I saw the Lahore rally and also various snaps taken by my previously apolitical friends showing not only that the crowd was huge but consisted of people from eclectic backgrounds. And yes the crowds included a lot of women and even children.

And then I know that many people with moderate and even liberal orientation were also there and coming out impressed. The new support base has broadened across ideological spectrum also.

So what are the dynamics here?

Well whether we like to admit it or not the fact is that political parties, particularly PPP and PML N have not delivered. Yes, they may like to blame establishment and army and lament that they do not have any power but then if you have excuses then you should not be asking for people to vote at all. I mean why ask for vote when you also claim that you don’t have any power at all. It is common sense, which unfortunately is not common, that saying that we do not have ANY power and still asking for votes ( with promises that we will deliver) is severely contradictory.

Yes army is a meddling institution and THE worst blood sucker of Pakistan but even then political parties have a substantial domain to operate. And if they had not, then they would have simply ceased to exist. And Imran even if supported by military still has to appeal to the people and will be competing for votes.

The point what I am trying to make is that where BOTH the political parties had the leverage, they failed.

Imran’s surge in popularity is the direct outcome of the perceived failure of BOTH the parties coupled with a general perception that he is sincere and has rendered outstanding services to Pakistan. And let me admit here that he has rendered outstanding services to Pakistan. It is public perception of Imran’s personality in CONTRAST to the worsening public perception of the current political lot, which has primarily resulted in the rise. Of course Imran had a positive repute before also but the perception about PPP and PML N leadership had not worsened to that extent. When a particular threshold was crossed, the mass scale conversions began. Momentum once achieved had dynamics of its own. Once sceptics see huge crowds they are ready to join due to increase in electability. Plus Imran has never been into power, therefore many want to give him a chance.

During these four years, whereas substantial progress has been made on constitutional issues, but economic situation has really deteriorated squeezing people. Disillusionment has grown due to worsening law and order situation and constant political fighting between centre and Punjab. On top of it, the nepotism has worsened and severe violations of merit have taken place. In Karachi, we have seen constant bloodshed while money mafia continues to threaten people and exhort money.

Eventually people get sick. GOVERNANCE IS IMPORTANT. It is not merely a middle class cherished ideal which “liberals” allege is divorced from the “real” concerns of life, nor it is a right wing “abstract” propelled by media. It is something which eventually will be factored in. YES IT WILL BE FACTORED IN and HAS BEEN FACTORED IN.

Yes they are right when they say that establishment has tried to sabotage but at the same time their own incompetency has not helped either.

And add to that their selection of media communicators. I am really sorry to say that when your spokespersons consist of people like Baber Awan, Rehman Malik, Firdous Aashiq Awan, Rana Sana Ullah and Chaudry Nisar Ali Khan then you are merely worsening an already hostile environment.

Which parties in their right frame of mind would employ the services of such people?

And constant references to historic struggles (PPP during Zia and PML N during Musharraf times) have outlived their utility. SORRY once again.

In times of despair, it is natural human tendency to clutch at any glimmer of hope. If people are thinking that Imran is the last hope then for God sake try to do some soul searching as to why situation has reached that extent rather than imagining grand conspiracies everywhere.

And finally, be credible in criticism of Imran and learn to give credit when it is due. If he has apologized to Baluch then have a heart and acknowledge it. If he has mentioned about minorities then once again at least acknowledge it rather than complaining as to why no minority was allowed to speak.

Criticism looks appealing when it is credible.

Yousaf Raza Gilani

The other day Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani thundered over the conspiracies being hatched against his democratic elected government but a common Pakistani wants to ask Prime Minister why did he stay inaudible over several machinations on his side of camp which have maligned the democracy like never before. All the below mentioned proceedings are compiled upon the media reports and I invite all readers to add if I have missed some.

1. The report of UN Commission on Mohatarma Benazir Bhutto‘s assassination states that government did not conduct investigations in a convincing way. It remained limited to low rank security officials and they did not track down the real conspirators or possibly involved high ranking officials.
   
2. The same report further reveals that Rehman Malik had not ensured proper security measures.
   
3. What took two years to restore the Chief Justice which Mohatarma Benazir Bhutto had promised in her life?
   
4. Number of Multibillion Corruption Scams by the democratic elected ministers in 4 years.
   
5. Federal Minister Makhdoom Amin Faheem found involved in multibillion scam and some amount recovered from his personal account too.
   
6. Media Coordinator to Prime Minister, Khurram Rasul commits 600 Million fraud, escapes and remains untraceable so far.
   
7. Federal Minister Hamid Saeed Kazmi even did not spare Hajis.
   
8. Further he revealed that Shakeel Rao had gifted a 9.9 Million worth car to Prime Minister’s son just to get appointed as Director Hajj Operations.
   
9. Asian Bank declared the rental power projects were not a workable option.
   
10. Faisal Saleh Hayat Federal Minister produced evidence in rental power corruption case.
    
11. Raja Pervez Ashraf Federal Minister kept on lying for 2 years about end of load shedding.
    
12. Gas and Electricity load shedding while having the required production capacity but failure of production and distribution mechanism due to mismanagement.
    
13. Finance Minister and two Governors of State Bank resigned due to reckless conduct of government.
    
14. Internal and external debt reached its highest in the history of country.
    
15. State Bank reported country failed to meet growth forecast by 2.5%.
    
16. PIA suffered a record loss of 9.7 billion.
    
17. Railways reached a record deficit of 6 billion.
18. Pakistan Steel lost 5 billion in last four years.
19. Dollar rose to Rs. 90 from Rs. 60
20. Pensioners died waiting for pension payment and youths committed suicide for not being able to find a job.
21. Raza Rabbani a long time People’s Party loyalist also resigned as Federal Minister on going in to alliance with PMLQ which once was declared Qatil League by Co-Chairperson.
22. Resignation of Information Minister Sherry Rahman over the freedom of Media.
23. The size of Federal Cabinet and its performance.
24. Imposition of Governor Rule in Punjab by a democratic elected Federal Government.
25. Failure of the Sindh Government to maintain law and order in the city of Karachi.
26. Appointment of Adnan Khawaja a matric pass person as Chairman of OGDC.
27. PM promoted 54 officers to grade 22 putting aside the merit. 
28. PM sacked a DG FIA just for exposing the misappropriation and fraudulent conduct of a Federal Minister.
29. Number of U-Turns and withdrawn notifications from Government.
30. The supremacy of Parliament was denied by putting aside its resolutions.
31. Government’s arrogance towards Supreme Court and its decisions.
32. PM promised to send DG ISI for investigation by Indian Authorities after Mumbai attack.
33. How come General James Jones became more reliable to PM than his own COAS and DG ISI?

It would have been great to see Prime Minister showing some concern on all these issues. May Allah show the right path to our ruling élite…

With Pakistanis embracing social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook, it was only a matter of time before our politicians also went online.

Arshad Arbab / EPA

Pakistani security officials in Peshawar on Oct. 21 carry the coffins of paramilitary Frontier Constabulary members who were killed in an attack in the Shalobar area of Bara Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. At least 34 alleged militants and three soldiers were killed during a clash along the Afghan border in northwestern Pakistan. The fighting occurred in a stronghold of the Lashkar-e-Islam militant group.

Matiullah Achakzai / EPA

Arshad Butt / AP

 

People mourn next to the body of a relative at a hospital in Quetta, Oct. 4. Suspected Sunni extremists opened fire on Shiite Muslims traveling through southwestern Pakistan.

 

 

K.m. Chaudary / AP

 

A supporter holds a poster of Mumtaz Qadri, the confessed killer of a liberal Pakistani governor, during a rally to condemn the court decision against Qadri on Oct. 1 in Lahore. A Pakistani court convicted and sentenced Qadri to death for the killing of Salman Taseer, a murder that led to fears the country was buckling under the weight of extremism. Taseer was an outspoken critic of the country’s “blasphemy laws.”
Angry demonstrations broke out in Pakistan after a court on Saturday convicted and sentenced a police officer to death for the killing of a liberal governor.

Aamir Qureshi / AFP – Getty Images

 

Residents gather at the site of a blast in Islamabad, Sept. 29, that ripped through the top floor of a hotel building in Islamabad, injuring at least six people. City police chief Bani Amin said the cause of the blast appeared “to be a gas cylinder” that was still leaking at the Citi Hotel in the Blue Area, a bustling district of shops and restaurants.

Athar Hussain / Reuters

 

Supporters of the Pakistan People’s Party wave flags during an anti-American rally near the U.S. consulate in Karachi, Sept. 27. Pakistan, facing a crisis in relations with the United States, appears to be seeking more support from China.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Banaras Khan / AFP – Getty Images

 

Shiite Muslims shout slogans as they carry coffins during a funeral ceremony for those killed in an attack in Quetta on Sept. 21. Gunmen shot dead 26 Pakistani Shiite pilgrims traveling to Iran on Sept. 20, the deadliest attack on the minority community in Pakistan for more than a year. In a brutal assault, gunmen ordered pilgrims off their bus, lined them up and shot them. Two weeks later, a similar incident left 13 dead.
Suspected Sunni extremists shot 13 Shiite Muslims to death execution-style after ordering them off a bus and lining them up Tuesday in southwestern Pakistan, ramping up a campaign of sectarian violence that has exposed Islamabad’s inability to protect minorities.

Pervez Masih / AP

 

Displaced Pakistanis try to hand over their identity cards to get permits for relief at an office in Tando Mohammad Khan near Hyderabad, Sept, 29. Flooding killed scores of people, destroyed some 665,000 homes and displaced nearly 1.8 million people in Sindh province.

 

Athar Hussain / Reuters

 

 

Athar Hussain / Reuters

Residents peer past a cloth barrier raised to cordon off the scene of a suicide bomb attack in Karachi on Sept. 19. At least eight people were killed, including six policemen, after a Taliban suicide bomber drove an explosives-laden car into the home of a senior police official in Pakistan’s commercial center, Karachi.
At least eight people were killed, including six policemen, after a Taliban suicide bomber drove an explosives-laden car into the home of a senior police official in Pakistan’s commercial hub Karachi on Monday.

A. Majeed / AFP – Getty Images

 

Pakistani firefighters attempt to extinguish a fire after a bomb blast at a market in Peshawar on Sept. 19. The bomb killed at least five people and wounded 28 others at a market selling CDs.

 

 

 

Dear Zardari,

Came as soon as heard the news. Ah, unkind fate, you spin webs in which even spiders would become entangled. Ambition thwarted is cruel indeed. Man can scheme all his life, think he has taken care of all that stands between him and absolute power, and then find all that he has labored for disappear in a twinkle of an eye …

I decry the injustice and sympathize with you. I was also dealt with rather harshly on a certain matter of principle, a very long time ago, actually before time began. Obviously differences of opinion are not tolerated anywhere, especially by a very demanding boss.

One can take care of a meddlesome brother in law, see off a wife who has come uncomfortably close to the truth, buy off all and sundry, but what can one do when the fates decide to have a little fun, and the spirits come calling!

Old friend, I would never be rude enough to repeat what is now an open secret. Let’s not use language of the streets. Let’s just say that you are presently mentally challenged. And that gives me hope because I know you love challenges. I know you will fight the good fight. What do they know, who snicker behind your back, that how it feels when the spirits began to whisper to you uncomfortable truths, when the line between past and present becomes ever blurred, and the dead confront the living.

Mr. Zardari, note the formality , now that you are now being visited by the demons of your past, time to take stock perhaps of your options? Especially now that the articles 6 and 47 of the constitution of Pakistan beckon…

Unfortunately one of the terms of my plea bargain, under duress, stated that I could only advise human beings on a suitable course of action. Dictation or indication of a course of action was a definite no-no. Oh, how I wish lawyers had been invented at that time. Could have cut a much better deal. Anyhow I will tender advice and let you choose your own path.

As you well know article 6 deals with high treason as stated in sub clause (1). For individuals who have or have attempted to abrogate, subvert, suspend or hold in abeyance the constitution. The good news is, you have definitely not lost all your marbles because I just saw you shiver. Fear can only arise from comprehension of danger. You are in your senses enough to know then that high treason is a crime which, in Pakistan, is only committed by civilians. All your military dictators have remained and will remain immune to this clause. And it can have very permanent sort of consequences…

No million dollar lecture tours, no interviews on CNN or BBC, no nice semi-retirement in Dubai, or granting of interviews to rather charming reporters. A short trial, a long rope, a short drop, and it’s all over in three simple steps. And then a rather lavish mausoleum in either Nawab Shah or Garhi Khuda Baksh. Your choice of course, though I would recommend Nawab Shah as it never does to be too close to the in-laws

And in case you were wondering why are Rehman Malik and Farooq Naik not calling on you anymore allow me to draw your kind attention to subsection (b), which has the magic words aiding and abetting. They may be idiots but they are definitely not mad. At least not at this point of time. Ha, no swinging buddies these two!

And while we are all fascinated by the latest fancy gadgets, please remind Mr. Haqqani that BlackBerry texts are for amateurs. A whisper or two in the right ears works every time; and so very romantic…sigh!

Now if I may draw your attention to section 47. This one is positively benign compared to what we have just discussed. I am glad that you would have noticed there is a possibility of a second career here, which, if I may remind you, was very visibly absent in the first one unless you were thinking of becoming a mummy.

Sub section (1) straight away delves in the rather touchy subject of removal of a President on the grounds of physical and mental incapacity. And if this was not frightening enough it continues, so unfashionably, in the same section to mention impeachment for violating the constitution or gross misconduct.

So as far as I can see, the ISI wallas have you nicely trussed and stuffed up. I would seriously advise against trying to put up a resistance. These guys are mean. The mental incapacity could be very rapidly transformed into a physical one also.

My advice to you is to accept fate, and do as you are told, and live to fight another day. Please note my emphasis on the word live – a docile President or Ex. is at least breathing.

I would advise you to seriously consider this option .. and do remember what happened previously when you acted as your rather limited intelligence dictated .. having your brother in law bumped off in such crude manner was bad enough , but to facilitate the removal of such a charming lady .. beyond words .. certainly not my style throughout the ages .. my friend women are my tools for driving men mad with desire .. they rule the imagination !!

Spite never did anyone any good. Revenge needs purpose otherwise it is mere foolishness. Told you often enough that what women cherish is respect. The rather old fashioned village macho man preferred methods of yours were unlikely to impress a village dame let alone such a cultured individual. Anyway we all learn except that in your case there is now no need for further learning of any kind.

I beg leave now. I wish you luck in this, the twilight zone between sanity and insanity. How long you stay here depends on how much of a good mood are the creatures of your imagination. Answer their questions truthfully and there is hope still. The checkout is open at all times and you have enough credit with me to last several lifetimes. However you do remember the last line’s from my favorite song , don’t you? Here listen to this:

“Relax,” said the night man, “We are programmed to receive. You can check-out any time you like, But you can never leave!”

Yours truly

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari was hospitalised in Dubai for medical checkups, complaining of heart pains on Tuesday.

According to the sources, doctors have advised the President to remain in the hospital for a night.

President Zardari went to Dubai along with the team of his family physicians for extensive medical checkups.

Earlier, presidential spokesperson Farhatullah Babar had told media that the president had gone to Dubai along with his team of doctors for an extensive medical examination.

He added that before his departure, President Zardari on Tuesday had separate meetings with Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, Chairman Senate Farooq H Naik, and Interior Minister Rehman Malik.