Media Watch Desi: Anybody But Fahim, Isloo Restaurant Blast and more...March 15,2008
The ABF machinations are in full swing. Who could have caused this? No one and everyone.
It could be faction who wants PM from Punjab. They could have whispered anti Fahim diatribes in his ears.
It could be those who have no political constituency within Pakistan, those who were close to Benazir, and who see the power moving away from their grasp in a Fahim PM-ship.
It could be elements in PML-N who see Fahim as "friendly" to Musharraf.
It could be Zardari himself. He may have calculated that with Fahim as the PM, Zardari would have to struggle harder to consolidate his power within PPP.
It could be the "Agencies" who never used to shy away from creating rift in the political parties.
Or it could be all of above.
***
Party sources further disclosed that in next couple of days Asif Ali Zardari would bring Makhdoom Amin Fahim to his terms and in case the Makhdoom from Halla would not rope in he would not be in a position to cause much damage to the party. Some of the sources said that Makhdoom Amin Fahim was offered the slot of Parliamentary Party head of the coalition partners in the National Assembly and a slot of advisor to PM with the status of Federal Minister to his son, for stepping back from the candidature of the premiership.
For those who can read Urdu, a rather apt and allegorical tale of Casesar by Rauf Klasra
that warns Asif Zardari to learn from Caesar's fate.
***
Rafia Zakia has made an interesting and valid observation re: the impotence of the parliament in Iran. We nearly came a hair's breadth away to a similar situation. Remember the last Constitutional amendment that Nawaz Sharif wanted to pass with his 2/3rd majority? Luckily the cookie crumbled and his government was dismissed. Or we would be weighed down by an Amir ul Momineen who would have caused further damage to our psyche.
While the 290 member Majlis has all the trappings of a legislative body, complete with signing international treaties and issuing legislation, it exists as a mere appendage to the Council of Guardians. This Council, which is the true wielder of power in Iran, can at any time veto any law issued by Parliament and disqualify any candidate wishing to run for election. Not being an elected body, it bears no burden of accountability and exerts absolute power over Iran.
***
The pious and earnest all not all that pious and earnest. According to this report by Maqsood Tirmizi Mr. Ansar Burney aspired to become the new HRCP chief and wanted the status of a High Court Judge. Failing in that he resigned just a day before the caretaker cabinet was to disband.
The sources revealed that Burney was planning to grab the slot of chairman HRCP, the non-governmental slot he wanted to upgrade to the level of High Court judge, after relinquishing the charge as member of the interim cabinet. Kashmir Singh venture by the Burney was one of his efforts to become the human rights champion in Pakistan, the sources added.
Salman Masood, a friend, also criticized a "flamboyant" Mr. Ansar Burney in an op-ed piece today.
Apparently, Mr Burney went to more than twenty prisons searching for Mr Singh before finding him in Lahore. After the hoopla over Mr Singh, the caretaker minister made an inquiry from the Interior Ministry over the detention of the ousted chief justice only as a result of the subsequent criticism from some in the country. The inquiry about the chief justice, therefore, seemed a mere afterthought rather than heartfelt concern.
***
As long as there are are clients seeking their advice there would be lawyers dispensing them. Here veteran Taliban watcher Rahimullah Yusufzai dispenses advice to the Jadoogar of Jeddah Syed Sharifuddin Pirzada, a near fixture in every dictator's side since Field Marshall Ayub Khan.
With regard to Sharifuddin Pirzada, one could only wish that his legal acumen was used in the service of the nation instead of military rulers. As a lawyer, he has every right to take highly paid and high-profile cases. He can ask any price and get paid from the public exchequer when his clients are military dictators seeking to legitimize their illegal and unconstitutional rule. But there are certain matters that affect the entire nation and one believes principles should take precedence while accepting to fight court cases impacting on the country’s future. Pleading the cause of rulers whose survival depends on strengthening dictatorship, extinguishing democracy and denying fundamental rights is disservice to the nation.
***
Ishtiauqe Ahmed had me thinking. If you read this I would appreciate if you could also opine about men of rigour and intellect who dissent in Pakistan. Better still, if you could name them also. There was Faiz Ahmed Faiz. There Was Habib Jalib. They towered. Am sure there are lesser known men and women who stood out. How many do you know of? How many made a difference?
The fact remains that in all societies men and women of conscience dare to dissociate from the wrong or bad policies of their governments. The only place where no dissent is heard of is where totalitarian or severely authoritarian regimes exist.
This time "foreigners" were involved also according to media. The suicide bombers masters are increasing the pressure. They know one "gora" life will get them more "press" than a dozen or more "desi" ones. They are also sending a signal to the incoming civilians.
Blast reported in Islamabad restaurant, several injured: Dawn TV ISLAMABAD, March 15, 2008 (AFP/Reuters): A blast hit a restaurant frequented by foreigners in the Pakistani capital Islamabad on Saturday, badly injuring several people, security officials and witnesses said. “The blast happened at the Luna Caprese Italian restaurant in the centre of the capital,” a security official said. “There are lots of injured people who have lost their limbs and legs, foreigners were inside. It's a very bad situation. We don't know what happened,” a restaurant employee told AFP by telephone. Dawn television said the restaurant is a popular spot for foreigners and “it was a very powerful blast.” Another eye witness told Dawn Tv that at least five persons were seriously wounded. (First Posted @ 20:50 PST Updated @ 21:14 PST)
It could be faction who wants PM from Punjab. They could have whispered anti Fahim diatribes in his ears.
It could be those who have no political constituency within Pakistan, those who were close to Benazir, and who see the power moving away from their grasp in a Fahim PM-ship.
It could be elements in PML-N who see Fahim as "friendly" to Musharraf.
It could be Zardari himself. He may have calculated that with Fahim as the PM, Zardari would have to struggle harder to consolidate his power within PPP.
It could be the "Agencies" who never used to shy away from creating rift in the political parties.
Or it could be all of above.
***
Zardari may nominate sister as interim PM - Daily Times Monitor
LAHORE: PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari may nominate his sister, Dr Azra Fazal Pechooho, as the interim premier, according to a BBC Radio report on Friday.
Quoting close aides of Zardari, the BBC said that as he had not been elected to the National Assembly, Zardari could not become premier himself. They said he might nominate his sister as temporary prime minister instead. Daily Times had anticipated this possibility on March 11, citing Dr Azra as a “dark horse” candidate for the position.
Party sources further disclosed that in next couple of days Asif Ali Zardari would bring Makhdoom Amin Fahim to his terms and in case the Makhdoom from Halla would not rope in he would not be in a position to cause much damage to the party. Some of the sources said that Makhdoom Amin Fahim was offered the slot of Parliamentary Party head of the coalition partners in the National Assembly and a slot of advisor to PM with the status of Federal Minister to his son, for stepping back from the candidature of the premiership.
For those who can read Urdu, a rather apt and allegorical tale of Casesar by Rauf Klasra
that warns Asif Zardari to learn from Caesar's fate.
***
Rafia Zakia has made an interesting and valid observation re: the impotence of the parliament in Iran. We nearly came a hair's breadth away to a similar situation. Remember the last Constitutional amendment that Nawaz Sharif wanted to pass with his 2/3rd majority? Luckily the cookie crumbled and his government was dismissed. Or we would be weighed down by an Amir ul Momineen who would have caused further damage to our psyche.
While the 290 member Majlis has all the trappings of a legislative body, complete with signing international treaties and issuing legislation, it exists as a mere appendage to the Council of Guardians. This Council, which is the true wielder of power in Iran, can at any time veto any law issued by Parliament and disqualify any candidate wishing to run for election. Not being an elected body, it bears no burden of accountability and exerts absolute power over Iran.
***
The pious and earnest all not all that pious and earnest. According to this report by Maqsood Tirmizi Mr. Ansar Burney aspired to become the new HRCP chief and wanted the status of a High Court Judge. Failing in that he resigned just a day before the caretaker cabinet was to disband.
The sources revealed that Burney was planning to grab the slot of chairman HRCP, the non-governmental slot he wanted to upgrade to the level of High Court judge, after relinquishing the charge as member of the interim cabinet. Kashmir Singh venture by the Burney was one of his efforts to become the human rights champion in Pakistan, the sources added.
Salman Masood, a friend, also criticized a "flamboyant" Mr. Ansar Burney in an op-ed piece today.
Apparently, Mr Burney went to more than twenty prisons searching for Mr Singh before finding him in Lahore. After the hoopla over Mr Singh, the caretaker minister made an inquiry from the Interior Ministry over the detention of the ousted chief justice only as a result of the subsequent criticism from some in the country. The inquiry about the chief justice, therefore, seemed a mere afterthought rather than heartfelt concern.
***
As long as there are are clients seeking their advice there would be lawyers dispensing them. Here veteran Taliban watcher Rahimullah Yusufzai dispenses advice to the Jadoogar of Jeddah Syed Sharifuddin Pirzada, a near fixture in every dictator's side since Field Marshall Ayub Khan.
With regard to Sharifuddin Pirzada, one could only wish that his legal acumen was used in the service of the nation instead of military rulers. As a lawyer, he has every right to take highly paid and high-profile cases. He can ask any price and get paid from the public exchequer when his clients are military dictators seeking to legitimize their illegal and unconstitutional rule. But there are certain matters that affect the entire nation and one believes principles should take precedence while accepting to fight court cases impacting on the country’s future. Pleading the cause of rulers whose survival depends on strengthening dictatorship, extinguishing democracy and denying fundamental rights is disservice to the nation.
***
Ishtiauqe Ahmed had me thinking. If you read this I would appreciate if you could also opine about men of rigour and intellect who dissent in Pakistan. Better still, if you could name them also. There was Faiz Ahmed Faiz. There Was Habib Jalib. They towered. Am sure there are lesser known men and women who stood out. How many do you know of? How many made a difference?
The fact remains that in all societies men and women of conscience dare to dissociate from the wrong or bad policies of their governments. The only place where no dissent is heard of is where totalitarian or severely authoritarian regimes exist.
This time "foreigners" were involved also according to media. The suicide bombers masters are increasing the pressure. They know one "gora" life will get them more "press" than a dozen or more "desi" ones. They are also sending a signal to the incoming civilians.
Blast reported in Islamabad restaurant, several injured: Dawn TV ISLAMABAD, March 15, 2008 (AFP/Reuters): A blast hit a restaurant frequented by foreigners in the Pakistani capital Islamabad on Saturday, badly injuring several people, security officials and witnesses said. “The blast happened at the Luna Caprese Italian restaurant in the centre of the capital,” a security official said. “There are lots of injured people who have lost their limbs and legs, foreigners were inside. It's a very bad situation. We don't know what happened,” a restaurant employee told AFP by telephone. Dawn television said the restaurant is a popular spot for foreigners and “it was a very powerful blast.” Another eye witness told Dawn Tv that at least five persons were seriously wounded. (First Posted @ 20:50 PST Updated @ 21:14 PST)
2 Comments:
Someone has some perspective what Geo was actually doing & I would really like to know their true agenda & source of funding now. This person has asked all the right questions here :)
Please clear your mind and think…
I think you are not aware of GEO... Its been funded by USA government… just think, what Jew / Indian/ American lobby want ......... the basic , idea is to promote frustration, and despondence in a nation so they start to demoralized .and the future can be mapped as they want to project in the minds of 50 percent Illiterate population....that are born Muslim ,,,can't read ..But can see
Why on earth USA is concern with only GEO, why CNN, BBC and Bush quote GEO? Why not other TV channels in china? Japan, CUBA, Indian channel, Arab, France..... ?why only Pakistan??????
o Why geo showed peoples body without head, only fingers parts, people dying after bomb blast? Does any other channel show these things????
o Just think......
o In India more then 2000 Muslims were killed in Gujarat for three months!!!! any 36 hours live coverage of these killing have any one seen on ZEE or star or Sony, etc any Indian channels???? Babri Masjid was destroyed by Hindu any live coverage???? Nuns in Tamil ado of India were burn alive in church and for next 6 hours the church was burning did any Indian or CNN or BBC showed that????? in France 700 cars were burn in one day ) ,,,
o There are 89 separatist movements in India in 2007 ...from Bihar to Kashmir Assam etc....
o Do you see on any Indian channel showing... 250 million people sleeping on footpath?????
o Zee India never showed killing of Kashmiris and the attack on GOLDEN TEMPLE, killing of Sikhs in Indian soil…
o How many Israeli channel shows killing by Israeli soldiers???? When they kill Palestinians?????
o Have you ever seen Indian president or politician been given GALEE on TV channel during live coverage????
o Any killing by Irish republican army???
o 30,000 rape cases in USA do you see on TV???? but you see Muktaran Maee on GEO, CNN, BCC
o Why geo was not concerned with Benazir wealth and property?? And Nawaz Sharif property??
Ø WHO is GEO???? Just think???? They telecast false news about emergency and stock market crashed in Pakistan...
o Do you know Kamran Khan was getting RS 25 lakh per month,
o Do you know DR Shahid Masood, was a member of NSF student party (a political left wing student party against Pakistan and Islamic forces.... with RS 22 lakh per month and home in Dubai and Karachi… multiple visa ...
o Same amount been paid to Hamid Meer editor ausaf......even Nadia Khan with Rs 6 lakh per month.... Such huge amount just too for free???????
o When they were not able to broadcast the 8 hour cricket match they said they lost 1 billion rupee and just imagine without any money just for free they were broadcasting judge activity for free, Nawaz Sharif for free and Benazir for free...... all... 36 hour coverage just for free????????????????? By a private channel!!!!!!!!!!!!!
o 50 percent Indian dramas on geo and 25 percent with mix cast (Indian and Pakistani) and Indian films (which are ban in Pakistani cinema are been broadcasted by geo)
Geo did not showed any good news like Islamabad, Peshwar Motorway but instead it showed dead people in Karachi.... they never discuss 5.1 billion dollar of oil refinery in Pakistan instead they showed beheading of Pakistani people... never discuss why America is telling Musharf to take his uniform ???? Why USA only emphasizing on reopen the GEO where Aaj and ARY also banned???? How come Hamid Meer come on BBC and saying openly Musharaf killed GEO???? Why USA is interfering in our business..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A COUNTRY WHERE 60 percent of population cannot read and never been to school media must not be free......
Pass this message to all Pakistani
GEENAY DOU GEO!!!
ARY also pays its anchors in lakhs
so?
:)
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