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.

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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.

Abrar Saeed in the Nation also reinforces this:

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.

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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.
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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.


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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.

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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)