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Nawa-e-Waqat

October 1, 2009

Government is trying to take credit of development reforms introduced by PML in Gilgit-Baltistan: Marvi Memon

PML Gilgit-Baltistan Incharge MNA Marvi Memon said government is trying to gain politically by taking credit of development reforms introduced by PML. Prime Minister has disappointed people of Gilgit-Baltistan by ignoring their real demands. In a statement she said development funds have been stopped for two years and it has created financial crisis there while Prime Minister is now announcing financial package for them. It is not clear what is given in financial package she said. Giving them internal autonomy is mere an illusion. While narrating PML reforms she said Northern Areas Council was given Legislative Assembly status, women seats were increased, development funds were increased from Rs 800mn to Rs 7bn, beside this many major education projects were initiated, Government is trying to give impression that as if these developments and reforms were introduced by them. She said constitutional rights and release of development funds are the real issues of the people of Gilgit-Baltistan; Government has increased their economic miseries after it came into power. She said instead of development progress PPP Government has pushed Gilgit-Baltistan into development regress.

While addressing in a seminar on Fishermen at Press Club Marvi Memon promised to raise issue of Pakistani Fishermen in Indian custody in Parliament. She demanded Government to take solid steps in this regard. She said Government has failed to exercise its control over management issues, price hike is one of its example and its shows how much this Government cares for the  people which promised them “roti, kapra, makan”.

She said Government is committing big mistake by accepting conditions incorporated in Kerry-Lugar Bill, it will increased the problems faced by Pakistan. Dictatorship was better than this present Government, instead of giving statements in newspapers Government should accept its failure. Had the money spent on Zardari’s visits given to the poor people, it would have decreased the poverty. President is busy in his visits whereas no one is bothered about people she said.

The News

September 29, 2009

PML-Q for NA body meeting on Gilgit-Baltistan

Islamabad

The Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) MNA Marvi Memon has decided to call a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Northern Areas for passing of the self-governance order without approval of the Northern Areas Legislative Assembly (NALA) or the Kashmir and Northern Areas Standing Committee, despite the prime ministerís commitment and without a constitutional cover.

In a letter to Chairman National Assembly Standing Committee on Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas Shehzada Mohiuddin, Marvi Memon stated that the standing committee has only met once since the PPP government took charge 18 months back.

Marvi Memon, who is member of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas, also sent the copies of her letter to Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani and the PML-Q president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain.

She mentioned in the letter the merits and demerits of the Gilgit-Baltistan Order, stating that the NALA powers have been reduced and the balance of power has been tilted in favour of the federation. The judiciaryís suo moto powers have also been impacted, she said. She questioned the posting of a governor who is neither local nor neutral during election period and who has constitutional limitations as per Article 103(2) of taking over as governor.

Marvi, who is also in charge of the Q-League Gilgit-Baltistan, stated in her letter that assurances have been given by the government to Kashmiri leadership that no real autonomy has been given to Gilgit-Baltistan and on the contrary, assurances have been made in media that major autonomy has been given to the area.

She said the stoppage of annual development fund for the region for the last one year was causing retardation in development activities. ìThe insinuations of giving a financial package one month before election are a sign of influencing election results and purposefully delaying development since one year,î she said.

The PML-Q legislator called for submission of a privilege motion against acting Gilgit-Baltistan Governor Qamar Zaman Kaira, who according to her, failed to announce the package for Gilgit-Baltistan, which he pledged during a standing committee meeting.

She said a privilege motion should also be moved against Chairperson Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) for transparency issues and pre-poll rigging through BISP forms. She said national identity cards of all the beneficiaries of the BISP were kept in custody by the PPP workers and poverty was not the sole criteria in funds distribution.

APP

September 28, 2009

PPP and PML-Q stretch muscles for Gilgit-Baltistan polls

ISLAMABAD, Sep 28 (APP): Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League Quaid-e-Azam (PML-Q) are stretching their muscles for giving each other tough time in upcoming Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly elections. The maiden elections after implementation of Presidential Reforms Package for Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly; previously called Northern Areas Legislative Assembly (NALA), would be held on November 12, 2009 under supervision of the court.

Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly consists of total 33 seats out of which 24 members are directly elected while three seats are reserved for technocrats and six for women.

With October 1st as last date for filing the nomination papers, both PPP and PML-Q have started receiving significant number of applications from aspirants across the region.

Meanwhile, MNA Marvi Memon, who is also PML’s incharge for Gilgit-Baltistan, claimed that her party had more strong candidates than Peoples Party and it was going to field candidates across the 24 constituencies.

“Position of PML-Q stalwarts is stronger. We hope to regain our previous majority on November 14 when official election results would be announced,” she said.

The MNA said she herself visited the area thrice during month of Ramadan while the top PML central leadership was also scheduled to visit the Gilgit-Baltistan to buck-up its candidates during electioneering.

“Surely performance will make the difference and our track record speaks louder than us as PML had undertaken mega development in the region,” she claimed.

Express

September 29, 2009

Government has increased the miseries of people by stopping the development funds of Gilgit-Baltistan: MNA Marvi Memon

PML MNA Marvi Memon said present government has halted development funds of Gilgit-Baltistan since one year and pushed people into economic miseries there. MNA Marvi Memon said PML in its tenure allocated Rs 7bn as Annual Development Funds for Gilgit-Baltistan.

 

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News Items for web

 

 

APP

October 8, 2009

 

Marvi Memon, MNA said that youth in the parliament and journalism should coordinate and cooperate to promote freedom of information in the country.

 

 

Telegraph

October 8^, 2009

 

Pakistan army anger over $1.5bn US aid deal

Pakistan’s army has raised “serious concern” over a US aid package worth $1.5 billion a year which it fears will result in Washington being allowed to interfere in government policy.

Marvi Memon, an opposition member of parliament, said: “Everyone wants aid, the problem is the conditions, which are tantamount to holding Pakistan hostage to US designs.

“This is a complete affront to national sovereignty.”

Farahnaz Ispahani, a member of parliament for the ruling PPP, said that the Bill was being misconstrued.

“This Bill is an attempt by the American taxpayer to give socio-economic aid to the poorest sections of Pakistani society,” said Mrs Ispahani. “It is an act of affirmation of a major democracy for another democracy.”

 

 

Pakistan Observers

October 7, 2009

 

MNA Marvi Memon mentioned to a mechanism regarding implementation of the government commitments and said, the members would submit to the Speaker in the onset of each session, the detail of commitments of previous session and seek report from the government on their implementation.

 

APP

October 6, 2009

 

While replying to a question from Marvi Memon about steps to control human trafficking, he (Rehman Malik) said that his ministry was aware of the problem of human trafficking and FIA under its administrative control,is responsible for controlling human smuggling.

 

Nation

October 4, 2009

It was also reported in the media that Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin had opposed the idea of hiring RPPs in the meetings of ECC and Cabinet, however green signal was given to Ministry of Water and Power for generating 2,250MW electricity through rental power plants.

Meanwhile, timeframe given to end power loadshedding in the country has, once again, been changed as Pervaiz Ashraf stated that RPPs would be initiated in June 2010 instead of December 2009.

The statement might spark another hot debate in the Parliament by the Opposition parties, especially PML-Q as its leaders Faisal Saleh Hayat and Marvi Memon had already said in a press conference that their party had a strong agenda for the upcoming session of National Assembly starting from Monday (tomorrow).

 

 

Daily Times

October 3, 2009

 

PML-Q asks govt to table NRO in parliament

 

The party also vowed that it would strongly oppose legislation that provided immunity to a number of politicians, bureaucrats and others facing corruption charges during the last two decades. Speaking at a joint press conference with Gilgit-Baltistan affairs in charge Marvi Memon, senior PML-Q leader Makhdoom Faisal Saleh Hayat also asked other parties, especially the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), to explain their position on the NRO.

 

 

Daily Times

October 2, 2009

 

PML-Q submits call-attention notice on electricity tariff increase

 

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) on Thursday submitted a call-attention notice in the National Assembly Secretariat to discuss the recently approved increase in electricity tariff.

The notice, signed by PML-Q MNAs Faisal Saleh Hayat, Marvi Memon, Bushra Rehman, Amir Muqam and Humayun Saifullah, stated that the signatories wanted to discuss the impact of the six percent power tariff hike on the poor of the country. The PML-Q legislators also moved to discuss how the government by-passed parliament by signing a transit trade facility with India, despite already having a similar issue – the Afghan Transit Trade agreement – which allowed third party transit trade.

They also filed an adjournment motion to discuss changes in the electoral reforms package presented by the Election Commission to the prime minister. The proposed package was subsequently moved to the Standing Committee for Parliamentary Affairs, ignoring reforms suggested by international stakeholders that the commission had earlier agreed on.

 

Daily Times

October 28, 2009

 

‘Kerry-Lugar bill insults Pakistan’

 

By Tahir Niaz

 

ISLAMABAD: Asking the government to explain how it has accepted the language of the Kerry-Lugar bill, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) legislator Marvi Memon has said it is insulting to Pakistan.

 

In a statement issued on Sunday, she said that asking Pakistan to “cease support – including by any elements within the military or intelligence agencies – to extremist and terrorist groups” in the text of the Kerry-Lugar bill was insulting and sent a wrong message to the world. She said it had weakened Pakistan’s position on the international front. Marvi said the issue of nuclear monitoring was unacceptable to any patriotic Pakistani. The Kerry-Lugar bill mandated Pakistan to provide the US “relevant information from or direct access to Pakistani nationals associated with such networks”, she said, adding that it clearly allowed the US access to Dr AQ Khan and others, which was unacceptable as state policy. She said the guarantee that terrorism emanating from India and Afghanistan, which destabilises Pakistan, should be controlled was missing in the bill, which made it (the bill) one-sided. She asked the government to explain whether the aid provided through the Kerry-Lugar legislation was only for civilian projects or whether it also included police reforms, equipment and training.

 

issue wth us bill as analysed by my aide

A bill for “Invaluable Friend”!!! (Pakistan has been mentioned as invaluable friend (not ally funny!!) in this bill on several occasions.)
About that bill
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, April 2, 2009, Mr. BERMAN (for himself, Mr. KIRK, Mr. ACKERMAN, Mr. ROYCE, Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas, Mr. SHERMAN, and Mr. WEXLER) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs,
Name of this Bill is: ‘Pakistan Enduring Assistance and Cooperation Enhancement Act of 2009’ or the ‘PEACE Act of 2009’.
Monstrous Clauses/ and Findings
• Congress finds the following: (2) With the free and fair election of February 18, 2008, Pakistan returned to civilian rule after almost 9 years under a military dictatorship.
Criticism: there were elections in Pakistan in 2003 and PML formed govt, they elected Musharraf as the President of Pakistan through parliament. Elected president and elected parliament then how can it be termed as Dictatorship? Dictators never go for elections, but in Pakistan there were two elections in 9 years.

(6) Simultaneously, the United States expects Pakistan–
• to ensure a transparent, mutually beneficial, and trusting relationship with the United States which expands beyond the commitment of the 2 countries to fighting terrorism;
Criticism: who will interpret the word “BEYOND the COMMITMENT”??????? And why only Pakistan has to ensure this??
• (H) not to provide any support, direction, guidance to, or acquiescence in the activities of, any person or group that engages in any degree in acts of violence or intimidation against civilians, civilian groups, or governmental entities;
Criticism: Once again, who will determine that Pakistan is successfully and/or sincerely doing this? Given the complexity of what is happening in this region and the different and differing interests of various players, what benchmarks are to be used by the US to make such a determination?
• (I) to redouble its efforts to prevent the presence of the Taliban and Taliban-affiliated groups in Pakistan that support insurgents in Afghanistan;

• (J) not to support any person or group that conducts violence, sabotage, or other activities meant to instill fear or terror in India; and
Criticism: Given terrorist attacks within Pakistan and the degree of difficulty in tackling the menace, how can Pakistan be expected to ensure India will not be attacked and how would it be determined, and by whom, that Pakistan is “allowing” some groups to attack India — New Delhi?
• (K) To ensure access of United States investigators to individuals suspected of engaging in worldwide proliferation of nuclear materials, and restrict such individuals from travel or any other activity that could result in further proliferation.
Criticism: Well…Dr AQ Khan again! That episode, gentlemen, is over. Dr Khan has been sidelined and punished; Pakistan has taken measures to ensure that no one can do such a thing again; other states whose nationals were involved in the racket have still to come clean on what was going on; proliferation is an area where all nuclear weapon states have some blot on them, and that includes the US; credible reports from US experts have proven proliferation by India and so on, thank you.

Indian Lobby vs Pakistani Lobby
• These clauses proved that Indian lobby was very active when this bill was being formulated, then what was Pakistani Lobby doing in Capital Hill??
• The Pakistani Caucus, which one started as an effective lobbying group, has been rendered ineffective by the Pakistani embassy. To ensure that it cannot function as an independent body, the embassy purged all senior people form a support group created to provide technical support to the caucus. Consequently the Pakistan caucus which on papers has the support of almost 100 lawmakers, has become a non-functioning body with no clout on the Hill/
What happened to Biden Luger Bill????
• A landmark US bill that provides for 15 billion dollars in economic assistance to Pakistan, as a US frontline ally in combating terrorism over the next 10 years beginning 2009, is legally dead even before it was debated and voted by either chamber of the US bicameral legislature.
• Hussain Haqqani said that the Biden-Lugar Bill would be presented in few days with the signatures of its new movers, besides till now there was no hitch in its approval. (‘Pakistan Enduring Assistance and Cooperation Enhancement Act of 2009’ or the ‘PEACE Act of 2009’!!!! is this the replacement)
• Does Ambassador Haqqani insist that the bill to be approved by the US Congress would be the same S-3263 also titled as “Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act: 2008”?
• “Biden-Lugar Bill” was terribly slow in passing the legislative process during the five months period of its legal life.
$1.5bn not even worth to call “Peanuts”!!
• US was spending $10.3bn per month in Iraq.
• US spent total $526bn in Iraq from 2001 to Feb 2008.
• US led war on terror cost Pakistan $6bn during 2007-08 head of Planning Commission Dr. Hafiz Pasha said.
Why Pakistan has to be blame for a Mistake???
• Britain’s David Miliband Calls War On Terror ‘Mistaken’ (15th Jan)
• US not winning the war in Afghanistan, says McCain. (26th Feb)
• “If NATO doesn’t succeed in Afghanistan, I don’t think NATO has much of a future” Mullan said. (13th March)
• Nato is “not winning” in Afghanistan, failure would be a catastrophe, and time is running out. That was the message of three reports published in January by the Afghan Study Group, Oxfam and the Atlantic Council. (10th March)

 

security –

Pakistan is faced with its worst national security crisis, mainly due to the appeasement foreign policy of present government.

However right now we need to unite for stability and security and we need to guide government not to crumble under foreign pressure.

We have understood the agenda of Indian diplomacy to create mistrust between our government and opposition, between military and civilian segments of society, between Pakistan and the rest of the world. We will not allow this agenda to succeed.

We want to live as peaceful neighbours. We condemn terrorism in all its forms. Whilst we handle our issues on extremism, the Indian government needs to handle their issues of terrorism which are homegrown and result of their policies of marginalization.

The people of Pakistan and the people of India need to look towards each other with respect and peaceful designs. We hope the Indian people will get their government to look inwards and get them to stop following destablization regional policies. We as responsible younger leadership of Pakistan will always follow the doctrine of ‘peace with dignity’ and will help promote regional stability and development. We will protect Pakistan’s sovereign territorial integrity and be responsible members of the comity of nations.

 

List of attacks in Pakistan UN should investigate whether any Indian hand via Alqaida that Gordon Brown claims

 Bomb blasts and Incidents of Violence in Pakistan Since January 2008

• 7 Jan: A suicide bomber blew himself up in an explosive-laden vehicle near a military base camp at Kabal in the Swat district of the NWFP, injuring 10 people, including eight soldiers.
• 10^th Jan: Over 20 are killed and dozens injured as a suicide bomb attack takes place outside the Lahore High Court.
• 14 Jan: Eleven people are killed and over 30 are injured in a bomb blast in Quaidabad, Karachi. Mon,
• Wed, 16: Four persons, including three children, were killed in a bomb blast near the Chashma Right Bank Canal in Dera Ismail Khan in the NWFP.
• 23 Jan: A man was killed and another injured after a suicide bomber blew himself up near a police check-post at the confluence of Khyber Agency and Peshawar.
• 30 Jan: An explosion in a house in the outskirts of Peshawar, capital of the NWFP, killed three men who police said were making bombs when the explosives detonated prematurely.
• 1 Feb: At least six persons, including five security personnel, were killed and eight others were injured when a suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden car into a security check post at Kajhori near Miranshah of North Waziristan.
• 4 Feb: A bomb blast in front of the National Logistics Cell in Rawalpindi leaves 6 dead.
• 6 Feb: Two persons, identified as Arab Din and Amin Jan, were killed and another, Baz Mohammad, was injured when a bomb exploded at a storehouse of scrap metal in the Shahkas area of Khyber Agency in the FATA.
• 7 Feb: Three persons were killed and 12 others wounded in a bomb blast at a bus stand in the Dera Murad Jamali town of Balochistan. The Baloch Republican Army claimed responsibility for the blast.
• 9 Feb: A suicide bomber strikes at an ANP rally in Charsadda, NWFP, leaving 27 people dead.
• 9 Feb: A suicide bomber strikes at an ANP rally in Charsadda, NWFP, leaving 27 people dead.
• 11 Feb: At least 10 people were killed and 13 others sustained injuries when a teenaged suicide bomber blew himself up amidst a gathering of the Awami National Party (ANP) and tribal Lashkar (force) at Mirali in North Waziristan. President of the North Waziristan chapter of the ANP, Haji Anwar Shah, was among the dead.
• 13 Feb: A roadside bomb blast hit an election campaign convoy in Swat, killing two people and injuring three others. Mufti Hussain Ahmed, an independent candidate contesting for the NA-30 and PF-86 seats, was among the wounded.
• 14 Feb: A roadside bomb struck a SFs vehicle in Mamoond in the Bajaur Agency of the FATA, killing three SF personnel, including Major Farhan, and injuring two others.
• 16 Feb: A suicide bomber rammed his explosives-laden car into the election office of an independent candidate in Parachinar city of FATA, killing at least 47 persons, including six children, and injuring 109 others.
• 22 Feb: A remote-controlled bomb exploded at a wedding party procession, killing 14 people and wounding 13 others, mostly children, in the Matta administrative division of Swat district. The bomb, which was detonated in the Ronial Takh Maira area of the region, exploded around 4pm (PST) when the wedding party was travelling from Kandogai village to Pir Dar Baba village.
• 25^th Feb: A suicide bomber blows himself up, targeting a Pakistan Army lieutenant general who was driving past the NADRA office in Rawalpindi. The blast leaves 8 including the army official dead and six injured.
• 29 Feb: Forty people were killed and more than 75 others sustained injuries when a suicide bomber blew himself up at the funeral prayers of the slain Deputy Superintendent of Police (Lakki Marwat), Javed Iqbal Khan, in the Mingora city of Swat district.
• 1 Mar: A civilian and a soldier were killed and 23 persons, including eight security force personnel, injured when a suicide bomber rammed his explosives-laden car into a security forces vehicle in the Jardar area of Bajaur Agency in the FATA.
• 2 Mar; 40 people including tribal elders are killed when a suicide bomber blows himself up as tribals meet to hold a peace jirga in Darra Adam Khel.
• 4 Mar Two suicide bombers blow themselves up in the Naval War College carpark in Lahore, leaving 7 people dead and several injured.
• 11 Mar: At least sixteen people were killed in suicide attack in the FIA building and four others were killed in Model town blast, the police said. Tue, 11 Mar 2008
• 15 Mar: Two persons including a foreigner woman have died and over 15 others have injured in Islamabad blast on Saturday evening a foreign newswire said. Sat,
• March 16: At least 20 people were killed as several missiles hit a house in South Waziristan. Seven missiles landed on the house of Noorullah in Toog village, located four kilometers south of Wana, the headquarters of South Waziristan.
• 17 Mar: A suicide bomber Monday killed SHO among two and injured seven others in Pakistan’s violence-plagued northern Swat valley, police said. Mon,
• March 20: A suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden car into a military vehicle in front of the brigade headquarters at Zari Noor in South Waziristan, killing five soldiers and injuring 11 others.
• March 25: Unidentified gunmen killed three people, including a woman, in the Matta sub-division of Swat district in the NWFP.
• April 20: Three security force personnel were killed and a civilian was injured in the Hub area of Balochistan. Police sources said two armed men on a motorcycle opened fire on a FC vehicle near the Gadani bus stop. “Two soldiers died and another succumbed to injuries in hospital,” police said. The driver of a bus which was passing through the area at the time of the firing was injured.
• April 25: At least three people were killed and 26 injured when a car bomb exploded near Mardan City Police Station in the NWFP.
• April 29: Militants killed three policemen and injured three others in Kohat in the NWFP.
• May 1: A suicide bomber blew himself up in a madrassa (seminary) in the Khyber Agency of FATA injuring at least 18 people
• May 7: Two policemen and a civilian were shot dead in Quetta.
• May 18: Thirteen persons, including five soldiers, were killed and 23 others, including 11 soldiers, sustained injuries in a suicide attack at the Punjab Regiment Centre market in the Cantonment area of Mardan in NWFP.
• May 19: Three civilians were killed and two others sustained injuries when an improvised explosive device exploded outside a mosque in the Dabar area of Khar, headquarters of Bajaur Agency in the FATA.
• May 30: Six youths were shot dead and four others sustained injuries in an ambush by the insurgents on the Samungli Road in Quetta, capital of Balochistan.
• June 2: A suspected suicide bomber blew up his car outside the Danish embassy in Islamabad, killing at least eight persons and injuring 30 others.
• June 3: Five children were killed and an equal number of them sustained injuries in an explosion in a house on the Sariab Road in Quetta.
• June 4: Three civilians were killed and three others sustained injuries in a bomb blast at a video shop in a business centre at Kohat in the NWFP.
• June 6: Four people were killed in two explosions in Dera Ismail Khan in the NWFP.
• June 6: Five people including four policemen were killed in the remote-controlled bomb attack. DI Khan District Police Officer Abdul Ghuffar said that the first bomb had been planted on a bicycle and the attack targeted police. He said 15 people had been injured in the blast, nine of who were policemen.
• June 8: Four children were killed in an explosion triggered by suspected militants at Chitral in the NWFP.
• June 9: Four Policemen were killed and a SHO was injured when around 20 militants opened fire on a Police mobile unit on a routine patrol near the Mattani bypass in Peshawar.
• June 9: Three persons were killed in the Balyameen area of the Lower Kurram Agency when unidentified militants opened fire on a vehicle.
• June 13: Militants shot dead five tribesmen, including a pro-government tribal elder, Malik Zahideen, near Miranshah in North Waziristan of FATA.
• June 17: Unidentified assailants killed four persons when they opened fire on a vehicle in the Hangu Bazaar of NWFP following an abduction attempt.
• June 18: Three persons were killed and eight others injured in a mortar attack and firing incident in village Shalozan of Kurram Agency in the FATA.
• June 25: Taliban killed 22 members of a pro-government “peace committee” at Jandola of Tank in the NWFP.
• June 26:The suspected militants gunned down local PPP leader Abdul Akbar Khan, his wife, and two sons in Matta tehsil (administrative division).
• June 30: Seven tribesmen were killed and nine others sustained injuries in a blast at the base camp of a banned outfit in the Bar Qambarkhel area of Bara sub-division in Khyber Agency.
• July 6: Twenty persons, including 15 policemen, were killed and more than 40 persons sustained injuries in a suicide attack near the Melody Market area of capital Islamabad.
• July 8: Unidentified militants killed five security force personnel and injured three others while attacking their vehicle in the Bara sub-division of Khyber Agency in the FATA.
• July 10: At least seven people were killed and 12 others were wounded in three separate landmine explosions in different parts of Kurram Agency in the FATA.
• July 12: At least 17 people – including 13 Frontier Constabulary (FC) personnel – were killed in a clash between the Taliban militants and SFs in the Hangu district of NWFP.
• July 19: A security force personnel was killed while 10 militants were shot dead in retaliatory fire during a clash in the Och area of Sui in Balochistan.
• July 20: Approximately 43 persons, including 33 militants, nine Frontier Corps soldiers and a Pakistan Petroleum Limited engineer, were killed and many injured during clashes between the security forces and militants in the Toba Sandrani area of Dera Bugti district in Balochistan.
• July 21: Six more persons, including two security officials, were killed in Sui areas of Balochistan.
• July 23: Six SF personnel were killed in an encounter with the insurgents in the Uch area of Dera Bugti district in Balochistan.
• July 26: Twelve militants and three Frontier Constabulary (FC) men were killed in a clash near Loti Gas Field in the Dera Bugti district of Balochistan.
• July 28: Three officials of an intelligence agency were shot dead by the Taliban militants in Matta in the Swat district of NWFP.
• August 2: Eight police personnel were killed and five others wounded when a remote-controlled bomb exploded near their vehicle in the Kabal town of Swat district in the NWFP.
• August 6: Five civilians were killed and four others sustained injuries when a remote-controlled device exploded in the crowded Liaquat Bazaar in Sibi in Balochistan.
• August 7: Hundreds of Taliban militants attacked a security check-post near the Afghan border late on August 6, sparking fierce clashes in which up to 10 soldiers and 25 militants were killed, officials said on August 7.
• August 9: Militants shot dead eight policemen near Swat in the NWFP.
• 12 August: Six Pakistan Air Force (PAF) personnel and seven civilians were killed and 14 persons were wounded when a car bomb exploded near a bridge on the main Peshawar-Kohat Road in the southern part of Peshawar, capital of the NWFP.
• 13 August: A suicide blast in Lahore killed at least nine persons and injured more than 35, targeting policemen standing guard on the eve of the Independence Day.
• 14^th August: At least six pro-government Bugti tribesmen, including a former commander of Nawab Bugti, were killed and three others were injured when a landmine exploded in the Loti area of Dera Bugti district of Balochistan.
• August 19: 32 persons, including seven policemen, were killed and 55 others injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up near the emergency ward of the District Headquarters Hospital in Dera Ismail Khan in the NWFP.
• August 21: Two suicide bombers blew themselves up at the gates of the Pakistan Ordnance Factories in the high security cantonment town of Wah, around 30 kilometers from capital Islamabad, killing at least 70 persons in what was described as the deadliest attack on a military installation in the country’s history.
• August 23: A suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden jeep into the Charbagh police station of the NWFP at 7.45am (PST), killing four policemen and three civilians. 20 others were wounded.
• August 24: Thirteen more persons were killed in continuing violence in the Swat district of the NWFP while two more bodies were retrieved from the rubble of the Charbagh police post, blown up in a suicide attack on August 23.
• August 26: Eight persons were killed and more than 20 sustained injuries in a bomb blast at a roadside restaurant in the Model Town area on the outskirts of capital Islamabad.
• 28 August: Ten persons, including seven police officials and three civilians, were killed and 16 others injured when a powerful car bomb ripped through a prisoners van of the Bannu police on the Kurram Tangi Bridge on the Bannu-Kohat Road in Bannu in the NWFP.
• 29 August: Five persons were killed and 44 others, including 35 SF personnel, were wounded when an explosives-laden vehicle blew up after its driver was shot dead by the paramilitary Frontier Corps soldiers in the Darra Adamkhel town of NWFP.
• August 31: Six people were killed and eight others sustained injuries in a missile attack on a residential compound in Ghundi village of North Waziristan.
• September 6: At least 30 persons, including seven policemen, were killed and more than 70 injured when a suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into a security checkpoint in the outskirts of Peshawar.
• September 9: Unidentified militants shot dead four members of one family in Qamber-Shahdadkot district in Sindh.
• 11 September: Six SF personnel were killed in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast near a check-post of the Frontier Corps (FC) at Akhurwal area of the semi-tribal region in the Darra Adamkhel town.
• 17 September: A suicide bomber and Taliban militants attacked a security check post in the Kabal tehsil (revenue division) of Swat in the NWFP killing three soldiers, a senior official said.
• 19 September: A bomb exploded at a madrassa (seminaries) run by the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam in Quetta, provincial capital of Balochistan, killing five people and injuring 10 more.
• September 20: A suicide bomber detonated a truck packed with explosives at the Marriott Hotel in capital Islamabad, killing at least 60 people. At least 200 people, including a Pakistan Peoples Party legislator, were injured in the explosion.
• September 21: Five persons, including a minor girl and a woman, were injured when unidentified militants blew up a grid station at Amman Kot chowk (Rahimabad) in the Mingora area of Swat in the NWFP.
• 22 September: Nine security force (SF) personnel were killed and two other injured in a suicide car-bomb attack on a check post in Swat in the NWFP. A suspected Taliban militant rammed his explosives-laden car into a small roadside check post in Madyan town in Swat.
• 26 September: A powerful bomb explosion on a railway track derailed a passenger train in Hasilpur near Bahawalpur in Punjab, killing at least six people, including three children and a woman.
• 30 September: Four security personnel were killed and five others injured when their vehicle hit a landmine near Sui at Dera Bugti region in Balochistan.
• October: A suicide bomber blew himself up as he tried to enter a house owned by the Awami National Party (ANP) chief, Asfandyar Wali Khan, in the NWFP, killing four.
• October 6: A suicide bomber blew himself up in a crowd of people at the house of Rashid Akbar Niwani, a Member of National Assembly from the PML-N, in Bhakkar, 260-km southwest of Islamabad in Punjab, killing 25 people and wounding 60 others, including Niwani.
• 9 October: 11 persons were killed in the Dir area of NWFP when an improvised bomb exploded under a prison vehicle shortly after 1pm (PST) in the Khwago Oba area.
• October 10: At least 85 persons were killed and around 200 others wounded when a suicide bomber in an explosives-laden vehicle set off an explosion in an anti-Taliban jirga (council) of the Ali Khel tribe in the Khadezai area of Upper Orakzai Agency in the FATA.
• 15 October: Four people, including a female politician of the Awami National Party (ANP), were killed by suspected Taliban militants in Swat in the NWFP.
• 16 October: A suicide bomber rammed a vehicle packed with explosives into the Mingora Police Station in Swat in the NWFP, killing four security personnel and destroying the building.
• 19 October: Four people were killed and six others injured when a remote-controlled bomb exploded in the main bazaar of Dera Bugti in Balochistan.
• 26 October: At least 11 people, seven of them Frontier Corps personnel and three Khasadars, were killed and five injured in a suicide attack in the Mohmand Agency of FATA.
• 27 October: Four persons, including an imam (prayer leader) and a seminary teacher, were killed and several others injured, when suspected militants opened fire on them at Baldia Town in Karachi.
• October 28: Five civilians, including a woman, were killed and 21 others injured during shelling on Kabal village of Swat in the NWFP.
• 31 October: A suicide bomber killed nine persons and injured 21 in an attack on police in Mardan of NWFP. The suicide bomber attacked the police squad of Mardan DIG Akhtar Ali Shah outside his office.
• 2 November: A suicide car bomber rammed his vehicle into a checkpoint near the main gate of the Zalai Fort in South Waziristan FATA, killing eight paramilitary troopers.
• November 4: At least seven persons, including three SF officials, were killed and six others injured in a suicide attack on a SF check post in the Hangu district of NWFP.
• 11 November: A suicide bomber blew himself up at a packed Qayyum Stadium in Peshawar, killing four people, including a policeman and three civilians. 13 more persons were wounded.
• 12 November: Five persons, including four SF personnel, were killed and 15 people sustained injuries as a suicide bomber rammed an explosives-filled bus into the gates of the Subhan Khaur village school in the Charsadda district of NWFP.
• November 28: At least seven people, including a policeman, were killed and 16 others, including four policemen, sustained injuries when a suicide bomber targeted a police patrol vehicle in Bannu district.
• 1 December: 11 civilians were killed and 66 persons, including two soldiers, injured when a suicide bomber rammed his explosives-laden mini-truck into the Sangota checkpoint in the Swat valley.
• 3 December: Five people, including three SF personnel, were killed and six others sustained injuries when a suicide bomber rammed his auto rickshaw into a vehicle of the SFs at Pir Qala area of Shabqadar tehsil in the Charsadda district.
• 5 December: At least six persons were killed and eight others sustained injuries when an explosives-laden vehicle blew up in the Kalaia area of Lower Orakzai Agency. Officials said the suicide bomber was attempting to target a local fair, but the vehicle blew up before reaching the site when a petrol station’s guards started firing at it.
• 5 December: Thirty-two people were killed and over 120 others were wounded in historic Qissa Khwani Bazaar in Peshawar.
• 12 December: A child was killed and four others were injured in a premature suicide blast in Nari Oba area in Boner.
• 13 December: Six persons were killed and four others injured in two separate incidents of violence in Swat Valley, while a house and Hujra of an ANP’s MNA was blown up by unidentified miscreants.

 

Resolution for National Security

Resolution on National Security

This joint session of Parliament has noted with great concern that extremism, militancy and terrorism in all forms and manifestations pose a grave danger to the stability and integrity of the nation-state. It was recalled that in the past the dictatorial regimes pursued policies aimed at perpetuating their own power at the cost of national interest.

This House, having considered the issue thoroughly and at great length is of the view that in terms of framing laws, building institutions, protecting our citizens from violence, eradication of terror at its roots, re-building our economy and developing opportunities for the disadvantaged, we commit to the following:

1. That we need an urgent review of our national security strategy and revisit the methodology of combating terrorism in order to restore peace and stability to Pakistan and the region through an independent foreign policy.

2. The challenge of militancy and extremism must be met through developing a consensus and dialogue with all genuine stakeholders.

3. The nation stands united to combat this growing menace, with a strong public message condemning all forms and manifestations of terrorism, including the spread of sectarian hatred and violence, with a firm resolve to combat it and to address its root causes.

4. That Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity shall be safeguarded. The nation stands united against any incursions and invasions of the homeland, and calls upon the government to deal with it effectively.

5. That Pakistan’s territory shall not be used for any kind of attacks on other countries and all foreign fighters, if found, shall be expelled from our soil.

6. That dialogue must now be the highest priority, as a principal instrument of conflict management and resolution. Dialogue will be encouraged with all those elements willing, to abide by the Constitution of Pakistan and rule of law.

7. That the development of troubled zones, particularly the tribal areas, and NWFP (pukhtoonkhawa), must also be pursued through all possible ways and legitimate means to create genuine stakeholders in peace. New economic opportunities shall be created in order to bring the less privileged areas at par with the rest of Pakistan.

8. That a political dialogue with the people of Balochistan, the redressed of grievances and redistribution of resources shall be enhanced and accelerated.

9. That the state shall maintain the rule of law, and that when it has to intervene to protect the lives of its citizens, caution must be exercised to avoid casualties of non-combatants in conflict zones.

10. That the federation must be strengthened through the process of democratic pluralism, social justice, religious values and tolerance, and equitable resources sharing between the provinces as enshrined in the constitution of 1973.

11. That the state shall establish its writ in the troubled zones, and confidence building mechanism by using customary and local communities (jirga) and that the military will be replaced as early as possible by civilian law enforcement agencies with enhanced capacity and a sustainable political system achieved through a consultative process.

12. That Pakistan’s strategic interests be protected by developing stakes in regional peace and trade, both on the western and eastern borders.

13. That mechanisms for internal security be institutionalized by paying compensation for victims of violence, and rehabilitate those displaced from their homes as soon as possible; that spill over effects of terrorism be contained throughout the country and that public consensus be built against terrorism through media and religious participation.

14. That a Special Committee of Parliament be cosntituted to periodically review, provide guidelines and monitor the implementation of the principles framed and roadmap given in this Resolution. This House authorizes the Speaker to constitute the said Committee in consultation with the parliamentary leaders of both Houses. The Committee will frame its own rules upon meeting.

 

Indian belligerence

What follows is a list of Indian de-stabilization moves in the region. It should strengthen government hands whilst presenting (not pleading) Pakistan’s case to the world powers.

 

Government should not have appeased all such moves for so long. Indian belligerence today is due to government’s appeasement and unnecessary concessions to India.

 

Instead of Pak government’s appeal to world not to allow India to punish Pakistan for terror unleashed in Mumbai, government needs to expose Indian human rights excesses and failures to control 100 homegrown movements which are a result of its marginalization policies.

 

1.     India and Afghanistan signing defence pact according to which India will deploy 150,000 troops in Afghanistan by end of next year.

2.     India has started work on Laddakh airbase which is strategic location in IHK; building of tunnels on its borders equally belligerent.

3.     Visit of US and Israeli military officials to Siachen in IHK organized by India to dilute disputed nature of the state.

4.     Efforts by India to change IHK demography as it illegally transferred land to Hindu Shrine Board against popular sentiments of Kashmiri Muslims

5.     India claiming not to block Pak waters and doing so despite assurances to Pak President during head of state level meetings.

6.     Bilateral trade concession given to India and excesses in Kashmir still continued.

7.     Shiv Sena advocating creation of Hindu suicide squads to fight Islamic terrorism. No ban imposed on such an organization by India.

8.     Gujrat Riots of 2002 have been proved to be a planned genocide for which Indian state is responsible.

9.     Anti Christian violence like in Orissa due to campaign by Hindu extremist groups falsely implicating Christian community of planning large scale conversions.

10. Indo-US Defence Procurement and Production group activities as well as signing of Acquisition and Cross Servicing Agreement has raised modernization levels of Indian military thus creating imbalances in the region unnecessarily.

11. Indian efforts to establish military bases and defence links in Central Asia to impact military balance.

12. Indian deployment of fighter jets in IHK capable of carrying nukes at Avantipura air force base near Srinagar.

13. 3650 nameless graves in Poonch and Rajouri districts of Jammu show Indian human rights violations in IHK. Issue raised in European and Pak parliament.

14. India’s deployment of 5 extra battalions in IHK in July.

15. Economic blockade imposed in IHK by Hindi extremists and Indian government’s inability to help Muslims. Infact Indian government put Kashmiri leaders under house arrest and allegedly distributed arms amongst Hindu extremists .

16. Killing of Sheikh Abdul Aziz by Indian troops.

17. Indian violation of Indus Water Treaty and blocking of Pak waters.

18. Pak’s 6 design objections to Kishinganga dam rejected by Indian government and Indian decision to continue despite project being controversial.

19. India building Kargil dam on River Sindh.

20. India filling of Baghliar dam in clear violation of Indus Water Treaty. Bringing flows in Chenab to historic low.

21. India’s controversial building of 3 hydropower projects on Chenab.

22. Indian accusations of Pak violating LOC baseless and unnecessary moves at creating tension in the sensitive area. Similarly baseless accusations made by India that militants entering India from Pak under cover of Pak forces firing. These accusations have been made to divert international attention from human rights violations committed by India in IHK. LOC accusations don’t hold ground since Indian military officials have given contradicting statements saying that infiltrations attempts have reduced.

23. Indian efforts to block Pakistan from raising human rights violations of Kashmir internationally by calling it ‘illegal’ to raise such issues.

24. Indian Defence Minister’s statements accusing Pak of supporting militants entering India from Pak after Delhi blasts.

25. Indian Finance Minister’s statement that Pakistan has taken its hostility towards India beyond Kashmir raised tension.

26. Indian embassy attacked in Afghanistan. ISI and Pak blamed unnecessarily. India used this as an excuse to stop peace talks.

27. Unwarranted statements of Indian Security advisor asking for destruction of ISI.

28. Indian Home Minister’s unwarranted belligerent statement saying that terror groups backed by ISI could use chemical, biological, nuclear radiological weapons against India initiating super terrorism. Belligerence against Pak state since ISI part of Pak state.

29. Indian PM statement that role of Pak based terrorist groups could not be minimized and that they continued to set up new terrorist modules. These kind of statements without proof add to the tensions in the region.

30. India’s baseless accusations against Pak based elements and ISI of master minding terrorist incidents in India with no concrete evidence shared with Pak (Samjhota, Mumbai, Hyderabad, UP, Jaipur incidents.)

31. Indian consulates in Kandahar, Jalalabad, Heart and Mazr-e-Sharif in Afghanistan and Zaidan in Iran involved in anti-Pak activities. Evidence provided by Pak in Joint Anti Terror Mechanism meeting.

32. 4 Rounds of Composite Dialogue Meetings with India have produced no qualitative concessions by India to resolve Sir Creek, Siachen, Wullar Barrage and Kashmir.

33. India is helping Afghanistan manage its rivers and flows into Pakistan in same way as it is blocking Pakistan’s water directly.

34. India is involved in indiscriminate killing of Kashmiris in IHK with over 700,00 Indian Security Forces deployed who have killed over 90,000 Kashmiris with over 9,000 women molested and raped.

35. Despite Human Rights Watch Report of 2008 no repeal of laws done sanctioning impunity such as Armed forces Special Powers Act.

36. 62 non-Muslim organizations terrorist organizations working in India against Indian policies of marginalization.

37. And finally the … Indian government and media’s accusations against Pakistan being behind Mumbai attacks have raised tension in the region.

 

 

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Amnesty report on India

 

 

 

Amnesty International Report 2008

• Hundreds of people were killed in bomb attacks, including 66 passengers on a train to Pakistan in February, 42 in Hyderabad in August and 10 in Uttar Pradesh in November.
• Concerns over recurrent attacks marked the ongoing Indo-Pakistan talks, which failed to achieve significant progress.
•  Little progress was made in the peace initiatives over Kashmir and Nagaland.
• In Assam, there were renewed bomb attacks, as well as assaults on migrants from northern states, in January and November.At least 400 people were killed as police battled Maoists in central and eastern states.
• Local communities in these states resisted moves to acquire land for business projects and special economic zones. Several states, including West Bengal, Orissa, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry, Maharashtra and Meghalaya, witnessed protests by local communities whose livelihoods were threatened by fast-tracked irrigation, mining, manufacturing and business projects.
• Unlawful methods were increasingly used to deal with such protests, and impunity for abuses remained widespread.High suicide rates by debt-ridden farmers continued in some states, including Maharashtra, despite some relief measures.
• Inadequate access to health care contributed to a cholera epidemic in adivasi communities in south Orissa.An agreement reached with the USA in 2006 to give India access to strategic nuclear material and equipment for civilian purposes was still not implemented due to domestic political opposition.
• Arms exports to Myanmar were suspended in November after the suppression of the pro-democracy movement there.
• India signed the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances in February and was re-elected to the UN Human Rights Council. However, India had still not ratified the Convention against Torture and the Convention for the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families. Requests to visit the country by the UN Special Rapporteurs on torture and on extrajudicial executions remained pending. Invitations were also not issued to the Working Groups on Arbitrary Detention and on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances.
• Around 300 million people – around a quarter of the population – remained in poverty
• Around 50,000 adivasis continued to be internally displaced from the Dantewada area, a majority of them living in special camps. No serious attempt was made to ensure their voluntary return amid reports that some of their land could be offered for businesses and development projects. At least 10,000 other adivasis were reported to have fled into Andhra Pradesh.
• Demands for new domestic anti-terror legislation continued. The Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958, was not repealed despite widespread protests.
• Five years after the violence in which thousands of Muslims were attacked and more than 2,000 killed, justice continued to elude most victims and survivors. Little action was taken over an official report that more than 5,000 displaced families continued to live in “sub-human” conditions in Gujarat.
• 1984/94 Amritsar massacre: The findings of a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into allegations of unlawful killings of 2,097 people who were cremated by the police had still not been made fully public, nine years after the investigation was launched
• Eleven years after allegations of unlawful killings, torture, sexual assault and illegal detention of adivasis were first levelled against a joint Tamil Nadu-Karnataka force established to catch sandalwood smugglers, the NHRC had failed to initiate charges against any of the 38 officials cited as perpetrators of the abuses. In January, the NHRC ordered interim compensation for 89 of the 140 victims and their relatives who had made the allegations.
• commission of inquiry into the unlawful killings between 1998 and 2001 of 35 individuals associated with the United Liberation Front of Asom published its findings in November. It concluded that the killings were carried out by surrendered members of the organization at the behest of a former chief minister and the state police. It remained unclear if anyone would be brought to justice.

Violence against Adivasis and marginalized communities

 

• On 15 March, at least 55 people, mostly belonging to the Salwa Judum, were killed in an attack by suspected Maoists near Bijapur.
• On 31 March, 12 adivasis were killed by the state police and the Salwa Judum at Santoshpur.
• On 14 May, a well-known activist of the People’s Union of Civil Liberties, Dr Binayak Sen, was arrested; he was charged under the Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act 2005 and the amended provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. His arrest led to widespread protests by human rights organizations and the medical community.
• On 10 July, 24 personnel of various security forces and 20 suspected Maoists were killed in attacks and counter-attacks at Konta.
• Similar human rights abuses were reported from several other states, including Karnataka, Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh.
• On 10 July, five adivasi activists were killed by the Karnataka police at Adyaka in Chikmagalur district.
• On 20 August, 11 adivasi women were sexually assaulted by the Andhra Pradesh police at Vakpalli in Visakhapatnam district.
• On 26 October, armed Maoists set off a landmine at Vidyanagar in Nellore district apparently targeting former Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Janardhana Reddy and his wife, N Rajyalakshmi, a minister. Three people in the convoy were killed.
• On 27 October, armed Maoists fired on a cultural festival at Chikhadia, killing 18 people.
• Activists campaigning for land rights or environmental issues relating to marginalized communities faced abuses.
• In July, Saroj Mohanty, a writer-activist protesting against the threat of displacement of adivasis by the Utkal Alumina industrial project at Kashipur in Orissa, was detained on charges of dacoity (robbery), trespass and attempted murder.
• Roma, an activist working among dalits and adivasis in Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh, was detained under the National Security Act in August.
• New legislation guaranteeing adivasis right of access to forest land was largely ignored and communities suffered police violence.
• In April, police used excessive force against adivasis protesting against threatened forced evictions by the state forest department in Rewa district of Madhya Pradesh. Seven adivasis were injured.
• In July, seven protesters were killed when police fired into demonstrations for land rights in Khammam district of Andhra Pradesh.