tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post6863537398832546549..comments2024-03-27T15:36:44.737-07:00Comments on Haq's Musings: Pak Media Cheers as Vindictive Right-Wing Judges Pursue MusharrafRiaz Haqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00522781692886598586noreply@blogger.comBlogger95125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-32217157812125731542019-12-19T08:04:17.637-08:002019-12-19T08:04:17.637-08:00From Pakistan's legal profession that attacked...From Pakistan's legal profession that attacked a hospital and rationalized it, here comes another masterpiece:<br /><br />“We direct the Law Enforcement Agencies to strive their level best to apprehend the fugitive/convict (Musharraf) to ensure that the punishment is inflicted as per law and if found dead, his corpse be dragged to the D-Chowk, Islamabad, Pakistan and be hanged for 03 days"<br /><br />https://www.brecorder.com/2019/12/19/554697/court-announces-detailed-verdict-in-high-treason-case-against-musharraf/Riaz Haqhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00522781692886598586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-15949019592538318122017-10-10T13:53:58.710-07:002017-10-10T13:53:58.710-07:00Alleged misconduct: Reference filed against Justic...Alleged misconduct: Reference filed against Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui<br /><br />https://tribune.com.pk/story/1278975/alleged-misconduct-reference-filed-justice-siddiqui/<br /><br />A member of the Islamabad High Court Bar Association (IHCBA) Syed Javed Akbar, through his counsel Riaz Hanif Rahi, filed the reference before the SJC accusing the incumbent judge of “misconduct”.<br /><br />Justice Siddiqui had made an unexpected appearance at the IHCBA General Body Meeting (GBM) on November 10 and sought permission from the lawyers’ representatives to address the bar. The organisers allowed him to address the meeting, but only in his capacity as a former president of the Lahore High Court Bar Association, Rawalpindi Division.<br />In his address, Justice Siddiqui said that the complainant had done his job after filing a reference before the SJC against the Islamabad High Court’s Chief Justice, Muhammad Anwar Khan Kasi. However, he suggested that instead of demanding an ‘immediate’ resignation, the lawyers should wait for the SJC’s final decision.<br /><br />In the reference filed on Thursday, the petitioner maintained that the judge was on judicial duty at the time he ‘interfered in the affairs of the bar’ and it was expected that he would preserve the dignity of his court and not involve himself in a public controversy.<br /><br />A legion of Islamabad lawyers had called the GBM wherein they reiterated their demand for the resignation of IHC’s top judge.<br /><br />In the reference, the petitioner has requested that an inquiry may be conducted in light of the allegations and report be sent<br />to the President of Pakistan for removal of the judge.Riaz Haqhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00522781692886598586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-55929553729161947082017-10-10T13:52:23.548-07:002017-10-10T13:52:23.548-07:00Justice Shaukat challenges SJC’s rejection of open...Justice Shaukat challenges SJC’s rejection of open trial in SC<br /><br />https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/235207-Justice-Shaukat-challenges-SJCs-rejection-of-open-trial-in-SC<br /><br />Facing the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) proceedings for alleged misconduct, Islambad High Court (IHC) judge Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui has challenged the decision of SJC. The SJC had refused Siddiqui’s plea to have an open trial instead of in-camera proceedings.<br /><br />Petitioner Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui, with the help of Makhdoom Ali Khan, Advocate, and Hamid Khan, Advocate, has filed a constitutional petition in the apex court under Article 184 (3), making the SJC and the Federation respondents. In his petition, the judge has requested that he should have an open trial instead of in camera trial.<br /><br />The petitioner had made the same request to the Supreme Judicial Council but that was rejected on May 18th. When former president of Supreme Court Bar Association, Asma Jhangir, was asked to give her views about this matter, she said that even though there was no room for open trial of any judge inthe SJC, but Justice Shaukat was still pleading for an open trial. What’s wrong with an open trial in SJC particularly if the petitioner is asking for it? Asma asked saying that was the reason for her advocacy of the petitioner's request.<br /><br />On the other hand, Hafiz S A Rahman Advocate said that in the past all the proceedings of the SJC were held behind closed doors. He said historically there never has been an open trial. However, he emphasised that the petitioner had taken the services of some of the best lawyers of the country and after analysing all aspects of this situation the lawyers have advised to use Article 184 (3). Barrister Gohar Ali Khan was also of the opinion that there was no mention of open trial in the rules and regulations of Supreme Judicial Council.Riaz Haqhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00522781692886598586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-30177916763135936762015-07-24T12:23:22.904-07:002015-07-24T12:23:22.904-07:00If social media can be used to recruit terrorists,...If social media can be used to recruit terrorists, it can also be used to stop them. <br /><br />In testimony before a Senate panel last week, FBI Director James Comey stated that ISIS has over 21,000 English-speaking followers on Twitter and that this form of “crowdsourcing terrorism” is living proof that social media works. Unfortunately, it appears that this type of internet-based recruiting of “Lone Wolf” terrorists has worked yet again as manifested by yesterday’s attack at two military facilities in Chattanooga which left four dead and three others injured. One news source reported that prior to the shooting the suspect posted on his blog Islamic rhetoric referring to “separate the inhabitants of Paradise from the inhabitants of Hellfire.”<br /><br />Well, if social media can work for ISIS in recruiting these self-radicalized terrorists or individual lone wolf attackers, it can also work against them. As concerned citizens and guardians of our communities we the people can mobilize to report posts from potential lone wolf attackers who seek to injure and kill others. A familiar mantra from law enforcement over the years has been to stay vigilant in our fight against crime. Today, staying vigilant online is just as important—and, as demonstrated by a recent case in Canada— can result in saving lives. <br /><br />This past February, a Geneva, Illinois woman was arrested in Canada for a shooting plot after leaving a trail on social media, including a post prior to her arrest that said “Let’s go commit mass homicide.” Lindsay Souvannarath posted disturbing pictures advocating race hatred, an allegiance to Hitler and Nazi beliefs, bizarre photos of herself and others, and what appeared to be a fascination with mass killers and their handiwork, especially the Columbine High School shooters and their tools of murder. Police received a tip about a couple planning a Valentine’s Day massacre at a mall in Halifax, Canada, and she was arrested by Canadian police on charges of conspiracy to commit mass murder. Her partner in this thwarted crime committed suicide before authorities could take him into custody. <br /><br />As responsible citizens who care about our communities, we need to assist law enforcement in serving as their on-line “eyes and ears” when we see threatening posts. Maybe even more importantly when we see posts and also have personal knowledge of potential offenders securing or practicing with weapons or making threats against specific individuals or groups we can “connect the dots” and provide that information to local, state or federal authorities. If you are online and read a post that includes terrorist-related chatter, threats and postings regarding weapons and mass murder, or information on upcoming or planned attacks, don’t assume that someone else will report it. Take personal responsibility and call your local police or federal authorities. If terrorist organizations or lone wolf attackers believe social media works for them, let’s show them it can also work against them.<br /><br />http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2015/07/17/chattanooga-shootings-america-lets-use-social-media-to-stop-terrorist-attacks.htmlRiaz Haqhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00522781692886598586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-82918523697414421922015-06-09T19:34:42.411-07:002015-06-09T19:34:42.411-07:00US Civil Rights leader Jesse Jackson to #Pakistan:...US Civil Rights leader Jesse Jackson to #Pakistan: Let #Musharraf go. You cant move forward while looking backward. <br /><br />http://tribune.com.pk/story/899678/jesse-jackson-comes-to-musharrafs-aid/ …<br /><br />Prominent US politician Jesse Jackson plunged headlong into the murky waters of Pakistani politics on Sunday when he appealed to the authorities to strike the former military ruler’s name off the exit-control list (ECL).<br /><br />Rev Jackson has also written to US President Barack Obama in this regard.<br /><br />In an exclusive interview to Express News, Rev Jackson said it was in the interest of Pakistan to let Musharraf leave the country. “I shall visit Pakistan to continue to support Musharraf.”<br /><br />Jackson has been a longstanding campaigner for human rights and received many international awards. He had also campaigned with US civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr against racism.<br /><br />In his letter to Obama, the human rights activist has reminded the president that Musharraf had helped the US after 9/11 and that it was now America’s turn to return the favour.<br /><br />Jackson told Express News that Musharraf was a time-tested ally of the US. He hoped that the Pakistani government would allow the former president to leave the country for receiving medical treatment. He attributed his support for Musharraf to a human rights concern.<br /><br />“Musharraf has contributed to congenial relations between Pakistan and the US,” said Jackson. “Releasing prisoners always opens up doors of dialogue and we should always prefer reconciliation over confrontation. This way we can finish tension.”<br /><br />Acknowledging the former president’s international standing, Jackson said it was in the interest of Pakistan to let him go abroad for medical attention. “This will help the prevalent situation move towards improvement.”<br /><br />Regarding his expectations about the issue, the former US senator said he would appeal directly to the Pakistani government. “I want to visit Pakistan to discuss the matter with the relevant ministers and religious leaders.”<br /><br />On the subject of US-Pakistan ties, he said: “We have strong relations with Pakistan and they have always been so. We want peace. We want peace between Pakistan and India, within Pakistan and between Pakistan and the US.”<br /><br />He said the US sees Pakistan as the axis of global peace and security. “We think Pakistan is important for peace in the world.”<br /><br />Though Jackson has yet to receive a response from Obama, he seeks to insist on getting feedback from the president on his letter. “President Obama wants peace and he also wants justice. We should cooperate for peace and avoid confrontation.”<br /><br />The former senator hoped that Musharraf would not be harmed and that he would be allowed to leave Pakistan on medical grounds. “We should have the ability to look forward rather than being stuck in the past. We should be able to forgive and move forward.”<br /><br />Jackson said: “We cannot move forward while looking backward. Nelson Mandela was mistreated in South Africa, but he preferred to foster hope for the future rather than keep remembering the pains of the past.”<br /><br />The US politician holds a similar point of view. “Following Mandela’s wisdom, hope should be preferred over fear.” (TRANSLATED BY ARSHAD SHAHEEN)Riaz Haqhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00522781692886598586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-56720427742765239352015-01-05T09:57:55.071-08:002015-01-05T09:57:55.071-08:00Pakistani security agencies have reportedly warned...Pakistani security agencies have reportedly warned the government that the resurgence of Lal Masjid cleric Maulana Abdul Aziz, who is believed to have links with militant groups and is known for his anti-government rhetoric, poses a security threat to the law and order situation in the capital city of Islamabad.<br />A report entitled, "Activities of Maulana Abdul Aziz," forwarded to the interior ministry by the country's primary intelligence agency, accused the "Lal Masjid mafia" of having links to militant groups and land grabbers. It also claimed that Aziz was reorganising the Ghazi Force militant group, spawned by his followers after the Lal Masjid Operation, reported the Dawn.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/lal-masjid-mafia-abdul-aziz-s-rise-poses-security-threat-to-islamabad-warns-pak-intelligence-agency-115010500192_1.html<br />Riaz Haqhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00522781692886598586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-70953070872851856762014-12-23T13:22:58.074-08:002014-12-23T13:22:58.074-08:00Pathetic and worst condition of our Country.these ...Pathetic and worst condition of our Country.these mullahs have become our Nation's feudal lords they will decide who has the right to live in Islamic state of Pakistan and who is muslim according to their PURELY ISLAMIC FATWAS.these ppl are insanely ill minded beasts which Bhutto and Zia had gifted to our nation.that day will be the happiest day for Pakistan and for the whole Nation when all these brûtal beast mullahs will be hanged to death.I hope this will happen soon.so no one will tag you as muslim or non muslim for their own interest.Hubbanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-66592968609992002382014-12-20T03:34:50.839-08:002014-12-20T03:34:50.839-08:00This is article is at best uninformed and at worst...This is article is at best uninformed and at worst a pack of lies. The person kissing Qadri in the picture is not Justice Siddiqui, he is some other lawyer.<br /><br />Secondly, Justice Khilji did not threaten anyone. There may be disagreements about the interpretation of the law in the Presidential Reference he gave his opinion on, but it is preposterous to think that contempt could even be issued against a sitting President who has immunity under the Constitution.<br /><br />Thirdly, the assertion that Chief Justice Chaudhry is right-wing is the most ridiculous part of this article. In his very first judgement as Chief Justice (the Hisba Bill case), he held that Muslims cannot practice their religion in a way such that other religious groups' religious freedoms are impinged. In another decision he enjoined upon the government to pass legislation against acid violence. In yet another decision, he held that the fundamental rights guaranteed in the Constitution must be guaranteed to eunuchs as well. If anything, CJ Chaudhry was a revolutionary.<br /><br />It is indeed saddening that this sorry excuse for an article is gaining so much traction on the social media because of the misinforming cover photo.Z Z Hashminoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-14498218105328806822014-12-19T09:47:20.429-08:002014-12-19T09:47:20.429-08:00#Lalmasjid mullah Aziz refuses to condemn #Pe...#Lalmasjid mullah Aziz refuses to condemn #PeshawarAttack. Protest-Vigil outside #LalMasjid to spill over<br /><br /><br />http://tribune.com.pk/story/809008/vigil-for-peshawar-attack-victims-outside-lal-masjid-threatens-to-spill-over/Riaz Haqhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00522781692886598586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-57412162738781591422014-10-04T07:45:31.374-07:002014-10-04T07:45:31.374-07:00THE guy shown in pic kissing MQ is not Shaukat Azi...THE guy shown in pic kissing MQ is not Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui.. He is a young lawyer practicing in IBA.Adnanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18176673074646109839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-31216126863920045942014-05-06T22:54:35.750-07:002014-05-06T22:54:35.750-07:00Here's NY Times on the rise of Lal Masjid cler...Here's <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/07/world/asia/paying-homage-to-bin-laden-mosque-re-emerges-as-bastion-of-militancy.html?_r=1" rel="nofollow">NY Times</a> on the rise of Lal Masjid cleric and fall of Musharraf:<br /><br /><i>..The chief cleric of the Red Mosque, Maulana Abdul Aziz, has inserted himself into the argument with a typically showy gesture: the inauguration of a new library named after the slain founder of Al Qaeda.<br /><br />“If Pakistan truly has freedom of expression, then we should be able to express our love for our heroes,” said Mr. Aziz, a willowy, bespectacled man with a wiry gray beard, in a room with the sign “Martyr Osama bin Laden Library” on the door. “And we love Osama bin Laden.”<br /><br />-----<br />Today, Mr. Aziz delivers thunderous Friday sermons from the lavishly refurbished Red Mosque, a stone’s throw from the Parliament building. And he oversees a network of madrasas that teach 5,000 students.<br /><br />Only seven years ago, the mosque was in the throes of a pitched battle against the authorities. Mr. Aziz tried to escape the siege under the cover of a burqa, a purse clutched in his gloved hands, but was captured and paraded by the intelligence services on national television, still wearing the black cloak.<br /><br />-----<br /><br />Malik Riaz Hussain, a sympathetic property tycoon, provided a temporary home for hundreds of madrasa students and spent at least $150,000 on refurbishing the bullet-pocked mosque. He attributed his generosity to pragmatism rather than to religious conviction.<br /><br />“I have huge interests in Islamabad and Rawalpindi,” the businessman, who has close ties to the military, told The New York Times in a 2010 interview. “Bad law and order is bad for my business.”<br /><br />The city provided land worth millions of dollars in central Islamabad for the rebuilding of Jamia Hafsa, a women’s madrasa that was bulldozed after the 2007 siege. The madrasa, whose construction is not complete, is home to the Osama bin Laden library.<br /><br />Continue reading the main storyContinue reading the main story<br />Advertisement<br /><br /> <br />But it is the courts that have been most indulgent toward Mr. Aziz and his followers. Over the past year, judges have dismissed all of the 27 criminal charges against Mr. Aziz, who at times has used the courtroom as a pulpit to call for the imposition of Shariah law.<br /><br />Instead, the court’s attention has mostly focused on Gen. Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan’s former military ruler. A judicial inquest determined that General Musharraf, not Mr. Aziz, was responsible for the deaths during the siege of the Red Mosque, even though armed jihadis from banned militant groups had joined the students inside...<br />--------<br />At Jamia Hafsa, Mr. Aziz has named a dispensary after Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani woman who is serving an 86-year prison term in the United States on charges of attempting to kill an American soldier and an F.B.I. official in Afghanistan.<br /><br />-----<br /><br />The Red Mosque has also staged a comeback on the Internet: Its Facebook page is named after the 313 Brigade, a fearsome band of armed female students that conducted raids on suspected brothels and video stores in Islamabad in 2007, in the months before the siege.<br /><br />A return to such vigilantism is unlikely, said Cyril Almeida, a columnist with Dawn, an English-language newspaper in Pakistan. But he warned that the mosque’s enhanced profile posed other dangers. “The more they gain visibility on the national stage, the more the myth of militants fighting the good fight against an illegitimate state gains in strength,” he said. “And that makes the narrative war more difficult for the state to win."...</i><br /><br />http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/07/world/asia/paying-homage-to-bin-laden-mosque-re-emerges-as-bastion-of-militancy.html?_r=1Riaz Haqhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00522781692886598586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-51669971654203328202014-04-25T21:40:24.704-07:002014-04-25T21:40:24.704-07:00Here's an interesting piece from Columbia Jour...Here's an interesting piece from <a href="http://www.cjr.org/behind_the_news/media_policy_and_conflict_in_p.php" rel="nofollow">Columbia Journalism Review</a> (CJR) on Pakistani media:<br /><br /><i>Pakistan’s raucous and increasingly lethal media sector is exerting a powerful effect on decision-making in the country, even though journalists themselves are divided on whether their influence is positive or negative. That’s the key finding of a survey of more than 350 Pakistani journalists, policymakers, and academics. ..... More than two-thirds of policymakers surveyed said the media has a “significant” effect on their decision-making and 94 percent said they “always” or “sometimes” take media reaction into account before making a decision. That group includes current and former government officials and analysts at policy think tanks and civil society organizations. Those policymakers actually have a more positive view of the media than journalists themselves. More journalists and academics believe the media makes societal divisions worse than say media helps heal those divisions; it’s exactly the reverse among policymakers. Likewise, far more policymakers than journalists and academics believe the impact of private TV has been positive. Pakistani foreign and domestic policies are inextricably linked, shaped by a complex web of political, military, and sectarian factors. Media is one element in that equation. Just over half the journalists defined as “significant” the media’s impact on relations with the U.S. and with India, Pakistan’s key rival for power in South Asia; policymakers and academics agreed with the journalists regarding the U.S., but slightly more than half the policymakers and academics said the media’s influence was “minimal” or “none” when it came to relations with India. All three groups surveyed are united in overwhelmingly believing the media has played a “significant” role in exposing corruption, though a sizable minority of journalists were more cynical, seeing their role as “insignificant.” Pakistan is locked in a virtual civil war with Islamist militants, both home-grown and from Afghanistan. Even on this complicated issue, more than one-third of those surveyed from each group believes the media has a “significant” impact on relations with the militants, who recently issued a fatwa against the media, which it declared to be a “party” to “this war on Islam.” The willingness of Pakistani journalists to speak truth to power has consistently proven lethal. In the four years since TV deregulation sparked an explosion of private television channels, there have been almost twice as many deaths as the previous decade, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, the most infamous of which was the 2011 torture and murder of investigative reporter Saleem Shahzad, who, like Hamid Mir, claimed he had been threatened by Pakistan’s ISI military intelligence wing, but who also had just published a book on the Taliban and al-Qaeda. Yet the complex calculation involved in determining what kinds of stories could prove fatal and which push the envelope just short of that point is reflected in the responses to the question, “Can journalists report sensitive stories without fear of reprisals?” Almost 30 percent of journalists responded “yes,” double the percentage of policymakers and academics who thought that was the case, and another 30 percent of journalists said they could “sometimes” tackle such stories. Pakistan is a nation of contradictions, not least when it comes to the news industry. Nothing better sums up those contradictions than the response to the question: “Should government officials mislead the media if they think it is in the national interest?” At a time when Pakistani journalists are dying in the pursuit of truth, the response seemed to turn reality on its head: More policymakers than journalists said “no,” the government should not have that right.</i><br /><br />http://www.cjr.org/behind_the_news/media_policy_and_conflict_in_p.phpRiaz Haqhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00522781692886598586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-89472431373326313082014-04-17T09:21:17.699-07:002014-04-17T09:21:17.699-07:00Here's an AFP report on Lal Masjid's Maula...Here's an <a href="http://www.straitstimes.com/news/asia/south-asia/story/osama-bin-laden-library-pakistan-religious-school-20140417" rel="nofollow">AFP report</a> on Lal Masjid's Maulana Aziz naming his madrassa library after Osama Bin Laden:<br /><br /><i>A religious school for women in the Pakistani capital Islamabad has renamed its library in honour of slain al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.<br /><br />The seminary is run by controversial hardline cleric Maulana Abdul Aziz, the imam of the city's Red Mosque, once notorious as a hideout for hardliners with alleged militant links.<br /><br />The mosque was the scene of a week-long military siege against radicals in 2007 which left more than 100 people dead and unleashed a wave of Islamist attacks across Pakistan.<br /><br />Now the Jamia Hafsa seminary connected to it has named its small library, stocking Islamic texts, in honour of bin Laden, who masterminded the 9/11 attacks in the United States.</i><br /><br />- See more at: http://www.straitstimes.com/news/asia/south-asia/story/osama-bin-laden-library-pakistan-religious-school-20140417Riaz Haqhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00522781692886598586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-79680481526813179702014-04-16T22:09:43.853-07:002014-04-16T22:09:43.853-07:00From Economist on Lal Masjid cleric Maulana Aziz:
...From <a href="http://www.economist.com/news/asia/21601047-seven-years-after-red-mosque-affair-renowned-extremist-re-emerges-returning-vengeance" rel="nofollow">Economist</a> on Lal Masjid cleric Maulana Aziz:<br /><br />IN THE summer of 2007, things were not looking good for Maulana Abdul Aziz, an extremist cleric who had just failed in his attempt to impose strict sharia law on Pakistan’s capital by force.<br /><br />His Red Mosque and madrassa complex, a stone’s throw from government buildings in Islamabad, was stormed by security forces on the orders of then-president, Pervez Musharraf. Dozens of people died during the siege. Mr Aziz was caught trying to escape dressed in a burqa.<br /><br />In this section<br />Riding the wave<br />Returning with a vengeance<br />Back on track?<br />Time to deal<br />A ferry sinks<br />The game of the river<br />A tricky rebalancing act<br />Reprints<br />Seven years later it is Mr Musharraf who is on trial for high treason while Mr Aziz is a free man, basking in media attention and busily rebuilding his religious powerbase. “We receive donations from people all over the world”, he says, gazing out at a group of workmen building another marble edifice that will house more seminary students and teachers. “They are inspired by the sacrifice of the martyrs who died protecting the mosque.”<br /><br />He has his freedom thanks to the government’s tolerance of radical Islamists in national affairs. In February Mr Aziz was among five people nominated by the Pakistani Taliban to represent its interests in peace talks with the government. Although he soon dropped out of the process, the question of how much the country should adjust its constitution to suit its militant tormentors became a routine topic on talk shows.<br /><br />Mr Aziz says he is not part of the “armed struggle”, but he argues that violence is justified in order to establish God’s laws. He is revered by terrorists for whom the Red Mosque affair was a defining moment. One militant group—Ghazi Force—is named after Mr Aziz’s brother, Maulana Abdul Rashid Ghazi, who was killed during the siege.<br /><br />Some suspect the group may have been behind the suicide attack in Islamabad on March 3rd. Among the 11 dead was a liberal-minded judge who outraged extremists last year when he rejected a petition for Mr Musharraf to be tried for ordering the raid on the Red Mosque in 2007.<br /><br />Zahid Hussain, a commentator, says the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has lost its appetite for controlling illegal madrassa construction in Islamabad. He says there are now thousands of madrassa students in the city. No wonder Mr Aziz feels the tide of history is flowing in his direction. In 2007, we were on the defensive, he says. “Now things have turned 180 degrees and it is the secular forces who are hiding.”<br /><br />http://www.economist.com/news/asia/21601047-seven-years-after-red-mosque-affair-renowned-extremist-re-emerges-returning-vengeanceRiaz Haqhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00522781692886598586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-28078119215985285242013-05-07T17:02:19.882-07:002013-05-07T17:02:19.882-07:00That is a very good proposal indeed and should be ...That is a very good proposal indeed and should be considered for implementation by the next Parliament.<br />Argusnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-69288102183056358522013-05-07T17:01:09.619-07:002013-05-07T17:01:09.619-07:00Argus: "You are correct that a farcical trial...Argus: "You are correct that a farcical trial would be wrong, but we will need to go through the trial with the courts we have, not the courts we wish we had, to paraphrase Mr. Rumsfeld."<br /><br />Justice Saeed us Zaman Siddiqui, a man of principle who refused to take PCO oath in 1999, has suggested South Africa style Truth and Reconciliation to resolve this situation where almost everyone involved shares responsibility for the events surrounding military coups and their legitimization.<br />Riaz Haqhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00522781692886598586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-34513348230780413022013-05-07T17:00:18.120-07:002013-05-07T17:00:18.120-07:00This is an age old problem Sir: Quis custodiet ips...This is an age old problem Sir: Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?<br /><br />You are correct that a farcical trial would be wrong, but we will need to go through the trial with the courts we have, not the courts we wish we had, to paraphrase Mr. Rumsfeld.<br />Argusnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-11131646996066460382013-05-07T16:59:41.890-07:002013-05-07T16:59:41.890-07:00Argus: "I agree with you that the judges are ...Argus: "I agree with you that the judges are not being totally impartial, but they are the only legal remedy available, and the Supreme Court is the ultimate arbiter, right or wrong."<br /><br />If the judges are not impartial, then there can be no fair trial guaranteed by the constitution of Pakistan. So any trial of Musharraf by these partial judges would be a violation of the constitution.Riaz Haqhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00522781692886598586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-65644320330487141382013-05-07T16:57:53.941-07:002013-05-07T16:57:53.941-07:00That is the process laid down in the law, which wa...That is the process laid down in the law, which was followed. While I understand why you have your personal opinions, in this case, you thoughts are increasingly lop-sided.<br /><br />I agree with you that the judges are not being totally impartial, but they are the only legal remedy available, and the Supreme Court is the ultimate arbiter, right or wrong.<br /><br />That authority must be respected.<br /><br />Argusnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-4629490548765320382013-05-07T16:57:24.428-07:002013-05-07T16:57:24.428-07:00Argus:" The ECP is an independent body that g...Argus:" The ECP is an independent body that governs elections, while Gen Musharraf is being tried by regular courts that cover civil and criminal law. These are two entirely different systems."<br /><br />It was the bigoted activist judges who decided on these issues, not the EC commissioners. These biased judges see it fit for any one with clear violations of article 62 and 63 to seek election while Musharraf is banned for life because he dared to challenge their corruption in 2007. Riaz Haqhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00522781692886598586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-38154893398608789772013-05-07T16:56:16.024-07:002013-05-07T16:56:16.024-07:00What is the point of that post? The ECP is an inde...What is the point of that post? The ECP is an independent body that governs elections, while Gen Musharraf is being tried by regular courts that cover civil and criminal law. These are two entirely different systems.<br />Argusnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-82685920633505977282013-05-07T16:55:34.885-07:002013-05-07T16:55:34.885-07:00Hasnain: "I hope next time you'll do some...Hasnain: "I hope next time you'll do some research before musing"<br /><br />Publishing lists? Is that enough? <br /><br />Let me give me you a few examples of who is considered "qualified" by ECP and Pakistan's bigoted judges:<br /><br />1. Jamshed Dasti lied about his degree and he is now a "qualified" candidate in Punjab.<br /><br />2. A number of LeJ's sectarian killers are candidates under the banner of ASWJ in Punjab. <br /><br />3. A man charged with murder and currently in jail is a candidate in Lyari. <br /><br />I could go on and on.<br />Riaz Haqhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00522781692886598586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-74322014775578845432013-05-07T16:54:42.514-07:002013-05-07T16:54:42.514-07:001-Fake Degree Holders list has been published on E...1-Fake Degree Holders list has been published on ECP's website<br />http://ecp.gov.pk/misc/listoffakedegreeholders.pdf<br />2-Parliamentarians whose degrees were considered genuine <br />Election Commission of Pakistan<br />3- NAB,SBP and FBR reports of contesting candidates<br />A-General Candidates<br />Election Commission of Pakistan<br />B-Reserved and Minorities<br />Election Commission of Pakistan<br /><br />I hope next time you'll do some research before musing<br />Hasnainnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-15253807313527224602013-05-06T20:16:21.922-07:002013-05-06T20:16:21.922-07:00Tahir ul Qadri's Questions: Why is Musharraf t...Tahir ul Qadri's Questions: Why is Musharraf the only one disqualified to run for elections? Why not the sectarian terrorists, tax dodgers, loan defaulters, electricity thieves, fake degree holders?Riaz Haqhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00522781692886598586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-60093593799041344522013-05-05T17:09:44.811-07:002013-05-05T17:09:44.811-07:00Here's a Telegraph story of Pak tx collector f...Here's a <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/10037380/Pakistan-elections-how-the-tax-man-was-forced-out-for-being-too-good-at-his-job.html" rel="nofollow">Telegraph story</a> of Pak tx collector fired by judges for "simply too successful in forcing people to pay more taxes": <br /><br /><i> In a country where almost no-one pays income tax, including more than two thirds of MPs, it only took seven months for Ali Arshad Hakeem to become a hated man.<br /><br />As Pakistan's newly minted chief taxman, he built a database designed to monitor the spending habits of millions of people, and work out how much tax they owed.<br /><br />At the click of a mouse, he could call up details of the elite's holiday habits, electricity bills and bank accounts, complete with photos addresses and vehicle details.<br /><br />This quiet, technocratic revolution came to a juddering halt last month, when Mr Hakeem was suspended by judges over allegations that his appointment breached government rules that demand each job be filled from a shortlist of three.<br /><br />In Pakistan's murky world of political appointments and patronage systems, few believe that was the real reason. Instead, his supporters say he was simply too successful in forcing people to pay more taxes. In other words, he was too good at doing his job.<br /><br /> A recent report by Pakistan's Centre for Investigative Reporting revealed that President Asif Ali Zardari and Rehman Malik, interior minister until mid-March when the government stepped down ahead of next week's elections, were among those politicians who paid nothing.<br /><br />It made gloomy reading for anyone wondering whether there was any will inside Pakistan to reform. "The problem starts at the top," the report stated. "Those who make revenue policies, run the government and collect taxes, have not been able to set good examples for others."<br /><br />Two of Mr Hakeem's key appointments have since transferred, moving them away from jobs where he said they would have helped bring more than £1.3 billion into government coffers.<br /><br />"It's gone. And I'm not going to do it again," Mr Hakeem, 49, told The Sunday Telegraph - his relaxed demeanour and easy smile belying the bitterness he feels.<br /><br />Much of his work has been undone in the short time since he was forced out, he said, and he had no appetite to take on the courts or challenge his suspension. His wife and children had already suffered enough stress.<br /><br />"I hate it. I worked 20 hours a day. I've taken so much hatred for this, everyone is my enemy and out to get me - and then they sack me. Angry is not even the word," he said.<br /><br />The decision to oust him will worry international donors who have kept pressure on Pakistan to shake up its anaemic tax system. They fear that without economic growth and an expanding revenue, the country's growing population could tip what is a fragile state into a failed state.<br /><br />Pakistan is officially classed as a middle income country. It has the resources to build more than 100 nuclear warheads yet depends on handouts to keep its power stations, schools and hospitals running. </i><br /><br />http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/10037380/Pakistan-elections-how-the-tax-man-was-forced-out-for-being-too-good-at-his-job.htmlRiaz Haqhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00522781692886598586noreply@blogger.com