BoP Scam — The Fix Is On Again

So much for “free judiciary”! Appears the Bank of Punjab Scam is all set to be swept under the rug along with other such scams not even getting a mention.

Today we hear NAB is all set to “plea-bargain” with the suspects (Haris Steel) and give them a “clean chit”:

NAB may accept plea bargain by BoP culprits
“Wednesday, December 02, 2009
By Usman Manzoor

ISLAMABAD: All is set for the culprits of the Bank of Punjab (BoP) Rs 9 billion fraud, the biggest scandal of the country’s banking history, to negotiate a plea bargain with the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and get a clean chit…”

That this is happening is really no surprise. Remember the guys heading NAB are the very same ones appointed by Musharraf under who’s watchful eye, this and other such scams were perpetrated.

Another Zardari/Sharif Collaboration

With the NRO mess not going away, and more stories of corruption by Sharif Brothers making the news, more and more signs are pointing towards the two families (three if you can call MQM a family) joining hands to cover each others back.

First was the attack by PML-N stalwarts against Zardari detractors and today we learn the two are collaborating not only on NRO-Plus and plan to pass it unanimously, but have jointly written a script to blame someone else for their corruption in order to ‘prove’ all cases were ‘politically motivated’ and they are clean as a whistle:

PPP’s New Line:  “Jehangir Badr, whose prime target was no other than former President Farooq Ahmed Khan Leghari during the entire press conference, said that not only the NRO beneficiaries, but those who had to pay billions of rupees to banks should also be held accountable.“

PML-N’s New Line: “Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif Wednesday said it was Farooq Leghari who filed lawsuits against the leaders of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP).“

Please remind me which is the ruling party and which one is the opposition?! And isn’t Shahbaz forgetting about Saif-ur-Rehman???

Note: No doubt I agree with Jehangir Badar that “Farooq Leghari, his son Awais Leghari and other members of their family, should be held accountable for their various corruption scandals such as cooperatives and PTCL scandals” but it should be done alongside the holding accountable PPP and PML-N and other NRO beneficiaries and not instead of it, as seems to be the plan. And why didn’t Badar think of this before???? Farooq Leghari’s corruption did begin when PPP was in power. Also, how is PPP going to deal with the fact that Zardari’s henchman Malik Riaz of Bahria Town is a business partner of Farooq Leghari?

I am surprised Badar left out the name of his colleague Senator Jamal Leghari, the elder son of Farooq, who is no less corrupt. That Farooq and Awais are guilty of corruption, there is no doubt about that either. It is a fact that Farooq Leghari (and Jamal and Awais jointly) had less than 1250 acres of land when he became president but today Farooq Leghari alone has acquired more than 12,500 acres of agricultural land (I have no clue about the acquisitions by Awais and Jamal Leghari but they have been on a land buying spree as well). And this does not include other property and bank accounts. Awais alone built his house in Islamabad at a cost of Rs 8 crore. His cousin Sumaira Malik of the ‘Cat House’ fame has spent twice that. Her sister Ayla Malik’s (these days with DunyaTV)   husband (now ex) Sardar Rind has bought another 12,500 acres in the same area as Farooq Leghari. Farooq’s cousins of course are not only among NRO beneficiaries but also big loan defaulters (but sitting pretty in the National Assembly or as Nazims)

Note: Let me remind Mr Badr that it was Awais Leghari who became Privatization Minister for a day to sign the sale of Pakistan Steel Mill (PSM), the sale that was over-turned by CJ Iftikhar and was the main and last straw that led to the CJ’s dismissal by Mush. I am sure Awais got offered a pretty penny to go along with that scam.

More Sharif Brothers’ Corruption Scandals

Recently money laundering by Sharifs was exposed in the press (but they have somehow managed to quash it or it lost attention of the press due to the NRO issue). It is also a surprise how the owners of 10 sugar mills managed to stay clear of the sugar scandal when there are no doubts of their involvement.

Now we are told they are certainly involved in many others and might have stayed clear by forcing the removal of  chairman of NAB, Lt Gen (retd) Shahid Aziz. Their parners in crime? President Asif Ali Zardari, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Humayum Akhtar, Jehangir Tareen, Altaf Saleem, Nasarullah Dareshak, Anwer Cheema and Mian Azhar in scams relating to sugar, edible oil, stock exchange and petroleum products.

Related:

Shabaz Sharif set to sell government property (which will be anything but ‘transparent’

Shahbaz on way to London to meet Altaf Hussain

PML-N colluding with PPP on NRO-Plus, the new ‘accountability’ bill

Hai, Bhagwan!

Appears the once stalwart Justice Bhagwandas has a new bhagwan and that bhawan is none other than Zardari.

Remember Justice Bhagwandas had been working for the supreme court heading the judicial commission investigating oil and gas prices. The commission had found glaring faults in the mechanism and reported that the oil companies had been given a free hand to bilk consumers and made huge profits (one refinery alone saw it’s profits go up more than 4,331%) . In fact it was on the basis of that report that Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry defined it as  “A massive embezzlement of billions of rupees in price fixing mechanisms for petroleum products in local markets since 1999 by the beneficiaries, oil companies, OGRA as well as the Federal Government has been detected“.

(Of course nothing has been done to implement the recommendations of Bhagwandas Commission by the government.)

That an attempt to buy Bhagwandas was ‘on’ became apparent a few days back when Justice Bhagwandas himself revealed offers were being made to have him appointed Chairman, Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC). Though he said he had not rejected the offer, he did point out to those offering him the job that he was barred from accepting any position as per constitution (clause 2 of Article 207 of the Constitution placed a bar on retired Supreme Court and high court judges to accept an office of profit till the expiration of two years from their retirement, and Justice Bhagwandas would not complete that term until Dec 14, 2009, as he himself stated.)

Now imagine my surprise when I opened the paper today and saw this headline glaring at me on the front page:

Bhagwandas appointed FPSC chief

Yes, Bhagwandas — excuse me for not using the title ‘Justice’ — has accepted the job and as his first act visited the Presidency Mandir to get the ashirwat of Bhuwan Zardari.  Yes, we are still weeks away from Dec 14, 2009 so wonder what happened to that ‘clause 2 of Article 207 of the Constitution’?

Also note that the position of the chief of FPSC is today a neutered one, thanks to Bhagwan Zardari and Devi Gilani, so Bhagwandas will just be a figurehead, giving an aura of legitimacy to appointments that will not be based on merit but will be strictly ‘political promotions’.

I am just surprised Bhagwandas sold so cheaply.

Side note: Regarding that Bank of Punjab case, CJ Iftikhar is certainly appearing compromised and letting crooks off the hook. More on that soon….

Desperate Zardari Buries Benazir Bhutto

Zardari seems to be reaching new levels of desperation. Yesterday, he tried to ban Dr Shahid Masood’s program “Meray Mutabiq” by stopping it’s transmission from Dubai (though it still made the airwaves).

Another sign of his desperation is that he seems to have dug out the old picture of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and buried the picture of Benazir Bhutto — do excuse the pun.

Here are a few pictures from earlier:

And here is one from their meeting yesterday:

Additional Reading:
Rule by Thieves
PPP covering up Musharraf crimes
Government stops NAB from presenting annual report
NAB says lists are ok, as per files
If NRO ministers go, the president has to follow
Bhagwandas declines FPSC job
(If I recall, Justice Bhagwandas was looking into the oil companies scam and gave his report against which no action has yet been taken)
Poor getting poorer
Missing persons still untraced, AG informs Supreme Court

Proof ISPR Best At Telling Tall Tales

LiesRUsWood

ISPR documentary wins first prize in film festival

Friday, November 20, 2009

Rawalpindi

‘Life of a Siachin Soldier’ an ISPR documentary has won the first prize in the international film festival ‘Eserciti-e-popoli’ (armies and people) held at Bracciano, Rome (Italy), says an ISPR press release issued here Thursday.

The armed forces representatives from 20 countries participated in the contest where 150 documentaries were screened in different categories. Maintaining the tradition, Pakistan Army’s documentary ‘Life of a Siachin Soldier’ has won the first prize in the category of training and was awarded Chief of Army Staff trophy.

…It may be pertinent to mention here that Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) is winning positions in the festival since 1994.

Ah, so they have been getting good at it since 1994. But they really are not that good with Photoshop yet…

Fake ISPR Photo of Kiyani Visiting Swat

How Low Can Ayaz Amir Go – Well…

"I have no shame"

You cover my @ss...

Some time ago I had written “Ayaz Amir Zardari certainly seems to be smearing himself with more manure each day and proclaiming it to be ‘perfume’” (see here).  Sp it was a pleasant surprise to see his piece that reminded me of the Ayaz of old: What further trials for a sorely-tried nation? in which he took on Zardari:

Our Don Corleone and His Consigliere

Our Don Corleone and His Consigliere

Remember back in 2002, an attack outside Sheraton Hotel on French Engineers’ bus (killing 11)? Of course it was blamed  on the big bad wolf  (Al Qaida).  Of course that practice continues to this day.

Well,  the truth finally came out earlier this year that that story was anything but true. No it was NOT Al Qaida but some officials pissed because they did not get the full payment of the bribe money they expected, so they decided to teach the French a lesson:

‘French nationals killed in Karachi over kickback’

That’s right: the attack was orchestrated by unnamed Pakistani officials angry with France over non-payment of bribes tied to a defence deal.

Aitzaz Among Looters of Bank of Punjab

Aitzaz Ahsan, Babar Awan, Moonis Elahi, Ch. Shujaat, Ch. Pervaiz Elahi, Latif Khosa, Malik Qayuum, Sharifuddin Pirzada, Waseem Sajjad, Salman Siddique

Recently Bank of Punjab (BoP) scam that I talked about in ‘Aitzaz Exposed – Part II‘ has been back in the news as the Supreme Court has been actively perusing it. But what I found most curious is the fact that although it was a Rs 13 billion scam, ALL (but one) news stories have been referring to as only a Rs 9 Billion scam.

So I got to wondering exactly where did the Rs 4 Billion go?

Aitzaz Bought and Delivered

Well the secret of the meeting between Zardari and Aitzaz is out. Aitzaz has been offered post of governor or AG and in return he has agreed to kiss Zardari’s feet and has assured the Presidency he will assist Zardari on NRO (Will his defense be based on asking CJ Iftikhar Chaudhry to step aside “because I am Zardari’s lawyer now” — a lame trick he tried before in the Bank of Punjab scam, just like the Former AG Latif Khosa is trying now against CJs Iftikhar and Ramday?)

French Lesson

How do you say “He’s a son-of-a-bitch but he’s OUR son-of-a-bitch” in French? Well, the French FM just taught me:

French Foreign Minister

Karzai is ‘corrupt’ but ‘our guy’: French FM

PARIS: President Hamid Karzai is ‘corrupt’ but Nato has to accept that ‘he is our guy’ in Afghanistan, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said, according to the New York Times on Thursday

Funny thing is, he goes on to complain:

Kouchner also complained that President Barack Obama’s US administration was drawing up a new strategy for the war in Afghanistan without consulting its European allies within Nato, leaving them in the dark.

I know why that is, Frenchie: ‘Cause you too are their b!tch so they don’t have to answer to you. Now go sit in the outhouse where you belong!

If You Don’t Support Kerry-Lugar, You Are With The Terrorists: Holbrooke

 

Holbrooke with a KLA Terrorist

Look who’s talking! Here’s a bit of wisdom from the master of Zardari/Nawaz: “Pakistanis are very sensitive to the issue of their sovereignty and that is why I do not want to say anything about it,” he added. He said those who attacked the KLL did not understand it. He said those who oppose the KLL are the ones who either oppose the present Pakistani government or support the Taliban.

 

Rise and Fall (of Zardari)

(This piece appeared in The News the day of the NRO debacle by Zardari)
Monday, November 02, 2009
Nawab Mumtaz Ali Bhutto

Mumtaz Bhutto

Readers will recall my repeated warnings that a man with Zardari’s reputation, who has no educational or political background and lacks all the other prerequisites of leadership, will be an absolute disaster in a minor office, let alone the top position in the country. This has proved to be true in a short period leading to a nationwide upheaval. His claim to fame rests entirely on being the husband of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto and spending eight years in jail. Let us look at these laurels a bit closely.

PML-N Soldier Barrister Akram Sheikh

The 'Moralilty' flag-carrier of PML-N, Barrister Akram Sheikh

An excellent example of the morality of politicians and lawyers!

Remember this guy is quoting Quran in court one day and asking judges to fear the ‘Day of Judgement’.

But what is he up to now? Well, how about getting in bed with Latif Khosa (and this is after Khosa was removed from the post of AG for corruption) and the most corrupt ex-judge Malik Qayyum — affectionately known as Kuttayum — to fight against the lawyers’ group responsible for the restoration (I guess Qayyum and Sheikh are buddies since the days when Nawaz was king and Justice Qayyum was the judge in Nawaz’s pocket.)

Another feather in his cap: His latest client is the most-corrupt Malik Riaz of Bahria Town. Yes, it is the same Malik Riaz who is these days helping Zardari to break all records of corruption (I guess he liked Malik Riaz’s style — remember it is Malik Riaz who brought in the Quran in Nawaz-Zardari deal that was later broken and led Zardari to state a promise is not Quran or Hadith!)

Is There Any Deal PML-N Has Not Made? NO!

UPDATE: What PML-N Denies, their master confirms:
Abdullah asks Nawaz to avoid non-issues
Mush a “non-issue“, eh ‘king‘?

Adding to my earlier post (Is There Any Deal PML-N Has Not Made?), we now have Mush claiming (exposing?) another of those deals by PML-N:
Nawaz has ensured Saudi King he will not pursue Article 6 against Musharraf

Although Mush’s interview was full of lies, I do believe this bit and I am sure another master liar Fazlu is not wrond about this bit:
Fazl sees no trial of Musharraf even under PML-N Govt

Of course Nawaz is in Saudi Arabia right now, probably feeling a bit low as the Dung Beetles did not offer him the same ‘red-carpet’ treatment they gave that piece of manure Mush. And the just issueddenial of any such pressure certainly points to it.

More about Mush’s interview:

A Coward Still Passing the Buck

October 12 coup, Bugti’s murder and Nov 3 steps Musharraf passes the buck to Army

Well, if that was not enough, a few days later he came back with another good one:
I shouldn’t be blamed for Bugti’s killing: Musharraf

A Year Of Zardari

Saturday, September 12, 2009
Sardar Mumtaz Ali Bhutto

Mumtaz Bhutto

The present dispensation is the direct result of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto’s murder. It is believed that the deal sponsored by the Americans between Musharraf and her, was “Plan A.” She deviated from this on her return to Pakistan and had to be eliminated. This is a view recently supported by Gen (Retd.) Aslam Baig, former chief of army staff. Thus, the standby “Plan B” came into operation and her long-estranged husband came on the scene. A controversial and often-questioned will emerged, according to which Asif Ali Zardari was made co-chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party.

ZarKhuari

It is not astonishing or surprising that Plan B has worked. The rot that set in with Zia’s success in corrupting not just politics but the very mindset of people, and is a practice advanced by all his successors to facilitate a shortcut to power. Thus even the most sceptical elements in the PPP found it expedient to climb onto the Zardari bandwagon. High offices, membership of assemblies, advisory positions and access to the corridors of power was just around the corner, and it became imperative to pretend that the emperor was fully clothed. “Democracy is the best revenge” was the absurd slogan coined to bury the murder of Benazir, while referring the matter to a UN tribunal was done to seek a permanent closure of this sordid chapter.

Understanding Balochistan

As tensions flare in Balochistan and the government alleges foreign involvement in the nationalist movement there, Dawn.com talks to Sanaullah Baloch, the Central Secretary Information of the Balochistan National Party – Mengal.

Your name was placed on the Exit Control List (ECL) and your brothers were reportedly abducted by the agencies during the Musharraf government. Have you considered filing charges now that the judges have been reinstated?

My entire family, including my parents, was placed on the ECL. Our assets were frozen, my brother was abducted and kept in an illegal detention centre for six months, and I was physically attacked by Musharraf’s agents during a conference in London. My website and 36 other Baloch websites were blocked by Pakistan Telecommunications Authority.

As for filing charges, several Baloch political parties tried to file charges against Musharraf, but the country’s institutions lack the will or courage to accept our plea against him.

If I compromise on Baloch movement, my followers will kill, replace and forget me, says Bramdagh Bugti

EXCLUSIVE:

By Malik Siraj Akbar

A confident Baloch guerrilla commander Nawabzada Bramdagh Bugti, 28, believes it is now “impossible” for Islamabad to get him extradited even if he is hiding somewhere in Afghanistan, as claimed by Pakistan’s Interior Minister Rehman Malik, or elsewhere in the wake of increasing “international moral support” the “ Baloch national liberation movement” is attracting because of its “legitimacy”.

Bramdagh, the fiercest face of the Baloch insurgency, is a grandson of late Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, a former chief minister and governor of Balochistan who was killed by the Pervez Musharraf regime in a military operation on August 26 2006. Since then, the young separatist has taken the command of the armed Baloch fighters who demand an independent Balochistan. While the senior Bugti only demanded provincial autonomy for the gas-rich Balochistan province, Bramdagh differently interprets his grandfather’s dream. He stands for a free and sovereign Balochistan.

Pakistan has been blaming India for supporting Bramdagh’s armed movement via Afghanistan where Islamabad believes this young fighter is currently hiding. The situation in Balochistan has now transformed into a pain in Islamabad’s nick. On his part, the Baloch leader says if he enjoyed international support, he would vanquish his enemy overnight.

In yet another excusive interview with this writer, the chief of Baloch Republican Party (BRP) and one of the most influential armed commanders of the ongoing Baloch movement once again denied hiding somewhere in Afghanistan. Excerpts:

MALIK SIRAJ AKBAR: How do you feel about possible efforts by Islamabad to pressurize the Afghan government to get you extradited from Afghanistan where you are believed to be currently hiding?

Restoration is all it was, NOTHING more!

Ali Ahmed Kurd

Couple of days ago, Ali Ahmed Kurd spoke at a ceremony at the Supreme Court marking the start of the new judicial year and that has not gotten the attention it deserved. It is a very significant statement coming from the President Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) and someone who led the movement for restoration:

President SCBA Ali Ahmad Kurd said all the segments of society had played their role in the restoration of judiciary and lawyers and common man had rendered unprecedented sacrifices for the rule of law. “But to my sight nothing had changed. A myriads of questions were brewing in the minds of the lawyers. The attitude of the judges and procedure of courts was the same what it was before the movement for restoration of judiciary was launched ["the same practice and the same attitude of judges from top to bottom is evident" as reported by another story]. People ask us what results have come out after the restoration of independent judiciary, he questioned. It was not correct to dismiss the cases in haste, he remarked. (source)

Mush Bush

Now he is someone who knows the real situation. This certainly is no surprise. The last Supreme Court decision that supposedly struck down Nov 3 acts of Musharraf could not have adhered more to the “Doctrine of Necessity“, despite what claims CJP Ifitkar M Chaudhry makes.

We all know the decision the court made soon after Musharraf restored him briefly (the court allowed him to get himself “elected” as President and in uniform on September 28, 2007). And Musharraf was using those powers on Nov 3 2007 given to him by the very same Supreme Court to shut it down.

CJ IMC & Mush

The latest decision of July 30th , though hailed as “historical” by many, was nothing of the sort and all it did was get rid of judges that short-changed the deposed judges. It has proven to be nothing but the justices protecting their turf, just like the sugar and cement and flour mafias.

So it is hardly unfair to say we are where we were on Nov 3. The only difference is the names on the salary checks of judges have changed.

Related:
Kurd sees no change after restoration of deposed judges

ISLAMABAD: Nothing has changed since the restoration of the deposed judiciary, Supreme Court Bar Association President Ali Ahmad Kurd said on Monday. Addressing a ceremony held at the Supreme Court to mark the beginning of the new judicial year, he said the same archaic practices were still being followed, adding that the behaviour and attitude of judges was also the same. He said judges had granted leaves in very few petitions and rejected others without proper hearings. staff report

THE Doctrine Of Necessity And Pakistan’s Poodle Judiciary

Rauf Klasra Drops His Pants…

… and authors Brig Imtiaz’s ‘biography’. Now exactly what kind of book will it be, you can pretty much guess by looking here

Pervaiz ‘G W’ Kiyani

Remember way back when Bush pulled the “I’m a fighter pilot” stunt and declared “Mission Accomplished”?

That was May 01, 2003, more than six years ago. Well we all know how that went.

Well, here is the cheaper version:

Remember way back when Kiyani pulled the “I’m a fighter pilot” stunt and declared “Militants have been destroyed” (a claim repeated many times by Zardari and Gilani, of course).

That was June 15, 2009, more than fifty days ago. Well, here is what he had to offer us now:
Swat operation to continue, says COAS

Say what? You mean your ‘victory lap’ was all for naught? Could ISPR have been right for once (“Army to stay in Swat indefinitely, says ISPR“) ?

P.S. I had commented about Kiyani’s stupid act earlier (see bottom of this post) and it was just too plain for all to see. Here is what Ayaz Amir had to say:

But it would be a pity if any of this went to Kayani’s head. We need good and able military commanders. But we’ve had enough of military saviours and can do without more in the future. And, perhaps, we can do without army chiefs trying to become F-16 aces. A flight through the clouds of Waziristan — a final victory lap, so to speak — may be in order once Baitullah Mehsud is beaten. Before that it would look a bit like President George Bush’s landing on the flight deck of the USS Constellation with a banner at the back proclaiming “Mission Accomplished” when, as events in Iraq were to prove, the mission had barely started.

(See Ayaz, I really don’t hate you. I just hate it when you say things like “The army chief, Gen Ashfaq Kayani, has grown on the job and is definitely a more confident man than when he took over from Musharraf. The Malakand operation and preparations for an assault on Waziristan have to a large extent rehabilitated the army’s image, badly tarnished by Musharraf’s policies” in the same para, knowing full well that someone given to such stunts could hardly be a “confident man” who has “grown on the job” and “rehabilitated the army’s image”. Are you saying our army is so pathetic it has to stoop this low to build it’s image???)

When Poets Are Forced To Pick Up Guns

Meer Jan Miral killed in clash with FC

Two FC men, attacker killed in Turbat

 

By Malik Siraj Akbar

 

QUETTA: Three people, including two Frontier Corps (FC) personnel, were killed on Thursday in an exchange of fire with gunmen from the Baloch Republican Army (BRA) in Turbat district’s Thump area, officials said.

They said an FC team was ambushed during a routine patrol.

The assailants opened fire on the FC vehicle on Zubeda Jalal Road, killing the two personnel. The FC retaliated and killed one of the attackers.

Murtaza Baig, a spokesman for the FC in Quetta, confirmed the attack and added that three FC men had also been injured in the clash.

However, unverified local accounts suggested that six FC men had been killed, but the figure could not be independently confirmed.

The BRA has accepted responsibility for the attack. The slain attacker was identified as Meer Jan Miral, a noted Balochi poet. [Please check the Youtube link to Meer Jan Miral's poetry]

http://dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=200994\story_4-9-2009_pg7_4

 

Related:

Banok Karima: the Baloch Leila Khaled

Qambar Jan tho kuja hey?

I am not anti-tribalism: Bramdagh Bugti

Blood ONCE AGAIN ignites fire in Balochistan

Qambar Jan tho kuja hey?

Cold shoulder for the Balochistan parliamentary committee

The Death Wish of Pakistan’s Journo Class

Coming across “The Death Wish of Pakistan’s Political Class” by my old friend Ayaz Amir certainly made me laugh once again. I think the trouble with Ayaz is that he is trying to be true to two opposing identities at the same time and failing miserable as expected, his columns becoming a hodgepodge of meaningless rants.

In this one, he complains about all the attention being paid “the spent cartridge” Brig Imtiaz (well it appears he had some ‘barood‘ left) and fails to see that he is being guilty of the very same. He completely knocks down the Pakistani political class calling it “its own worst enemy” that is incompetent, has no ability to learn anything from the past and has unconquerable zest for intrigue that paves the way for takeover by saviors from the military. Here I agree with him and agree too that we are heading down the same path. But does he offer a solution? None besides ‘it shouldn’t happen!’

What really bothers me is that he once again takes a shot at the lawyers movement and denies them credit for getting rid of Musharraf (“but it was not the lawyers’ movement, which got Musharraf to take off his uniform”). This is coming from the MNA of a party that is incapable of introducing a resolution in the assembly against anything.

Talking about the current campaign against democracy, the line that really made me go “WTF?” was the following one:

“The first target of this campaign is President Asif Zardari.”

WTF, really? Even PPP doesn’t claim that. And if that was the aim of the current malicious campaign by the hidden hands, then why has been Ahsan Iqbal and PML-N shouting bloody murder against the presidency and talking about secret cells and giving 48-hour ultimatums? If that was the case, shouldn’t PML-N instead have locked lips with Zardari in the open??

Yes Ayaz, “the renewed focus on the ISI’s 1990 payments have completely distracted attention from other things.” And yes, we should be talking about the real issues this has distracted us from: “Musharraf’s trial under Article Six of the constitution and the question of repealing the 17th Amendment,” the wholesale corruption of both the political and the journalist class (and you belong to BOTH).

Wish you’d take your own advice — but then, your hands are tied

Is There Any Deal PML-N Has Not Made?

This strange denial caught my eye:
PML-N denies deal allowing Musharraf to escape

PML-N leader Ahsan dispelled the impression that resultant of the so-called great deal it would not hotly pursue the demand for registration of a case against Musharraf under serious offenses and trial.

He alleged that former President was only responsible for Lal Masjid Operation, bloodshed in NWFP, igniting the fire in Balochistan, ruthless killing of Nawab Akbar Bugti and hundreds of missing people.”

‘Dispel’ my arse! After screaming for months “Someone better sue Musharaf!”, Musharraf finally gets sued but guess what? They were the first to disown it (even though the case filed was by one of their own PML-N party leaders.) That this denial is just B.S. will become clear once you see the part about the Saudi intervention below.

I really will have to look back as to where the PML-N stood when Lal Masjid operation was going on, we all know they fully AND OFFICIALLY support “bloodshed in NWFP”, continuing to burn “fire in Balochistan”, which led to not only the “ruthless killing of Nawab Akbar Bugti” but many others since they got in bed with Zardari (No, don’t blame Mush for what is happening today, PML-N), and “hundreds of missing people” whose numbers continue to increase, thanks to PML-N support.

Regarding Mush’s prosecution, another deal about to be made (and one that will soon to be denied) is the one Nawaz will make with King Abdalla of Saudi Arabia. Remember Rehman Malik just met the King who then sent his own plane to bring Mushy to him and gave him ‘royal protocol’. And Rehman denied meeting Mush which means he did! Now Nawaz is scheduled to go see King Abdalla, his master, and you will see a softening of the stance by Nawaz or a whole lot more meaningless screaming as far as action against Mush is concerned. (Any wonder then that it is now Mush who is taunting with statements like “Pakistan’s foes must be tried for treason“)

And here is the latest on the 48-hour ultimatum PML-N gave PPP on the Brig. Imtiaz affair: In only 24 hours they have found the ultimatum “counter productive”. Already Ahsan Iqbal has forgotten about the “48 hours” and is now talking “in time“. And also don’t hold your breath that PML-N will follow through with their new strategy that “we will expose govt’s ‘misdeeds’” instead.

Of course I knew the showdown was off when I saw PML-N playing kissy-kissy with PPP on all talkshows last night. Specially disappointing was watching Javed Hashmi of PML-N joining hands with PPP’s Kaira and taking a lead in attacking Ghulam Mustafa Khar instead of the other way around.

What gall PML-N has…What scumbags…What EUNUCHS!

UPDATE: Surprise! Surprise! The 48-Hour Ultimatum has been withdrawn officially at the passing of the 48 hours

Sher Aaya! Sher Bhaga!!

PML (N) calls off ultimatum to PPP
PML-N, PPP bury hatchet after Gilani intervention

Regarding Mush and Abdalla, here is a comment I had posted elsewhere:

Remember this watta-satta between two dictators:
Mush Gives Highest CIVILIAN Award to SA King

SA King Gives Highest CIVILIAN Award to Mush

Rauf Klasra — Gullible Fool or Bad Liar?

An Open Letter to Rauf Klasra

Dear Mr Klasra,

This is in reference to your article titled “How a jilted Karachi woman saved Pak N-programme” that appeared in the daily The News on May 28, 2009. I say it is a complete and total fabrication put out by you to bring out that bustard Brig Billa back into the limelight and present that lowest of lowlifes as a hero of sorts.

The story you weaved is certainly hilarious. I must admit the first time I read it I paid no attention to it as I found it worth of being thrown in the trash bin. Having been out of the country for years before and after the events you mentioned, I certainly was unfamiliar with the events of those days and had no clue who this character Brig Imtiaz was. Well we are way past that now and your intentions have become clearer, thanks to pkpolitics.com, the site you plan on suing. I certainly hope you WILL go through with that.

PML-Q File: How NOT to Win Over Balochistan

Not that the Baloch give a damn about an apology (nor are they looking for an “amnesty“), it is funny that the men responsible for Bugti’s murder and many other atrocities against the Baloch (see Jamil Bugti’s statements below) — so much for “pure intentions” — going there to win then over with an attitude “we refuse to apologize!”

What filth!

Shujaat refuses to apologise on Balochistan issue
Monday, August 31, 2009

By Muhammad Ejaz Khan

Ch Shuj

QUETTA: PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain on Sunday refused to tender an apology on incidents that had occurred in Balochistan during his party’s rule.

Flanked by PML-Q Secretary-General Mushahid Hussain Sayed while addressing a news conference here, Shujaat said whatever had been done at that time in the province was with pure intentions.

Mushahid

Replying to a question about the delay in registration of a case of Akbar Bugti’s murder, Shujaat said a case should be lodged against those responsible for the murder and there should be an open trial over the killing.

He said the situation in Balochistan was deteriorating rapidly. He said he would approach the prime minister for improvement in the situation and invite him to the province, requesting him to stay there till the situation came under control.

He added that he would request the prime minister to hold talks with all the stakeholders in the province. He said if the rulers found a solution to the problems, then the PML-Q was ready to cooperate in this regard. The national flag would always be hoisted with honour in the province, he said.

Responding to a question, he denied that there was a Jinnahpur conspiracy, saying it was just a fake story. There were certain maps but the ground reality was different, he added. On the occasion, Mushahid said that from January 2009 to date, terrorist activities had claimed the lives of 238 people in 201 incidents in the province in addition to 672 people, who had been injured in these activities.

He added that the province had an average of one person killed and two injured daily. He said resistance offered by the people was corresponding to their ordeal, adding that if it crossed the threshold and a common man became a victim, then it was terrorism. Acts of this sort were done to destabilise and divide the province, he said.

He suggested that in order to solve the Balochistan issue, all the missing persons should be recovered and cases registered on political grounds should be withdrawn.All the people in the mountains, Dubai and London should be brought back and made part of the mainstream, he suggested.

Jamil Bugti accuses Shujaat of ‘misinformation’

Jamil Bugti

QUETTA: Jamil Bugti on Friday accused Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Secretary General Mushahid Hussain of spreading “misinforming” about their meetings with his father, Akbar Bugti.

Talking to reporters at Bugti Bolak on the outskirts of Quetta, Jamil said his father had asked both the PML-Q leaders not to visit Dera Bugti if they did not have the authority to resolve Balochistan’s issues. Nevertheless, they visited the tribe and spread “misinformation” on their return claiming that Akbar Bugti had no objection to a military cantonment in Sui.

“As a matter of fact, my father demanded the military cantonment from Sui and elsewhere in Balochistan be moved,” he said.

On the safe passage offer to Akbar Bugti, Jamil said his father never trusted the “Punjabi leadership” as it wanted to trap him in Karachi for the army to arrest him.

“Shujaat Hussain’s offer to my father was a ploy to trap him and move him from the Bugti tribal territory in the garb of medical treatment in Europe,” he claimed.

On the post-attack visit to Dera Bugti by Shujaat and Mushahid, he said they wanted to make a passage for the troops to launch a bigger ground attack on the tribe and demanded the Bugti tribesmen vacate their positions and in return the army would vacate its positions in the nearby hills.

Related:

Jamil Bugti Interview from 2007

Is Baluchistan becoming another East Pakistan?

Interview with BNP secretary general Habib Jalib

Baloch vs the Government or Government vs the Baloch

While Rehman ‘Nai’ Malik continues with his lies, claiming all missing persons from Balochistan are “actually getting training in terrorist camps in Balochistan”, and his bitches, the Frontier Corps (FC) try to show their ‘mettle’ by targeting young journalists and newspapers in Balochistan in their attempts to suppress the facts,  the struggle that can not be suppressed continues….

(The material below is reproduced from Balochwarna site that — like many others about Balochistan — are being blocked in Pakistan under the sorry excuse of “blasphemy”)

Hina Rabbani Khar Tareen Holbrooke

The real reason Holbrooke keeps coming back to Pakistan

Bet ya he too is banging her…

Her previous lover

KESC Swindles: Past, Present, and Future

The Ugliest Logo On Earth

Putting aside the Rental Power Plant scam that is being exposed these days, I want to go back to the KESC scam as it is ongoing and the worst of it is yet to come and it is being called “de-privatisation”.

This is how I see it and see if you agree:

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SCAMS OF THE PAST:
It is decided to privatize KESC and instead of trying to pump up the stocks, the exact opposite is done and the stocks are manipulated downwards. Even then they manage to get it down only between Rs 7-8 per share (Remember it hovered around Rs 15 when it was first decided to privatize it). Despite the fact that the stock price in the market is between Rs 7 and 8, the company is sold at Rs 1.65 per share, a “discount” of 75-80% and that too after government takes over Rs 90 billion of KESCs debt to a shadow group marketed as “Middle East consortium” which it is not. (Of course I contend that even that Rs. 15.85 billion was never paid) (Note: ADB is part of this consortium and an equal partner in this crime)

This company of course does not invest a dime in KESC. Not only that, it also never pays it’s bills. Instead it just collects the money that people pay as their electricity bills and syphons it out of the country. Of course sometimes when the companies providing it electricity (PEPCO, other IPPs) demand their bills be cleared, either the government comes to its rescue and pays KESCs bills OR KESC mortgages some of it’s assets with the banks or simply takes loans from the banks with the Government of Pakistan (GoP) as the guarantor. Please also remember that not only do they mortgage their physical assets but they even mortgage their future revenue stream i.e. the bills of their big industrial clients. They continue like this until ALL their assets are mortgaged with the banks and when nothing is left, and against the original deal, they “sell” their stake before the three years have passed.

CJ: Can’t Convict Musharraf; How About Convicting DOGar?

I think CJ is right to state Musharraf cannot be convicted in case in hand but, he added, it “could declare his steps of November 3, 2007, as unconstitutional.” And it should.

He added it is for parliament, nation to punish ex-president and having the Nov 3 steps declared unconstitutional does take away every excuse from the parliament (and PML-N) NOT to apply Article 6 of the Constitution.

Of course Musharraf’s illegitimate Child PZP does have a strong — NOT! — argument in Mushy’s defence: “Bury the past!” they will argue and we know why. ‘Cause if Nov 3 goes, so goes the legitimacy of the crook Zardari’s claim to the presidency AND his key to freedom, the NRO.

In related news, a tape has surfaced with Justice DOGar caught with his pants down AND bending over. Yes, it’s all on tape: