Sunday, November 22, 2009

Similarities between Shaheen Sehbai & Asghar Khan Letters.

There is no one present when they talk, but there are walls and there are flies on these walls, if not of the biological kind, of the electronic species. Of course, it is generally known that whatever is said within the four-walls of our big secure houses is not only heard by our own spooks and spies but sometimes by even listeners with headphones sitting thousands of miles away. Interestingly, when President Zardari meets anyone, a huge grandfather clock between him and his guest is always ticking. Electronic bugs could always sneak into that clock. According to one such fly, a recent tense talk between the big two of the country was in such a bad taste and in such foul language that the Syed from Multan may have resigned and left for his hometown directly from the House on the Hill, if anyone else had been present to watch his humiliation. That he did not do so was because he did not want to surrender without his revenge. That was before the NRO sh— had hit the roof. The situation as it stands today reminds me of a news analysis that I had written under the same headline as this piece, almost 15 months ago. It was on Sept 2, 2008, before Asif Zardari had become the president that I had said: “The sudden prospect of Asif Ali Zardari sitting on the most powerful and sensitive political hot seat in the country has shaken everybody. There is a greater sense of uncertainty in the political class as well as the civil and military establishment, although the presidential election should have removed the clouds of doubt hanging over the political scene.” Another para had stated: “In short, the leaders and parties are not prepared, or capable, of handling this mess. It would, in fact, be unfair and totally unjustified to expect them to clear the nine-year-old backlog, in less than nine months. Basically, though, the responsibility of correcting the situation is on the elected representatives who should chalk out a plan, call an all-party conference, invite the Army leadership to reach a consensus or whatever, but they seem either not interested or not too involved in petty politicking.” REFERENCE:How to clean up the bloody mess-2 By Shaheen Sehbai News analysis Monday, November 23, 2009 http://thenews.jang.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=25733


Mr. Shaheen Sehbai, Group Editor, The News International, should have been ashamed of himself before quoting a wiretap/bug in his so-called analysis above, indeed it is shameful for an editor of one of the "leading" daily to quote Intelligence Agency Transcript.


WIRETAPPING/BUGGING AND USING IT IN NEWS REPORT.

Since Judiciary is restored and you can check PLD that what the Judiciary has to say about Wiretapping and Eavesdropping.

In 1997 the Supreme Court directed the Government to seek its permission before carrying out wiretapping or eavesdropping operations; however, the judiciary’s directive has been ignored widely. No action was taken during the year 2001 on the case of 12 government agencies accused of tapping and monitoring citizens’ phone calls, which has been pending since 1996, and no additional action the case was expected.

Pakistan Country Reports on Human Rights Practices Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor 2003 February 25, 2004 http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2003/27950.htm

The Supreme Court directed the Government to seek its permission before carrying out wiretapping or eavesdropping operations; however, the degree of compliance with this ruling was unclear at year’s end.

“The government acted in violation of Article 190 of the constitution, which says all executive and judicial authorities in Pakistan shall act in aid of the Supreme Court. Instead of readily and honestly complying with the Supreme Court verdict in the Judges’ case, the prime minister castigated the ridiculed it and implemented it reluctantly in phases. Then there was the allegation of wiretapping of state functionaries, which is also a violation of a fundamental right.”[Dawn 30.1.1997]

Do note the wording “wiretapping/intercepting of anybody not just state officials” Pakistan Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor 1999 February 23, 2000 http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/1999/441.htm

In 1997 the Supreme Court directed the federal Government to seek the Court’s permission before carrying out any future wiretapping or eavesdropping operations. Nonetheless, that same year, a lawyer for a former director of the Intelligence Bureau, charged with illegal wiretapping during Benazir Bhutto’s second term in office, presented the Supreme Court with a list of 12 government agencies that still tapped and monitored telephone calls of citizens.

It was in this piece that I had politely asked the Pakistan Army to play its role, from behind the scenes, to clean up the mess which General Musharraf had left at the doorstep of unprepared politicians. There was a massive uproar in the country over my article and I had counted 29 columns and numerous TV talk shows attacking me for “inviting the Army to take over”. It was a preposterous charge. But look at what happened in the last 15 months. I had suggested that General Kayani should use his influence to restore the judges to the Nov 2 position. The politicians made him do that on Mar 15. I had proposed that he should get the NRO repealed so that its beneficiaries should be made to face normal process of law and clear themselves. Again the failure of parliament has led to this now being done whether Asif Ali Zardari likes it or not. I had suggested that Kayani should cancel all the secret deals that Musharraf had made with politicians or foreign powers as these deals were not binding. The Kerry-Lugar fiasco and the GHQ reaction hinted at this approach. REFERENCE:How to clean up the bloody mess-2 By Shaheen Sehbai News analysis Monday, November 23, 2009 http://thenews.jang.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=25733


Mr. Shaheen Sehbai, Group Editor, The News International, should have been ashamed of himself before quoting a wiretap/bug in his so-called analysis above, indeed it is shameful for an editor of one of the "leading" daily to quote Intelligence Agency Transcript. More shameful is that he is committing a treason [violating article 6 of 1973 Constitution of Pakistan] by inviting a Pakistan Army into politics. He should have asked for Establishing a Commission under Human Rights Commission of Pakistan or any Retired Judge e.g. Justice Retd. Tariq Mehmood to clean the mess not the army. Are 9 years not enough. Are you out of your mind Mr. Shaheen, for Heaven's sake don't tarnish the good name of your illustrious uncle [Late. Ahmed Ali Khan - Former Editor Daily Dawn Pakistan - Picture on the Left]. Your earlier cloumn was similar like the letter Air Marshal (Retd) Mohammad Asghar Khan wrote in 1977 to General Zia ul Haq.

Mr. Shaheen Sehbai/Jang Group of Newspapers have basically violated article 6 of 1973Constitution by inviting the Army in Politics.

As per 1973 Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan

"QUOTE"

PART I

6. (1) Any person who abrogates or attempts or conspires to abrogate, subverts or attempts or conspires to subvert the Constitution by use of force or show of force or by other unconstitutional means shall be guilty of high treason.

(2) Any person aiding or abetting the acts mentioned in clause (1) shall likewise be guilty of high treason.

(3) [Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament)] shall by law provide for the punishment of persons found guilty of high treason.

"UNQUOTE"

Months before the darkest period in Pakistan's History [Martial Law of General Ziaul Haq 1977-1988] this so-called born again Democrat and Socio-Political Activist Air Marshal (retd) Mohammad Asghar Khan wrote a letter to the chiefs of staff and the officers of the defence forces, asking them to renounce their support for the "illegal (Z A Bhutto's) regime" and asked to "differentiate between a 'lawful' and an 'unlawful' command...and save Pakistan." This letter is considered by many democrats and political writers as instrumental in encouraging the advent of the Zia regime. All the members of the ‘Ex Servicemen Society’ have served during the previous martial law periods and some members are believed to be instrumental in toppling the elected governments. The head of the Society, Air Marshal (retd) Mohammad Asghar Khan was the author of a letter to the then chief of army staff, General Zia Ul Haq in 1977 demanding that he take over the government of the elected Prime Minister, Mr. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, and hang him at the hills of Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan. His demand was fulfilled when Zia Ul Haq imposed martial law in 1977.

Read

But the main thrust of his column was the human rights petition filed by him in the Supreme Court (HRC 19/96) against the retired COAS General Mirza Mohammad Aslam Beg, the former ISI chief retired Lt General Asad Durrani and Younis Habib of Habib and Mehran Banks, relating to the disbursement of public money and its misuse for political purposes, which is still pending hearing by the court. The case was initiated by the air marshal after Benazir Bhutto's interior minister, another retired general, Naseerullah Babar, had disclosed in the National Assembly in 1994 how the ISI had disbursed funds to purchase the loyalty of politicians and public figures so as to manipulate the 1990 elections, form the IJI, and bring about the defeat of the PPP.

READ THEIR DIRTY PAST

Calamity of Ex-Servicemen Society - 1

http://chagataikhan.blogspot.com/2008/11/calamity-of-ex-servicemen-society-1.html

Calamity of Ex-Servicemen Society - 2

http://chagataikhan.blogspot.com/2008/11/calamity-of-ex-servicemen-society-2.html

Calamity of Ex-Servicemen Society - 3

http://chagataikhan.blogspot.com/2008/11/calamity-of-ex-servicemen-society-3.html

Calamity of Ex-Servicemen Society - 4

http://chagataikhan.blogspot.com/2008/11/calamity-of-ex-servicemen-society-4.html

Calamity of Ex-Servicemen Society - 5

http://chagataikhan.blogspot.com/2008/11/calamity-of-ex-servicemen-society-5.html

Calamity of Ex-Servicemen Society - 6

http://chagataikhan.blogspot.com/2008/11/calamity-of-ex-servicemen-society-6.html

Calamity of Ex-Servicemen Society - 7

http://chagataikhan.blogspot.com/2008/11/calamity-of-ex-servicemen-society-7.html

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