ISLAMABAD: In a successful but dubious journey from rags to riches, the former dictator and now the self pro claimed messiah of the people of Pakistan, General (retd) Pervez Musharraf, has become a billionaire. There is no indication as to who funds him and how he became fabulously rich but the retired general has accumulated billions in offshore accounts besides the property that he has already purchased in foreign lands or inside Pakistan. Musharraf, who intends to return to Pakistan by the end of this month after seeking the required guarantees from Washington and Riyadh, has a lot of money to spend for his political campaign and his launching as “the best option for Pakistan”. A source, having a close association with the former dictator, confided to The News that Musharraf has at least seven to ten offshore accounts in Dubai and London containing huge cash in dollars, sterling pounds and dirhams. In his memoirs - In the Line of Fire - Musharraf admitted that he had come from a really humble background where they did not have enough money but now he pays at least half a million rupees as monthly salary to his personal staff residing inside Pakistan. According to the source, besides having foreign bank accounts, Musharraf has also made huge saving investments abroad to earn large profits. The source said that in just one Dubai based online trading service — MMA — Musharraf had US$ 1,600,000 (Rs 145 million) last year. Musharraf’s account number, according to the source in this company, is AV77777. In the Union National Bank, which is an investment bank in Abu Dhabi, Musharraf and his spouse Sehba Musharraf, have a joint account No 4002000304, in which the amount mid last year was almost UAE Dirhams 17,000,000 ( Rs 391 million). In the same bank- the Union National Bank- the same duo, Mr and Mrs Musharaf have another joint account No 400200315, which is a dollar account. This particular account last year contained US$ 535,325 (Rs 48 million). In yet another UAE Dirham account in the same financial institution — the Union National Bank — Sehba and Musharraf had almost UAE Dirhams 7,600,000 (Rs 174 million) last year. The account No is 4003006700. In the fourth account, No 4003006711, in the Union National Bank, the duo had UAE Dirhams 8,000,000 (Rs 184 million). In the fifth account, No 4003006722 in the same bank — the Union National Bank — Musharraf and his wife had US$ 8,000,000 (Rs 728 million). In the sixth account, No 4003006733, Mrs Sehba Musharraf and Mr Pervez Musharraf had UAE Dirhams 8,000,000 (Rs 184 million) last year. In the seventh account, No 4003006744, in the same Union National Bank, the duo holds UAE Dirhams 8,000,000 (Rs 184 million). In their eighth account in the same bank — the Union National Bank Abu Dhabi — the duo had US$ 1,300,000 (Rs 118 million). During the initial few months of his taking over as a military dictator following his coup against the Nawaz Sharif government, General Musharraf did make his wealth public, which hardly contained any cash but only some plots in different parts of the country. Musharraf claimed to be the Mr Clean of Pakistan. How did he become a billionare is a million dollar question. The same question when asked to Musharraf’s spokesperson and his party’s information secretary Fawad Chaudhry Advocate told The News that all the accounts of Pervez Musharraf, whether abroad or in Pakistan, are declared accounts. “There is not a single hidden bank account like Nawaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari”, he added. Fawad Chaudhry said that when an Army Chief retires, he gets pensionary benefits worth Rs 400 to 500 million. Moreover, he added that Bill Clinton and Pervez Musharraf are the highest paid speakers in the world, therefore he earns a handsome amount through lectures. He clarified that Musharraf’s bank accounts do not have billions of rupees in them. REFERENCE: How did Musharraf become a billionaire? Updated 5 hours ago http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-30227-How-did-Musharraf-become-a-billionaire
Sunday, January 08, 2012, Safar al-Muzaffar 13, 1433 A.H.
http://jang.com.pk/jang/jan2012-daily/08-01-2012/u92527.htm
How did Musharraf become a billionaire?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuzBdct4XAc
Right after the resignation of General Musharraf from the Post of the President of Pakistan, Mr. Athar Minallah the Chief Spokesman of the then defunct Defunct Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhary in Private Pakistani TV Channel [AAJ], demanded Treason Trial under article 6 of 1973 Constitutiuon of Islamic Republic of Pakistan while shamelssly forgetting that Athar Minallah, also served in the Musharraf cabinet for two years. Shouln’t Mr Athar Minallah be brought to Justice as well because abetting in a crime is tantamount to committing a crime. Athar was appointed Minister for Law, Local Government, Parliamentary Affairs and Human Rights by the Provincial Government of NWFP (2000-2002) by General Musharraf Military Regime. Athar Minallah joined the prestigious Civil Service of Pakistan (CSP) and after serving for 10 years left the post of Additional Collector Customs to join the firm as a partner. Athar Minallah brings not only rich taxation experience but also valuable scholastic input. Athar completed his law degree from the International Islamic University (Islamabad) and his LLM from University of Cambridge, UK. And his areas of interest are taxation, judicial review, Athar was appointed Minister for Law, Local Government, Parliamentary Affairs and Human Rights by the Provincial Government of NWFP (2000-2002). He also was the member of the Task Force constituted by the Federal Government for revamping the Taxation regime in Pakistan. Currently he is the member of the Policy Board of Intellectual Property of Pakistan and Chairman of Alternate Dispute Resolution Committee (ADRC) for Sales Tax constituted by the Central Board of Revenue.
Saudi Intelligence chief seeks Pervez Musharraf 's Safe Exit (AAJ TV 2008)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQ3kjadTEsk
WAY BACK IN AUGUST 2008: ISLAMABAD, Aug 15: Political activities surrounding the impeachment of President Pervez Musharraf became feverish as a special committee of the ruling coalition announced on Friday it had finalised the draft of a charge-sheet amid reports of intensified efforts for mediation by foreign governments. Meanwhile, a presidential spokesman in his first direct and emphatic response declared that the president was ‘innocent’ and in no mood to resign. “The committee has finished its job and the draft (of the charge-sheet) has been handed over to Law Minister Farooq Naek to clothe it in appropriate jargon,” PPP spokesman and member of the committee, Farhatullah Babar, told Dawn. He said although impeachment was a constitutional process, and not a legal one, the committee had made it a comprehensive document and it would be sent to the coalition heads for their nod. He claimed that the charge-sheet against the president contained “solid evidences”. On the other hand, the president’s spokesman, Maj-Gen (retd) Rashid Qureshi, alleged that the coalition parties were wrongly implicating an ‘innocent man’. “They have been charging an innocent man wrongly and about these charges we have only heard through the media,” Mr Qureshi said, categorically ruling out the possibility that the president would resign before initiation of the impeachment process. He said the president would reply to the charges only after receiving the charge-sheet. He alleged: “The media have been behaving irresponsibly and we think all news about the president’s resignation are being planted with certain intentions and motives. He is totally innocent.” The response of Mr Qureshi during an exclusive chat with DawnNews indicates that the president is in no mood to quit office over the next 24 to 48 hours, as being reported by a section of the media. Asked to name the president’s supporters, Mr Qureshi said: “Every sane individual who has seen him (the president) at work is supporting this man who has dedicated his life for over eight years to the country and its people.” In reply to question about the mood of the president, he said: “He is as confident as an innocent man would be because he has done nothing wrong.” Sources in both ruling and opposition parties admitted that hectic diplomatic efforts were being made by some foreign governments for mediation between the president and the coalition. A former minister of state for information and PML-Q’s Senator, Tariq Azeem, told BBC that ‘some friends’ were mediating between the president and the government. When asked whether the US ambassador and former UK high commissioner Mark Lyall Grant were also involved in the activities, he said: “The people who were involved in the reconciliation process between PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto and President Musharraf are making efforts. And Mark Grant is involved in it from day one.” SAUDI PRINCE: There were reports in the electronic media that the chief of Saudi intelligence agency, Prince Muqrin bin Abdul Aziz, had secretly arrived in Pakistan and held talks with coalition leaders and President Musharraf. He is reportedly seeking a ‘safe exit’ for the president. However, PML-N Senator Ishaq Dar denied that his party had made any contact with the Saudi government on the issue. Mr Qureshi also refuted such reports. “I have no knowledge about it. Ask (the) government about such meetings. It is absolutely wrong that any Saudi intelligence official has met the president,” Mr Qureshi said. Foreign Office spokesman Mohammad Sadiq, asked to comment on the reports, simply said: “I have no information.” Prince Muqrin has been playing an active role in Pakistan’s politics for the past many years and he had personally visited the country to take former prime minister Nawaz Sharif with him when the PML-N chief made an attempt to return home in defiance of an agreement signed by him with the Saudi government for living in Saudi Arabia. A source told Dawn that a Saudi aircraft did land at Chaklala Airbase late on Thursday night, but it was not clear who was on board. He said the plane left the base early on Friday morning and there was no information whether it had taken its passengers back or they were still in the country. He also claimed that a special plane carrying officials from Dubai had landed at Islamabad Airport. He said the plane could not take off due to some technical reasons and it was still at the airport. PRUNING: Some members of the drafting committee hinted that the coalition leaders might decide to cut the charge-sheet ‘short’ because they did not want to prolong the impeachment process. They feared that if the charge-sheet was lengthy, the president might seek more time to prepare a reply. “I think when we have the numbers in parliament, there is no need to level hundred charges against the president as one major charge of subverting the Constitution is sufficient to impeach him,” said a member of the committee before attending the meeting held at the residence of Information Minister Sherry Rehman. Mr Babar said it was up to the coalition leaders to decide if they wanted to drop some charges in the final impeachment notice. He rejected a perception that the coalition government was intentionally delaying the process in order to give more time to the president to resign. “It is not in the interest of the coalition to delay the process.” The committee members had earlier claimed that the voluminous charge-sheet against President Musharraf would comprise hundreds of pages containing serious charges of misconduct, financial irregularities, constitutional violations and criminal acts that could lead to an open trial. However, they hinted on Friday that the final charge-sheet might only contain charges relating to constitutional violations and misconduct. Mr Babar said the coalition heads had 48 hours for consultations on the draft because they were planning to submit the notice to the National Assembly secretariat by Tuesday. PML-N information secretary Ahsan Iqbal, who is also a member of the committee, said that Gen (retd) Musharraf alone was responsible for the current political, economic, constitutional and judicial crises. He alleged that the president, who had violated the Constitution several times, was also “involved in extra-judicial killings”. Mr Iqbal said the president had lost all moral, legal and constitutional reasons to continue as president after the passage of resolutions against him in the four provincial assemblies. REFERENCE: S. Arabia steps in to seek safe exit for Musharraf By Amir Wasim and Syed Irfan Raza August 16, 2008 Saturday Sha'aban 13, 1429 http://archives.dawn.com/2008/08/16/top1.htm
General (R) Pervez Musharraf & Israel
General Pervez Musharraf & Co. [now Retired] after imposing Martial Law in Pakistan on 12 Oct 1999 by violating article 6 of 1973 Constitution of Pakistan, in his address to the nation had said:
Relations with Israel could help Pakistan, says former president Musharraf - In his first interview with an Israeli newspaper, former president Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan tells Haaretz about Pakistan-U.S. relations, Iran's nuclear ambitions, and how he would solve the Arab-Israeli conflict. Two years before, addressing a gathering of the American Jewish Congress in New York (where his presence was in itself highly unusual ) Musharraf all but said that Pakistan could be open to establishing ties with the Jewish State. As it turned out, he never became a mediator in the conflict, nor were relations forged between Israel and Pakistan. But now Musharraf - who has vowed to return home in the coming months and run for the presidency again - sits down with a Haaretz reporter in his first-ever interview with an Israeli newspaper to revisit these suggestions and chat about the future for his country, ours, and a great deal more. "I felt I needed to test the waters in Pakistan when it came to Israel. Yes. We have been anti-Israel in Pakistan because of Palestine, because the Pakistani people are on the side of the Palestinians and are concerned for their plight. Right from the beginning, from when we got our independence in '47 and Israel came into reality a year later, we have been pro-Palestine," begins Musharraf. "But I believe in realism and in assessing ground realities. I think it's necessary to understand the changing environment, analyze it - and respond. A lot has happened since '48, and one has to adjust. Policies are made, yes, but when the environment changes, policies should change. Policies should not remain constant." REFERENCE: Relations with Israel could help Pakistan, says former president Musharraf By Danna Harman Published 11:19 06.01.12 http://www.haaretz.com/weekend/magazine/relations-with-israel-could-help-pakistan-says-former-president-musharraf-1.405846
"QUOTE"
ISLAMABAD, Oct 17: Chief executive Gen Pervez Musharraf has announced the setting up of National Security Council (NSC) which will guide cabinet ministers in running the affairs of the country. In his address to the nation on radio and television on Sunday night, Gen Musharraf set a seven-point agenda to revive the economy and work for national integration. He also said that there was no martial law in Pakistan." The Constitution has temporarily been held in abeyance to save the country", he said. The chief executive said he was happy to tell the nation that Rafiq Tarar had consented to continue as the president of the country. Giving the details, Gen Musharraf said he would head the six-member National Security Council, whose members would be the chief of naval staff, the chief of air staff, a specialist each in legal, finance, foreign policy and national affairs. A 'think tank' of experts would be formed as an adjunct to the NSC to provide institutionalised advice and input. The seven-point agenda would be: rebuilding of national confidence and morale; strengthening of the federation, removal of interprovincial disharmony and restoration of national cohesion; revival of economy and restoration of investor's confidence; ensuring law and order and dispensing speedy justice; depoliticization of state institutions; devolution of power to the grossroots level; and ensuring swift and across- the-board accountability. REFERENCE: Musharraf addresses nation: Security Council to run state affairs By Ihtasham ul Haque 23 October 1999 Issue:05/43 DAWN WIRE SERVICE http://www.lib.virginia.edu/area-studies/SouthAsia/SAserials/Dawn/1999/23oct99.html"UNQUOTE"
Lets see as to how General Musharraf and his Illegal and Rampant Military Regime conducted the Across the Board Accountability and that too after violating article 6 of 1973 Constitution of Pakistan i.e. by Imposing Martial Law and sacking an Elected Government of Mr Nawaz Sharif. REFERENCES: MORE DETAILS ON DRACONIAN NATIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY BUREAU: Human Rights Developments http://www.hrw.org/legacy/wr2k1/asia/pakistan.html Special Corruption Courts in Asia http://www.u4.no/helpdesk/helpdesk/queries/query19.cfm Pakistan Country Reports on Human Rights Practices Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor 2002 March 31, 2003 http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2002/18314.htm
The National Accountability Bureau is Pakistan's apex anti-corruption organization. It is charged with the responsibility of elimination of corruption through a holistic approach of awareness, prevention and enforcement. It operates under the National Accountability Ordinance-1999, with its headquarter at Islamabad. REFERENCE: http://www.nab.gov.pk/IN an interview, Lt-Gen Hafiz is said to have termed the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) a ‘professional’ organization run by qualified people. What sort of professional organization is he talking about? The Merriam - Webster dictionary defines the word professional as “characterized or conforming to the ethical standard of a profession.” The Bureau was constituted with the aim of bringing the corrupt to justice and free society from the menace of graft. Lt-Gen Syed Amjad was appointed its first chairman with Farooq Adam as prosecutor-general. Several high profile politicians and bureaucrats were arrested in the beginning and lodged haphazardly at different police stations without any record on paper as NAB was itself groping for ways and means to legalize these arrests.
One can recall the statement of Farooq Adam in the apex court that NAB had ‘dumped and forgotten’ former chairman of the HBFC, Siddiqul Farooq. Can that organization be termed professional whose PG (seniormost prosecuting officer) issues such a feckless statement in front of Supreme Court judges? NAB prepared dozens of corruption cases against the Sharif family and it was claimed with full confidence that this organization would bring all members of the Sharif family to justice. But the military government wanted them to leave the country. A ‘deal’ (still a mystery) was struck and they were flown overnight out of the country. This was in complete negation of the NAB Ordinance but this professional organization remained a silent spectator to the episode. In a series of other events, some of the top-notch politicians under NAB custody were released on one pretext or another with the promise to switch loyalties to the government. And now the investigations initiated by NAB against the former chairman of Evacuee Trust Property Board, Lt-Gen Javed Nasir, are dragging on. After all that has happened, is it right to call NAB a professional organization run by qualified people?
NAB Officials spend over Rs. 24. 7 million on foreign tours Friday February 03, 2006 (0035 PST) ISLAMABAD: Atleast 47 National Accountability Bureau (NAB) officials including two former chairmen spent more than an estimated Rs. 24. 7 million on foreign trips, as details in this connection presented in the parliament. Online learnt Thursday through well placed sources of Senate Secretariat, according to which two former chairmen of NAB, Lt Gen (Retd) Amjad Hussain and Lt. Gen (Retd) Munir Hafiz toured about 20 countries. Gen Amjad spent estimated Rs four hundred thousand while touring UK and USA, whereas Gen Munir toured an outrageous 18 foreign destinations spending about 60,00,000 from exchequer's kitty.Most of these tours have been claimed to be undertaken in connection with pending investigations about corruption charges against Benazir Bhutto and Asif Ali Zardari, whereas NAB officials also underwent training in foreign institutions against corruption handling. Further activities include seminars, attended by NAB officials in such diverse destinations as, Dubai, Malaysia, London, Geneva, Singapore, Hong Kong, USA, Saudi Arabia, Paris, Nairobi, Manila, Jakarta, Mexico, Korea, China, Australia, etc. According to the detailed reports provided by the Prime Minister house to the Parliament, the former deputy secretary of NAB, Maj Gen Shujaat Zamir, spent Rs 2, 49000, Deputy chairman NAB Hassan. M. Afzal spent about Rs. 2,73,000 on his Geneva trip, Attorney General Pakistan Makhdoom Ali Khan spent an estimated Rs. 2,75,000 on his Geneva trip, former prosecutor General Farooq Adam Khan spent, Rs 2,75,000, D.G NAB Talat Mahmood Ghumman spent 12,00,000 on his trip to London, Sydney, Zurich, Switzerland, D.G NAB Maj. Gen Ijaz Ahmad Bakhshi spent about Rs 1,61,000 on his USA trip, DG Rear Admiral Saeed Ahmad Sargana spent Rs 2,56,000 on his Mexican tour, COS Brig. Tayab Waheed concurred an expenditure of Rs, 400,000 on his tours to Singapore, Hong Kong, Vienna, Austria, and Kuala Lumpur. Among other more, group captain Naseer Ashraf spent 2,66,000 on his trips to Moscow, Dubai, and London, member financial crimes Najam -Ul- Hassan Saqib spent 14,00,000 on his itinerary of Zurich, Geneva, London and Australia. Ms Nadia Sheikh, who is a legal consultant, spent more than 2,00,000 on her Korean trip, and additional director Tanvir Akhtar and Farman Ullah spent more than 600,000 on their Hong Kong trip. Besides these, other officials also spent astronomical amounts from official sources, ranging from Rs. 13,000 to Rs. 300,000 on their foreign trips. REFERENCE: NAB Officials spend over Rs. 24. 7 million on foreign tours Friday February 03, 2006 (0035 PST) http://www.paktribune.com/news/index.shtml?133078
In October 1999, right after Pervez Musharraf’s coup d’état, General Syed Mohammad Amjad of Corps II (Multan) was appointed as first chairman of National Accountability Bureau (NAB). General Amjad was said to be close friend of General Mahmood Ahmed, Musharraf’s right-hand man in those days. General Amjad and General Mahmood were classmates and shared accommodation throughout their school and college life in Lawarance College, Murree. On April 4, 2002, for the first time in the history of Pakistan Army, a serving general and Corps Commander of Multan, General Syed Mohammad Amjad, was posted as chairman of the Fauji Foundation, the premier military business organization. In 2003, Qazi Hussain Ahmed, Amir Jamat-e-Islami, alleged that General Syed Mohammad Amjad has been allotted an expensive piece of land measuring two kanals in Lahore Cantt, at a throwaway price. REFERENCE: Illustrious career of General (retd.) Syed Mohammad Amjad March 14th, 2008 by Kashif Aziz http://www.chowrangi.com/illustrious-career-of-general-retd-syed-mohammad-amjad.htmlAccording to Qazis’ claim, the Military Land and Cantonment Headquarters, Lahore, allotted a 2-kanal plot (No.2-A) to General Amjad on August 31, 2003 through allotment letter No.11-1484RD-Ihr-88, under survey No.92/2-A. The plot, situated on Sarwa Road, Lahore Cantt, was leased out to the worthy General for 99 years, against an annual lease fee of 50 rupees only. The plot was worth 90 lakhs and General Amjad has already sold one kanal for 45 lakhs. When Qazi first leveled these allegations, there were vociferous denials from various important government officials. However, the same government officials later admitted that the plots had been allotted in accordance with existing rules. An Army spokesman conceded that General Amjad and other soldiers who fulfil the merit and service oriented criteria are eligible for some benefits on payment of the cost of the land. “Lieutenant General Syed Mohammad Amjad has also been assessed by the same criteria.” In June 2005 a complaint was filed in NAB against Syed Mohammad Amjad, Chairman Fauji Foundation, for corruption in sales of Khoski Sugar Mill. It was stated that General Amjad has sold Khoski Sugar Mill, property of Fauji Foundation, to a favorite for an amount much less than the highest bid and this information was confirmed by the Defence Ministry in the National Assembly. The Parliamentary Secretary for Defence, Tanvir Hussain, admitted in the Assembly that the “sugar mill had been sold at Rs. 300 million, against the highest bid of Rs. 387 million.” The Senate’s Defence Committee summoned the Fauji Foundation management to appear and explain why this corruption had been done. But instead of coming clean on the issue, General Amjad and the other top Generals sitting in the GHQ have decided to challenge the jurisdiction of the Parliament to look into the affairs of Army-run businesses. The Senate Standing Committee on Defence and Defence Production on June 4 received a communication from the Defence Ministry stating that the Committee had no jurisdiction to appear for or against Fauji Foundation at any forum. A press release said the office of the Chairman, Standing Committee on Defence, received a communication from the Defence Minister intimating that after having a detailed briefing from the ministry’s officials it was apparent that “Fauji Foundation is a private sector organization.“ REFERENCE: Illustrious career of General (retd.) Syed Mohammad Amjad March 14th, 2008 by Kashif Aziz http://www.chowrangi.com/illustrious-career-of-general-retd-syed-mohammad-amjad.html
On March 21, 2007, the Board of Directors of Karachi Electric Supply Corporation (KESC) appointed General (retd.) Syed Mohammad Amjad as the new Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board with effect from April 5, 2007. General (retd.) Amjad replaced Frank Scherschmidt, who was previously serving the post ever since the privatization of KESC. In June 2007, Maheen A. Rashdi wrote that Syed Mohammad Amjad, CEO KESC, draws a salary of Rs. 1.1 million besides perks amounting to Rs. 0.3 million. His appointment was made outside proper procedure on the recommendation of the Board of Directors and he has no credentials to prove that he possesses technical know-how of running such a sensitive outfit. REFERENCE: Growing debts of KESC By Maheen A. Rashdi June 10, 2007 Sunday Jamadi-ul-Awwal 24, 1428 http://www.dawn.com/2007/06/10/fea.htm#2 REFERENCE: Illustrious career of General (retd.) Syed Mohammad Amjad March 14th, 2008 by Kashif Aziz http://www.chowrangi.com/illustrious-career-of-general-retd-syed-mohammad-amjad.html
Mr. Abbasi Praising General Musharraf's Martial Law Regime's "Alleged Reforms" when Ansar Abbasi used to be a Correspondent in Daily Dawn, he never mentioned even a single time that Impsoing Martial Law is Treason and Violation of Article 6 of 1973 Constitution of Pakistan.
ISLAMABAD: While Musharraf continues to embarrass Pakistan and its authorities, including the Pakistan Army, an important source has revealed that the General Headquarters (GHQ) and its most vital arm, the Military Operations Directorate, was bypassed by the former dictator, both in the Lal Masjid operation and Bugti killing.
The source said that none of these extremely controversial operations, which sowed the seeds of terrorism in Balochistan and the rest of the country, were the brainchild of the MO Directorate. The source said that in both these military operations, the GHQ and concerned field command were not directly involved. “In both the cases, General Musharraf bypassed the GHQ and its MO Directorate, and gave direct orders to the relevant field commanders,” said the well-placed and well- informed source. Ideally and as per the military’s established rules, no such operation could take place without being conceptualised and cleared by the MO Directorate. However, Musharraf, the all powerful dictator that he was, did not engage the MO Directorate. In the case of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti’s killing, the source said, General Musharraf involved the then Military Intelligence chief Major General Nadeem Ejaz and the top command of 12 Corps. REFERENCE: Ex-MI chief, commanders Quetta, Pindi involved By Ansar Abbasi Wednesday, November 10, 2010 Zilhajj 03, 1431 A.H. http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=1977&Cat=13
Mr. Ansar Abbasi [Senior Correspondent of The News International/Daily Jang/GEO TV] hitting right and left on General Pervez Musharraf whereas see for yourself how "soft" Mr. Kamran Khan [Senior Correspondent of The News International/Daily Jang/GEO TV] was on a "Military Dictator" and compare the same Kamran Khan's program with any "Elected Representative" and you may note that he not only misbehave rather put the guest in embarrassing position [shame on our Politicians who accepts insults from a two bit TV Anchor]. Such Interviews should be called "Press Conferences".
President Musharraf interview GEO TV with Kamran Khan Part 1
URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvbM1mwrQdo
President Musharraf interview GEO TV with Kamran Khan Part 2
URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29yz69tENiQ&feature=related
A BLAST FROM THE PAST: PAKISTANI JUDICIARY SUPPORTED 12 OCT 1999 MUTINY OF PAKISTAN ARMY
Courtesy: Mr Wusatullah Khan, Correspondent BBC, فوجی بغاوت کے دس سال
http://www.bbc.co.uk/urdu/multimedia/2009/10/091012_mm_12_oct_nine_years.shtml
In a briefing on Balochistan issue by the then DGMO and much before the killing of the Baloch Nawab, General Musharraf once talked about the idea of killing Bugti but the idea was not agreed to by the DGMO, who warned that it would lead to unrest. Later, Musharraf never engaged the GHQ and executed his plot to kill Bugti through the MI and the Commander of the 12 Corps. After the Bugti killing, some key generals in the GHQ in their in-house interactions expressed their dismay over the Kohlu military operation. The Lal Masjid operation, which killed over a hundred persons and led to the escalation of terrorism cases manifold, was no different from that of the military operation aimed at killing Bugti. The source said that the planning of the Lal Masjid operation was done by Commander 10 Corps Tariq Majid on the direct instructions of the ousted dictator. “The GHQ and its MO Directorate were not involved in any such planning,” the source said, adding that a day after Lieutenant Colonel Haroon became the first casualty of the pre-Lal Masjid operation, Musharraf convened a meeting of top political and military authorities and given his mind that a full-fledged operation had to be carried out. REFERENCE: Ex-MI chief, commanders Quetta, Pindi involved By Ansar Abbasi Wednesday, November 10, 2010 Zilhajj 03, 1431 A.H. http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=1977&Cat=13
An important member of the GHQ spoke against this option and asked Musharraf to review his decision because it involved the lives of more than 100 persons. The dictator was told that when the military was taught to leave some exit point even in case of its enemy, then why should not the extremist elements holed up in Lal Masjid. Musharraf was also warned that if the Lal Masjid operation was executed, it would throw the country into a muddle for quarter of a century. Instead of listening to his key GHQ adviser, the source said Musharraf snubbed the officer and asked him to mind his own business. Later, the assignment to do the massacre in Lal Masjid was given to 10 Corps without getting the military operation cleared by the GHQ. It has also been revealed that Musharraf wanted to mislead the masses about the number of casualties by burying the dead unannounced and in unknown places. He was of the view that the CDA authorities would do the task of silent and hidden burial of those killed in the Lal Masjid operation. Musharraf, who has recently formally joined politics, has lately said that if given the chance, he would repeat the Lal Masjid and Bugti operations. These two operations brought enormous disrespect for the Army and caused retaliatory attacks against the military personnel and installations in all parts of the country. REFERENCE: Ex-MI chief, commanders Quetta, Pindi involved By Ansar Abbasi Wednesday, November 10, 2010 Zilhajj 03, 1431 A.H. http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=1977&Cat=13
The first-ever suicide attack in a military unit in Dargai where dozens of soldiers were killed in 2006, was also the consequence of Musharraf’s announcement owning the American missile attack on a Madrassa in Bajaur where more than 80 children were killed. Under pressure from his American masters, whom he served against the interest of Pakistan, Musharraf said that they were not the American forces but the Pakistan Army, which attacked and killed such a large number of children, including the age of 10. Musharraf lied that they were terrorists but not even a single bullet was found from the rubble of the Madrassa. Many in the military today admit that the post 9/11 policies and Musharraf’s controversial decisions like the Lal Masjid operation, killing of Bugti and owning up of Bajaur massacre not only fuelled extremism and terrorism but made the military controversial. REFERENCE: Ex-MI chief, commanders Quetta, Pindi involved By Ansar Abbasi Wednesday, November 10, 2010 Zilhajj 03, 1431 A.H. http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=1977&Cat=13
Wednesday, November 10, 2010, Zilhajj 03, 1431 A.H
During late 90s, Mr. Ansar Abbasi used to be a correspondent of Daily Dawn and do note in his reports which he filed for the same General Pervez Musharraf and his Martial Law Regime [1999 - 2007] whom he is now portraying as the worst creature walking on earth but during Mr. Ansar Abbasi's stay at Dawn as it's Correspondent and he didn't even mention words like "Article 6 of 1973 Constitution, Martial Law, Autocratic, Military Dictator, Treason Trial and what not. General Pervez Musharraf was just a "Chief Executive" for Mr. Ansar Abbasi, pure and simple. Ansar Abbasi Praising General Musharraf's Martial Law Regime's "Alleged Reforms" when Ansar Abbasi used to be a Correspondent in Daily Dawn, he never mentioned even a single time that Impsoing Martial Law is Treason and Violation of Article 6 of 1973Constitution of Pakistan
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"
Definition of Accomplice: An accomplice is a person who actively participates in the commission of a crime, even though they take no part in the actual criminal offense.
"QUOTE"
ISLAMABAD, Oct 14: There is no martial law in the country, an Inter-Services Public Relations officer said. Talking to Dawn at 2:15am, the ISPR official, however, said that he had nothing to add to what was said in the cabinet division's notifications, issued in the wee hours of Friday, with regard to the "proclamation of emergency" and "provisional constitutional order No. of 1999." When asked whether it's the martial law or emergency in the country, he said, "we did not use the words 'martial law' in these notifications." He, however, said that further explanations would be made on Friday. The ISPR spokesman's attention was drawn to the section (e) of para 2 of the "proclamation of emergency" in which it was stated that the prime minister, chief ministers and their cabinet members shall cease to hold office, and was asked whether the prime minister was still the chief executive of the country after the Oct 12 address of Chief of the Army Staff General Pervez Musharraf, he replied that he had nothing more to add. REFERENCE: No martial law in country: ISPR Ansar Abbasi DAWN WIRE SERVICE Week Ending : 16 October 1999 Issue : 05/42 http://www.lib.virginia.edu/area-studies/SouthAsia/SAserials/Dawn/1999/16oct99.html#noma
ISLAMABAD, Oct 31: The military government is planning major amendments to the Ehtesab Act to plug the loopholes that had allowed an embezzler, defaulter or a corrupt to escape the arm of law, it is learnt. However, according to a reliable source, the accountability cases would continue to be placed before the civilian court. "There will be no military courts to try the defaulters and the corrupt, including corrupt politicians," the source said. It further said that special courts would be set up, as envisaged in the Constitution, to ensure prompt disposal of accountability cases. The Supreme Court and the high courts would be asked to monitor the performance of these special courts so that speedy justice could be ensured, it added. The higher judiciary would be requested to appoint the best possible judges as presiding officers of these special courts. Lt-Gen Mohammad Amjad Hussain, who had been asked to suggest amendments to the Ehtesab Act, was busy preparing the draft, the source said. It said that the military leadership had decided that as per demand of the people of Pakistan, the plunderers of national wealth should be taken to task in the shortest possible time. The accused, it is said, would, however, be given the right to defend himself as envisaged in the Constitution. "We want to ensure that the legal lacunas that help the corrupt to escape should be removed," the source said. To avoid uncalled for delays in the disposal of accountability references, he said, an amendment was being introduced so that the defendant must appear before the court once the summon was served on him/her. "Unlike past they will not find loose ends anymore," the source said.
Besides targeting corrupt politicians and bureaucrats, the military leadership had also decided to attack the "life style of businessmen." Those who had earned their wealth through legal means would not be touched but the rest would have to cough up the looted money. The source said that a very large number of businessmen had got hundreds of millions from banks but they either got them written off or refused to re-pay them by showing losses to their so-called registered companies. "On the contrary the life-style of these businessmen is improving and new model Mercedeze cars are being used by them," the source said and added, "such people now can't have the protection of law." REFERENCE: Special courts to try cases of accountability Ansar Abbasi DAWN WIRE SERVICE Week Ending : 06 November 1999 Issue : 05/45 http://www.lib.virginia.edu/area-studies/SouthAsia/SAserials/Dawn/1999/06nov99.html#spec
ISLAMABAD, Dec 13: The military government has decided to introduce a money laundering scheme on December 15 by offering amnesty to holders of black money in the country, it is learnt. Reliable sources told Dawn the announcement was expected to be a part of the chief executive's much awaited Dec 15 speech on the economic reform package prepared by the finance ministry and approved by the last joint session of the national security council and the cabinet. Under the scheme, the people will be given a deadline by which time they would be asked to bring out in the open their undeclared assets. Those who will avail the opportunity will be allowed to launder their black assets at a price. The people at large will be given three to six months to take advantage of the scheme with a warning that after the expiry of the deadline their undeclared assets would be impounded by the government. All the declared money under the scheme, on the other hand, will stand laundered.
The authorities believe that the total volume of black/undeclared economy was in the vicinity of Rs1500bn and the scheme will widen the tax-net. A similar scheme was introduced in India during the government of Prime Minister I K Gujral and it had met with tremendous success, the sources said. In Pakistan, it had become a routine practice to offer such amnesty schemes by governments from time to time since it was first introduced soon after the first military take over in 1958. In early 1980s, however, the then finance minister Ghulam Ishaq Khan refused to grant such amnesties any more to black money holders on the grounds that the practice only encourage the dishonest and served as a disincentives for honest tax payers.
The last such amnesty was offered in 1985 when the late Dr Mehbubul Haq became Pakistan's finance minister in the first Junejo government under which holders of black assets were offered medium term black bonds at a discount. The former prime minister, Nawaz Sharif who was then chief minister of Punjab had publicly admitted to having bought black bonds worth millions to whiten his family's black assets under the scheme. The 1999 economic reform package, already approved by the government, reportedly contains about 150 reform clauses but the chief executive's Dec 15 speech will cover only the main features. The package, the sources said, includes proposal to club the agricultural and non-agricultural assets for wealth tax purposes. Presently the two are treated separately for wealth tax purposes. Pakistan is perhaps one of the few countries in the world where wealth tax is collected. In most civilised countries taxes are collected on incomes and property only and not on wealth. Wealth tax reportedly serves as a disincentive against savings and encourages rich people in Pakistan to stash away their savings out of the country.
Another major announcement that is expected to be made by the chief executive on December 15 concerns reduction in the bank interest rate. It has already been decided to reduce the interest rate by 2 per cent to rationalize the input costs in agriculture, manufacturing and services. The current domestic rate of inflation which is said to have come down to almost 3-4% lately is said to have provided an elbow room for cutting bank interest rate. The imposition of general sales tax at retail level is likely to be delayed. It has, however, been decided to conduct a survey to ascertain the annual turnover of the retailers. Small retailers, who make no more than Rs 50 million annually will be kept out of the GST net when it is finally applied. REFERENCE: Economics reform package: Money laundering scheme on agenda Ansar Abbasi DAWN WIRE SERVICE Week Ending : 18 December 1999 Issue : 05/51 http://www.lib.virginia.edu/area-studies/SouthAsia/SAserials/Dawn/1999/18dec99.html#
ISLAMABAD, Jan 27: In a major initiative to strengthen the civil bureaucracy and ensure good governance, Chief Executive General Pervez Musharraf on Thursday agreed to restore the pre-1973 authority of the Federal Public Service Commission. During his visit to the FPSC, the chief executive also agreed to grant administrative and financial autonomy to the FPSC; enhancement of the FPSC's role; fixation of non-extendable five- year service tenure for the chairman and members of the FPSC and restoration of their oath; reduction of the maximum age limit for appearing in the CSS competitive examination; all recruitments in grade 11 and above through the FPSC; and recruitment to all the posts, including those in the ISI, IB and defence division, through the FPSC, etc.
The chief executive asked the chairman of the FPSC, Lt-Gen (retd) Mumtaz Gul, to give a presentation to the National Security Council for a formal approval to all these decisions. The secretary of the establishment and other authorities were asked to work out modalities for the implementations of the decisions taken in principle during the chief executive's over three-hour stay in the FPSC. When contacted, the FPSC chairman confirmed to Dawn that the chief executive had agreed to almost all the proposals presented before him by the FPSC. The chairman was overwhelmed with this development and hoped that it would usher a new era for strengthening the country's civil institutions. REFERENCE: Musharraf approves pre-1973 authority for FPSC Ansar Abbasi DAWN WIRE SERVICE Week Ending : 29 January 2000 Issue : 06/05 http://www.lib.virginia.edu/area-studies/SouthAsia/SAserials/Dawn/2000/29jan00.html#mush
ISLAMABAD, Feb 17: At a high-level meeting on foreign policy chaired by the Chief Executive, General Pervez Musharraf, here on Thursday, the government endorsed the policy of engaging India in a dialogue to resolve peacefully the core issue of Kashmir and to remove all other irritants harming the relations between the two countries. Sources in the foreign ministry told Dawn that Chief Executive General Pervez Musharraf told the meeting that Pakistan wanted the resumption of dialogue with India but New Delhi was not ready for it. The meeting, according to a foreign office press release, undertook a broad review of important foreign policy issues, particularly Kashmir and Afghanistan. According to the brief press release issued by the FO, "Foreign Secretary Shamshad Ahmad made a detailed presentation. He highlighted the important considerations underpinning the approaches and the direction of the foreign policy which were, after discussion, endorsed by consensus." The sources, however, said that the chief executive told the meeting that Pakistan wanted peace in the region and would support every effort towards this end.
The CE said that the tension between Pakistan and India needed to be decreased but he believed that this could only be done by resolving the core issue of Kashmir. The meeting agreed that peace in the region could not be ensured unless the issue was resolved. The meeting regretted that India was not interested in the resumption of dialogue. It was felt that India was deliberately avoiding serious discussions because that would lead to talks on the core issue of Kashmir. Kashmir, it was said, was the main irritant between the two countries while all the other pending issues were the result of this core irritant. The meeting also maintained that Pakistan would welcome any third party mediation to get the issue resolved. It was observed thatPakistan's position on Kashmir was morally, ethically and legally strong whereas India was playing on a very weak wicket due to which it was hesitant to accept any sort of mediation. REFERENCE: Pakistan reaffirms policy of peace talks Ansar Abbasi DAWN WIRE SERVICE Week Ending : 19 February 2000 Issue : 06/08 http://www.lib.virginia.edu/area-studies/SouthAsia/SAserials/Dawn/2000/19feb00.html#reaf
ISLAMABAD, March 1: Different intelligence agencies of the country are currently busy collecting information on almost 100 senior grade 21 officers who are in the run for promotion to grade 22. Chief Executive Gen Pervez Musharraf, on the basis of the reports submitted by these agencies and also after considering the already available personnel record of these officers, will make selection of limited number of officers for promotion to grade 22. The intelligence agencies have been involved for the first time in the promotion process and this exercise, it is believed, will have significant impact on the elevation of the officers. Previously, the promotion of bureaucrats to this highest echelon of bureaucracy, were made purely on the basis of record available with the establishment division. Personnel from different intelligence agencies are currently visiting various government offices to inquire about the conduct, reputation, behaviour and working style of the officers whose names were under consideration for promotion.
Though this snooping exercise is conceived as embarrassing by many senior bureaucrats, the sources in the chief executive's secretariat believe that this is necessary to make the proper selection. They say that since the chief executive had the full power to select anyone for promotion so he wanted to exercise his power judiciously and in the best public interest. Recently, the military government had amended the relevant clauses of the Civil Servant Act to empower the chief executive with these powers. Previously, a high-powered Central Selection Board was recommending promotions for the approval of the competent authority. The establishment division has already sent, a few weeks back, a panel of almost 100 grade 21 officers to the chief executive's secretariat for selection of "suitable" officers for promotion to grade 22 by Gen Musharraf. The establishment division was not allowed to recommend a panel of suitable officers, rather, it was asked to send names of all those grade 21 officers belonging to the regularly constituted groups/service of Central Superior Services who joined the service till 1969. The establishment division, in all, has communicated 18 vacancies but so many officers are not likely to be promoted in one go. REFERENCE: Record of 100 senior officers being scrutinized Ansar Abbasi DAWN WIRE SERVICE Week Ending : 4 March 2000 Issue : 06/10 http://www.lib.virginia.edu/area-studies/SouthAsia/SAserials/Dawn/2000/mar04.html#reco
ISLAMABAD, May 10: The government has constituted a high-level steering committee, headed by Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz, to implement the World Bank's proposed civil service reforms in the country. The bank had asked Pakistan to implement the report "A Framework for Civil Service Reform in Pakistan", which was presented to the government of Pakistan in December 1998 but was not implemented. Some senior bureaucrats, including the secretary-general finance, the secretary establishment and the secretary cabinet, etc, are the members of the steering committee which has made some sub- committees to work out the modalities for the implementation of different aspects of the report. Agencies like the National Reconstruction Bureau (NRB) have also been engaged by the steering committee so that there is no overlapping of work.
The WB report, prepared in response to Pakistan's request, covers the following main topics: the need for reform; employment and personnel expenditure; downsizing; accountability and performance; pay and benefits; pensions; and preparing, sequencing, and managing comprehensive reform. To reduce the increasing public sector wage costs which, according to the WB report, are straining the high-priority non-wage expenditures, irreversible downsizing of civil bureaucracy is necessary. For effective downsizing scheme, the WB suggests the removal of ghost workers and pensioners by undertaking payroll audits; maintaining and tightening the existing recruitment freezes; stopping new work-charged employment and not regularising the existing work- charged staff; terminating all ad hoc appointments and contractual appointments at the end of the contract period; denotifying all unfilled sanctioned posts which have remained vacant for more than one year; ending the practice of 'moveovers'.
Identifying corruption as a pervasive and deep-rooted problem in Pakistan affecting the civil service and most other institutions, the WB said that there were twelve laws to deal with corruption apart from the disabling provisions in the constitution. It said that very few corrupt officials were ever convicted. Pressing for a reliable accountability mechanism, the World Bank insists that "it would be preferable if early evidence of corruption were dealt with under the efficiency and discipline rules of the federal and provincial establishment codes which provide for the penalty of dismissal of corrupt civil servants." The report also discussed the role of the Public Service Commissions; the Ombudsman; the Ehtesab Commission; the Pakistan Audit Department; and the PM's (currently CE's) Inspection Commission with regard to the accountability of civil servants. The report says that the government should commission a thorough survey of private sector pay by independent advisers on the basis of which it should consider increasing the basic pay as a measure to attract staff with specific skills and to combat corruption. REFERENCE: Move to meet World Bank terms: Civil services to be revamped Ansar Abbasi DAWN WIRE SERVICE Week Ending : 13 May 2000 Issue : 06/18 http://www.lib.virginia.edu/area-studies/SouthAsia/SAserials/Dawn/2000/may13.html#tome
ISLAMABAD, June 27: Interior Minister Moinuddin Haider said on Tuesday that the chief executive would start holding meetings with "clean"politicians from next week to develop consensus on various issues. Talking to newsmen here, the minister explained that the chief executive would meet only the "clean politicians filtered through a sieve". The politicians, he stressed, needed to feel their responsibilities and behave accordingly, adding that the future of the country belonged to them. He said the military had to leave office, as ultimately a democratic government would be in place. In reply to a question, the minister said the government would not contact those politicians who had been involved in corruption, tax evasion or plunder of national wealth.
Mr Haider said that politicians, traders, bureaucracy, etc., would have to play their roles for the development of the country, adding that every body would have to share the burden equally. APP adds: Asked to define the "good politicians,"he said people were the best judges and the government would act according to their aspirations. Referring to de-weaponization, the minister said that display of arms was contrary to the norms of civilized societies. REFERENCE: Chief Executive to meet 'clean' politicians soon Ansar Abbasi DAWN WIRE SERVICE Week Ending : 1 July 2000 Issue : 06/25 http://www.lib.virginia.edu/area-studies/SouthAsia/SAserials/Dawn/2000/jul01.html#chie
ISLAMABAD, June 29: The Chief Executive, Gen Pervez Musharraf, has shown in principle his agreement to the police reforms proposed by the interior ministry but avoided its immediate implementation owing to the government's devolution plan. At a meeting held here on Wednesday evening, the chief executive agreed to the recommendations formulated by the interior ministry's focal group on police reforms. However, on the insistence of the National Reconstruction Bureau (NRB) no decision was taken on the implementation of the reforms pursued by the interior minister. Interior Minister Lt-Gen (retd) Moinuddin Haider, NRB chief Lt-Gen (retd) Syed Tanvir Naqvi, and senior officials of the chief executive secretariat and interior ministry attended the meeting. Reliable sources in the chief executive secretariat told Dawn that the interior minister pressed for the immediate implementation of these reforms as, he argued, the country badly needed independent but accountable police.
The NRB chief, however, said that he intended to finalize his recommendations on district government plan by the end of August so the government should refrain from introducing these reforms until the plan, which also covered reforming district police, was given shape. Since there are two sets of police reforms - one proposed by the interior ministry and the other considered by the NRB under its district government plan - currently under consideration of the government but both contradicting each other, the chief executive asked the two sides to remove the contradictions through consultation.
Final decision on police reforms, it was decided, would be taken later. However, contrary to what was discussed at the meeting, the NRB publicised through newspaper advertisements on Thursday its own system of police reforms which totally negates what was proposed by the interior ministry. The interior ministry wants the police to be under an independent national/provincial/metropolitan safety commission to ensure the depoliticization of the force and ensure its impartiality. But the NRB as publicised in the newspapers not only put the police under the proposed chief mayor's control but authorised him (mayor) and the district assembly to select a police officer of their choice.
The NRB proposes that even the ACR of the district police chief will be written by the chief mayor. At the same time the inspector general of police of the province, the NRB proposal said, would write technical report of the district police chief. The interior ministry sources seemed perturbed over the premature publication of this advertisement at a time when it was not even accepted by the ministry. They said this advertisement was also in complete disregard to what had already been agreed between the NRB and the ministry. REFERENCE: Police reforms: Chief Executive okays interior ministry proposal Ansar Abbasi DAWN WIRE SERVICE Week Ending : 1 July 2000 Issue : 06/25 http://www.lib.virginia.edu/area-studies/SouthAsia/SAserials/Dawn/2000/jul01.html#poli
ISLAMABAD, June 25: A large number of bureaucrats, found to be corrupt or inefficient, are to be placed under suspension anytime after July 31, reliable sources told Dawn on Sunday. The Chief Executive, Gen Pervez Musharraf, has directed the secretary of establishment division to seek lists of such unwanted members of the civil bureaucracy both from federal and provincial authorities by the date for an 'immediate action', it is learnt. The CE chaired a meeting of the top functionaries here on Saturday to review the performance of the civil bureaucracy. Gen Musharraf wanted all the government institutions to follow the precedence set by the Central Board of Revenue which recently placed more than 1,000 officials, including over 100 senior bureaucrats associated with customs and income tax groups, under suspension after establishing charges of corruption and inefficiency against them, the sources revealed.
The CE, it is also learnt, intended to talk personally to the governors and federal ministers to help speed up the process of 'cleansing' the bureaucracy. The establishment secretary told the CE that the federal and provincial authorities had already been directed to make such lists available to the the establishment division at the earliest but their response was not so encouraging. On his contention, the chief executive asked the secretary to issue a reminder with stress on the urgency of the task. During the meeting, officials apprised the CE of the progress on the government's plan aimed at restructuring and reforming the civil services. Those who attended the meeting included Sahibzada Imtiaz, a member of the National Security Council, Lt-Gen (retd) Mumtaz Gul, chairman of the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC), Lt-Gen Ghulam Ahmad, chief of staff to the CE, Tariq Aziz, principal secretary to the chief executive and Tariq Saeed Haroon, the establishment secretary. They informed Gen Musharraf of the measures taken for the implementation of the plan. Restructuring the FPSC, encadrement of occupational groups, career planning for bureaucrats, disciplinary proceedings, promotion and transfer policies and rightsizing in government departments were the other issues discussed at the meeting. REFERENCE: Chief Executive seeks list of 'corrupt' bureaucrats Ansar Abbasi DAWN WIRE SERVICE Week Ending : 1 July 2000 Issue : 06/25 http://www.lib.virginia.edu/area-studies/SouthAsia/SAserials/Dawn/2000/jul01.html#seek
ISLAMABAD, July 27: The central board of revenue (CBR) has not yet initiated disciplinary proceedings against its officers suspended on corruption charges two months back. Lack of evidence is said to be the main cause of delay. The CBR chief on May 27 had suspended 1,045 officials, including 300 from income tax and customs groups in grade 17 to 21, on charges of corruption and malpractices. But, none of them have so for been issued even the charge sheet. "We have not yet even framed charges against any of the officer," a CBR source, who has been engaged in the suspension exercise, told Dawn. He admitted that the authorities were finding it hard to bring up concrete evidence against the officials that could stand the independent inquiry and ultimately justify the CBR's action.
Framing of charges, serving of these charge sheet and constitution of committees for initiating inquiry against the accused officers are the three main steps required to be taken during the disciplinary proceedings, he said. But nothing has been done so far, he added. There is a great realization within the bureaucracy that indecent haste was shown by the CBR administration in compiling the list of "corrupt" officials and in their suspension. In an apparent effort to separate the wheat from the chaff many innocent officials might have been victimised because of the personal liking and disliking of those involved in the exercise, a source commented.
He said initially the government had decided to dismiss, straight away, these officials by issuing a stringent legislation but later the decision was reviewed and the authorities were convinced to suspend them and give them a fair trial. The chief executive, the sources said, was even told that most of the suspended officials would be reinstated as the CBR would not be able to back these suspensions with concrete evidence that could stand a fair trial. The framing of charges is also said to be a tedious and technical job. The uncalled for delays in disciplinary proceedings, they said, would further spoil these cases because of possible tempering of records by some well connected suspended officers. The CBR chief, who is also revenue division secretary, had acted under the newly-promulgated ordinance - Civil Servants (Special Power) Ordinance 2000 - to suspend the 1,045 officers. Under the rules, the secretary will issue charge sheet to officers in grade 17 to 19 and in case of grade 20 and above he will seek the chief executive's approval before issuing the charge sheet.
The officials in lower grades will be issued the charge sheet by their respective regional bosses. The officials were suspended initially for a period of six months. The suspension period can be extended by the revenue division secretary. Though the Civil Servants (Special Power) Ordinance, 2000, was issued to ensure swift proceedings against the corrupt, there is no time limit set by the ordinance for the completion of the inquiry proceedings after the suspension of an officer. However, once the inquiry committee is constituted it is required under the law to give its recommendations as to impose penalty or exonerate the accused within 30 days. REFERENCE: CBR yet to frame charges against suspended officers Ansar Abbasi DAWN WIRE SERVICE Week Ending : 29 July 2000 Issue : 06/29 http://www.lib.virginia.edu/area-studies/SouthAsia/SAserials/Dawn/2000/jul29.html#cbry
ISLAMABAD, Aug 18: The government said on Friday that two amendments would be made to the Constitution to provide safeguard to the devolution plan. It would also be ensured that the future governments should not bulldoze the amendments, the National Reconstruction Bureau (NRB) chairman Lt-Gen (retd) Tanveer Naqvi told a news conference. He said the two amendments were necessary at this stage. One of the proposed amendments, he said, would provide constitutional protection to the local government system and the other would ensure that the Constitution should not be amended by the future governments in 10 minutes as had happened in the past. "We will take all possible measures to ensure that the local government system could not be reversed by the succeeding governments," the NRB chief said in response to a question. Mr Naqvi also said that the NRB would now start work on the second phase of the plan under which the powers would be shifted from the federation to the provinces. In the same phase, to be completed by August 2001, the question of provincial autonomy would also be addressed. He hinted that the constitution might also be amended to meet the necessities arising out of the second stage of the plan.
To a question, Mr Naqvi said the politicians, intelligentsia, academics and people from all walks of life would be consulted to prepare a framework for the transfer of powers from the centre to the provinces. The NRB chief disclosed that the bureau had also drafted a proposed law on local government in line with the devolution plan, which, he added, would soon be given to the provinces for promulgation. He said by Sept 30, the law would be enacted so that the local bodies elections could be held on schedule. The NRB, he said, was also preparing electoral rules on the basis of which the election commission would hold the local bodies elections. In a few months time the bureau would also evolve six major systems to be adopted by the local governments, the NRB chief said. These systems, he added, would address to the financial, administrative, planning, and legislative aspects of the local governments besides introducing citizens' monitoring system. An incentive system for government employees would also be introduced on the basis of reward and retribution concept. About police reforms the NRB chief said a new law would be introduced by replacing the outdated Police Act of 1861. He said the NRB was currently shaping up the new act and would promulgate it when finalised.
He said the NRB was also contemplating reforms in the police service to improve the existing induction procedure, career, term of engagement, training, and pay structure of the police force. Answering a question, Mr Naqvi justified the elections on non-party basis and insisted that the candidates fielded by political parties did not serve the people. "They serve their political leaders and the parties," he argued and maintained that those elected independently "actually serve" the people. To another question, he said, a member of any political party could contest the forthcoming local bodies elections. But, he disclosed, no such candidate would be allowed to use the party's influence for his/her elections. When asked about the nature of appointments of district coordinating officers (DCOs), he said any one from any service group could be inducted at the district level bureaucracy. This post, he said, had not been specified for any particular group or service of the civil bureaucracy.
APP adds: Naqvi assured that the elected members of the union councils would not be made an electoral college for election to any highest slot in the country. Responding to a question, he said the government had neither any intention in the past nor harbour it now and would not mull it even in future, to turn the elected councillors into an electoral college to elect the president as was done by President Ayub Khan. The 'basic democracy' system was used in Ayub Khan era to elect the president. The local government, he said, would be financially self-reliant. On the administrative system, he said, we are looking into matter as to what was the effectiveness of the department of magistracy, which was part of the colonial system. "We are looking whether there is a need for the administration to have the judicial power," he added. The chairman on developing the planning system said, they were working on the approach to start the process of planning from the lower tier to the upper level. On the legal system, he said as in the past, there should have the legal power at the district, Tehsil and the Union level.
He said that the elections will be held in accordance with the 1998 census and at present the provincial government were carrying out delimitation of the union councils. He said all the union councils would comprise almost the same population to ensure equal representation of the people at district level. Gen Naqvi dismissed the contention that the present system was against the Islamic injunctions, saying the power devolution plan was to provide justice to the people. To a question if the government would be able to put police stations under an assistant superintendent of police (ASP), he said, it was possible as an officer of this rank needed training of six to one year. More officers of this rank would be recruited. This can be done either through lateral entry or some other way, he added. Replying to a question on first information report (FIR), he said, under the local government system this could be registered even outside the police station.
Answering a question why the government decided to continue with the separate electorate for the minorities, he said this was one way of giving them representation. Mr Naqvi conceded that joint electorate was another way of allowing minorities to choose their representatives. Asked who decided to continue with the separate electorate, Mr Nagvi said, it was the government's decision. Replying to a question on the 1979 Local Bodies Act, he said, that only those provisions relating to the elections would be implemented. He said holding of local elections under the devolution plan would not violate Article 32 of the Constitution. To a question, he said, the party-based elections only bring in rich people to the fore as only they can afford to buy party tickets, leaving no room for the poor to contest the polls. TAXES: Responding to a question, he said, no district would be allowed to impose any import or export tax. "No tax will be allowed on the movement of goods from one district to another," he said. To another question, he said, the people of tribal areas were devising their own plan in the light of the local government system. Once they were able to conceive such a plan, he said, the government would help them in this regard. REFERENCE: NRB chief hints at imminent changes: Constitution being amended By Ansar Abbasi DAWN WIRE SERVICE Week Ending : 19 August 2000 Issue : 06/31 http://www.lib.virginia.edu/area-studies/SouthAsia/SAserials/Dawn/2000/aug19.html#nrbc
ISLAMABAD, Aug 28: The Chief Executive, General Pervez Musharraf, asked the interior ministry and the National Reconstruction Bureau (NRB) to reconcile their remaining differences pertaining to police reforms. Credible sources told Dawn that the CE, while presiding over a high-level meeting held at the ministry of interior, said that most of the differences between the two sides on different aspects of police reforms had already been narrowed down. The interior minister reportedly told the Chief Executive that the interior minister at the center and home minister in the provinces should be made the chairman of the national and provincial public safety commissions respectively, as proposed by the interior ministry's focal group on police reform.
The minister, the sources said, wanted an amendment in the devolution plan which envisaged that the national as well as provincial commissions would select their respective chairman on a rotation basis every quarter. The CE asked the minister and the NRB chairman, who was also present in the meeting, to sort out their differences through mutual consultation. The CE complimented the interior minister and his team who in coordination with the NRB had succeeded in formulating a comprehensive and implementable strategy to achieve this end. "Induction and promotions on merit, better facilities, improved pay and salary, equipment and a fool-proof system of monitoring and overseeing are some of the steps that are being initiated and would lead to greatly improving the functioning of the police, " the CE was quoted as saying.
The CE directed that the proposed police reforms should be finalized and presented before the federal cabinet at an early date for approval. He stated that he intended to visit various police training institutions to meet the police officials of all grades and see the pace of implementation. The CE also appreciated the steps being taken by the ministry of interior and its departments to curb smuggling and said that maximum assistance would be given to them in this regard. Earlier the interior minister briefed the CE on the role and functions of the ministry with particular reference to police reforms and anti-smuggling measures being taken. He informed the meeting that after extensive consultations with the provinces, a new Police Ordinance was being finalized on the recommendations of the focal group and the NRB, to replace the 140- year-old Police Act of 1861. The minister also informed the meeting about the measures being taken to curb smuggling which not only resulted in loss of revenue but also damaged local industry, eroded respect for law and impeded the tax-paying culture.
The CE, according to the press release, appreciated the interior ministry's initiative on arms control. The CE was told that with effective measures the display of arms had remarkably come down. The CE was also briefed on various measures being taken to create sectarian harmony. REFERENCE: NRB, interior ministry told to mend fences By Ansar Abbasi DAWN WIRE SERVICE Week Ending : 2 September 2000 Issue : 06/33 http://www.lib.virginia.edu/area-studies/SouthAsia/SAserials/Dawn/2000/sep02.html#nrbi
ISLAMABAD, Sept 13: The chief executive, Gen Pervez Musharraf, had met 15 world leaders on the sidelines of the recently-concluded UN Millennium Summit in New York. The CE had met the presidents of Italy, Turkey, Algeria, Russia, Senegal, Iran, Sudan, China, and Comoros; King of Jordan, Amir of Qatar, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, prime ministers of Nepal and Bhutan, and the UN secretary-general, according to the foreign ministry sources. Mandarins in the ministry were reluctant to reveal which countries had rejected Pakistan's request for such a meeting. "This is sensitive information," an official stated.
Another said the country's diplomatic wing in New York must have full information whom did they approach for Gen Musharraf's meeting. Though none of those leaders have much influence in moulding global politics, observers attach great importance to the meeting between Gen Musharraf and Russian President Vladimir V. Putin. There was an effort by the Pakistan officials for a meeting between US President Clinton and the chief executive, but the two leaders could only have a brief informal chat at a reception. According to a source, in normal circumstances one hardly cares for the number of such meetings at a multilateral forum. However, because of the peculiar situation Pakistan is facing in its foreign relations currently such meetings do have an impact. "Today Pakistan is facing big challenges and it is at the receiving end so it was required of it to show through these meetings that it has many friends around."
Because of hostile and unwelcoming circumstances after the nuclear tests and the Oct 12 military takeover, the foreign ministry officials feel that the routine diplomacy could not do much to improve the situation. Policymakers tried to take maximum advantage of the millennium summit to attain the foreign policy objectives that are otherwise hard to chase. The basic objective of the visit was to attend and address the UN summit, which, the government sources believed, had been achieved well as Gen Musharraf's speech at the General Assembly was received well, particularly his offer for a tension-free and nuclear-free South Asia. Many were looking forward to the summit meeting for a Musharraf- Vajpayee encounter but it could not happen "despite Washington's reported efforts in this respect". On the contrary, the Indian Prime Minister's speech at the UN was very hostile towards Pakistan and it set conditions to the no-war pact offered by Gen Musharraf. REFERENCE: Musharraf met 15 World Leaders in New York Ansar Abbasi DAWN WIRE SERVICE Week Ending : 16 September 2000 Issue : 06/35 http://www.lib.virginia.edu/area-studies/SouthAsia/SAserials/Dawn/2000/sep16.html#met1
ISLAMABAD, Oct 14: The Chief Executive General Pervez Musharraf has sought President Clinton's immediate intervention to stop Israel's latest wave of aggression against innocent Palestinians and to get the Middle East peace process back on track. In a letter, he sent to the US President on Saturday, the chief executive urged President Clinton "to persist in the revival of the peace process for which he has made an outstanding contribution in the past". Gen Musharraf has also sent a separate letter to President Yasser Arafat to convey the sympathies and condolences over the loss of valuable Palestinian lives in Israeli army attack. He also expressed his anguish and dismay over the Israeli violence.
In his letter to President Clinton the chief executive, according to a foreign office press release, conveyed the deep concern of the government of Pakistan over the explosive situation obtaining in the Middle East, resulting in the loss of 100 innocent Palestinians and injuries to over a thousand others as a result of Israel's indiscriminate use of military force. The CE message, the FO said further conveyed the sympathy and condolence over the loss of US Naval personnel as a result of the attack on USS Cole in Aden. Though the FO release did not give further details of the letter's contents, sources in the foreign ministry said that the communication also conveyed to the US President of Pakistan's perception on the issue. These sources said that the letter reflected what was stated by the foreign office spokesman, in his briefing a few days back, on the subject.
Pakistan has condemned the Israeli violence against unarmed Palestinians and reiterated its support for Palestinians in their just struggle to regain their inalienable rights. Pakistan has also backed the Palestinians demand for an impartial international inquiry into the recent troubles and Israeli violence. Islamabad has also emphasised that Israeli must honour all agreements reached with Palestinian leadership in accordance with the Security Council resolutions 242 and 338. Pakistan has also asserted that once again Israel had resorted to aggression and use of force violating the principle of justice and international law to impose its own preferences in the Middle East conflict. This, however, it was said, would not bring durable peace. Foreign minister Abdul Sattar told newsmen on Friday that hopes for durable peace in Middle East that were encouraged by President Clinton's peace process had been threatened with serious setback.
YASSER ARAFAT: In his letter to President Yasser Arafat, the CE conveyed the sympathies and condolences over the loss of valuable Palestinian lives in Gaza and West Bank as a result of indiscriminate use of excessive force by Israeli armed forces. The latter also conveyed Pakistan's anguish and dismay at the upsurge of violence in Palestinian territories and condemned Israel's highhandedness for its bombing of Palestinian authority offices and populated neighbourhoods. It called for the international community to take appropriate steps to put an immediate end and complete cessation of the spate of violence against the Palestinians and for a resumption of dialogue for peace. REFERENCE: Musharraf wants Clinton to intervene Ansar Abbasi DAWN WIRE SERVICE Week Ending : 21 October 2000 Issue : 06/40 http://www.lib.virginia.edu/area-studies/SouthAsia/SAserials/Dawn/2000/oct21.html#mush
ISLAMABAD, Nov 9: The government is currently busy in finalising a draft law that will equip the government with the power of summarily dismissing "corrupt" and "inefficient" bureaucrats. Official sources told Dawn here on Thursday that the draft being discussed by the authorities, suggested the removal of "known corrupt" by merely issuing the show-cause notice. The authorities intend to avoid being dragged into normal disciplinary proceedings which include holding of proper inquiry to judge whether the accused officer is really involved in the charges he is facing.
Sources said that the draft law had already been discussed at the highest level during the last week. A high-level committee headed by law minister Aziz A Munshi and comprising Tariq Aziz, principal secretary to the chief executive and secretaries of the law, cabinet and establishment divisions as members is assigned by the CE to evolve the strategy for getting rid of known corrupt who are otherwise untouchable owing to non-availability of concrete documentary evidence. The military government is reportedly finding its hands legally tied up in tightening the noose around the corrupt officials. The authorities admit that the government is facing a dilemma - it knows the bureaucracy contains corrupt officials but cannot remove them owing to the non-availability of the evidence. The new legislation, according to a source, was being contemplated to get a solution to this problem. The draft law, which was not yet final, suggested that the corrupt officials should be removed from service merely by issuing a show-cause notice, the source added. REFERENCE: Law soon to dismiss 'corrupt' officials Ansar Abbasi DAWN WIRE SERVICE Week Ending : 11 November 2000 Issue : 06/43 http://www.lib.virginia.edu/area-studies/SouthAsia/SAserials/Dawn/2000/nov11.html#laws
ISLAMABAD, Dec 10: The exile of the Sharif family to Saudi Arabia following the pardon announcement by the government, has deprived the Raiwind dwellers of their 15 assets, worth billions of rupees. A spokesman for the government, Maj-Gen Rashid Qureshi, told Dawn on Monday that almost 80 per cent of the Sharifs' property had been "taken over" by the government. According to Mr Qureshi, the 15 assets that have been taken over by the government in return for providing a safe "exit" to the Sharif family include Rs300 million in cash; industrial assets including Brother Steel Mills; Ilyas Enterprises; Hudaybia Paper Mill; Hudaybia Engineering Company; Hamza Spinning Mills; residential property including the Model Town bungalow; three houses at Mall Road Murree; property at 135 Upper Mall Lahore; a plot at Model Town Lahore; a plot at Upper Mall, Lahore; agricultural property including 10.2 kanals of land at Khanpur Sheikhupura Road Lahore; 41 acres and 7 kanals of land at Sheikhupura; 14.2 kanals of land and another 35 kanals at Bhaipharu in Chunnian and 88 kanals of land at Raiwind.
The Raiwind palace of the Sharif family, which ruled the country for almost 15 years, has however not been confiscated by the government. Mr Qureshi dispelled the impression that there had been any underhand deal between the government and the Sharif family. He said the government had simply responded to the repeated mercy petitions filed by the Sharifs. Contrary to what the Sharifs were pretending before the public and in their statements to the media, Mr Qureshi said they had been writing to the government including the chief executive and the president, appealing for pardon. "We were receiving their requests for mercy in the past three to four months particularly after the courts handed over decisions against Nawaz Sharif," he said. These requests were renewed recently following Nawaz Sharif's reported ailment. Mr Qureshi stated that since the chief executive had repeatedly said that he was not vindictive so he recommended to President Tarar that the imprisonment of the Sharifs be pardoned and turned into exile while the rest of the punishments including fines, forfeiture of property and disqualification should stay.
When told that the people in streets felt as if they had been betrayed by the government for allowing a safe exit to the Sharifs, the government spokesman said, "the government has actually taken a compassionate view of the situation and converted the imprisonment into exile." Qureshi dispelled the impression that a "deal" was 'brokered' either by a Saudi prince or was the exit the consequence of Saudi Arabia's pressure. REFERENCE: Sharifs lose 80pc of assets, says Qureshi Ansar Abbasi DAWN WIRE SERVICE Week Ending : 16 December 2000 Issue : 06/48 http://www.lib.virginia.edu/area-studies/SouthAsia/SAserials/Dawn/2000/dec1600.html#shar
ISLAMABAD, Dec 12: The government did not consult the cabinet but took into confidence the military elite while granting pardon to Nawaz Sharif and sending the family into exile. A well-placed government source confided to Dawn that the dramatic decision had been taken purely by the men in uniform. The matter was discussed in the closed circles of the military before being put to the corps commanders at their two-day meeting last week. Asked whether the matter was placed before the cabinet, the source said: "No". It was too sensitive a matter to be discussed by the cabinet, he added. The military elite's support to the idea came when it was explained that the pardon and the exile was being allowed following Saudi Arabia's request.
It was said that the Saudi government had given assurance that the Sharifs would not take part in politics "for quite some time". "Besides, the Sharifs, too, had given the undertaking in writing not to take part in politics," the source said. Asked how Saudi Arabia would prevent any of the Sharifs to travel to London and issue political statements from there against the military regime, the source said: "If the Saudis can get the Sharifs freed, they can also make them behave accordingly. They (the Saudis) are very strict in their commitments." The source, however, refused to accept that there was any Saudi "pressure" on the government to get the Sharifs off the hook. In reply to a question, the source said that those exiled to Saudi Arabia would remain there. "If anyone of them goes to some other country he would be bound to come back to the country of exile," the source said. "We have the best example of Idi Amin who lives in Saudi Arabia with his 19 wives but as a completely non-political entity." Persuading the government for pardon, the Saudi authorities had said that not only would it be an Islamic act to set Nawaz Sharif free after the payment of Qisas but it would also be politically helpful to the military regime. "We were told by the Saudis that they had also tried to get Zulfikar Ali Bhutto freed but Pakistan's response in negative had plunged the country in an unending political turmoil," the source said. He stated that the military government was expecting that the departure of Sharifs' from politics would set things, particularly economic situation, right for the country. The government, he said,hoped that the present state of "shock" and "uncertainty" would not last long. "Don't you agree with the idea of throwing the dirt out to get the house in order," the source commented. REFERENCE: Cabinet had no idea of exile deal Ansar Abbasi DAWN WIRE SERVICE Week Ending : 16 December 2000 Issue : 06/48 http://www.lib.virginia.edu/area-studies/SouthAsia/SAserials/Dawn/2000/dec1600.html#cabi
ISLAMABAD, Dec 15: The government's devolution plan has hit a major constitutional snag threatening the reversal of the scheme, it is learnt. "The implementation of the plan would require a fundamental amendment in the constitution to devolve the law and order responsibility of the provinces to the proposed district governments," a source said, adding such an amendment would deface the existing provinces. The source in the national reconstruction bureau (NRB), which conceived the much-publicized devolution plan, confided to Dawn that the plan unveiled on Aug 14 could not be implemented through an ordinance proposed by the NRB. The provinces on the other hand, according to sources, are also not ready to sacrifice their major responsibility for the maintenance law and order.
The NRB has engaged some constitutional lawyers to find a solution to the problem. Zila nazims would require powers of a chief executive to exercise authority in the district and in fulfilling their responsibility towards the maintenance of law and order. The NRB wanted to delegate these powers through an ordinance, but it is not so simple. The transfer of province's authority over matters of law and order, to the district government is only be possible through a constitutional amendment. "But such an amendment will be of fundamental nature and would change the face of the provinces," the NRB was told. Sources said it was proposed that the said amendment could be avoided if zila nazim was made subordinate to the provincial chief executive. But the authors of the devolution plan were not ready to accept this. In their view, this would weaken the office of zila nazim. REFERENCE Govt may reverse devolution scheme: Constitutional changes needed Ansar Abbasi DAWN WIRE SERVICE Week Ending : 16 December 2000 Issue : 06/48 http://www.lib.virginia.edu/area-studies/SouthAsia/SAserials/Dawn/2000/dec1600.html#govt
1 comment:
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Prime Minister's Steering Committee in Islamabad
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Faisal Sakhi Butt
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