Bete´ noire´ - Something especially hated or dreaded; a bugbear. It has become an obnoxious habit amongst several leading Pakistani Private TV Channel News Anchors/Correspondents to create an imaginary threat and take a cover behind that imaginary threat to fulfill their own agenda e.g. that MQM is a Threat whereas the same Media whenever it desires "ruthlessly" attack MQM at will. Media Barons have created an imaginary threat to hide their own nefarious agenda whereas an alleged Islamist Newspaper of Karachi i.e. Daily Ummat usually publish extremely fiery rather outright Hateful news reports against the MQM in the same Karachi which is considered a dangerous city for reporting on MQM. Go through the contents of the last one week of Daily Ummat (which is allegedly Islamist too) and you may find Daily Ummat as if it is a pamphlet of a Nationalist party whereas the same Daily Ummat can hardly be quoted on Rinkle Kumari, Minorities, Misuse of Blasphemy Law and above all on Islamic Extremists rather if one may search the archives of Daily Ummat then it would emerge that the newspaper is rather outright opponent of any kind of Ethnic Politics. Jang Group/Geo TV/The News International is another joke in the name of Newspaper/TV Channel where Opinion and Conspiracy Theories are usually placed as "Super Head Line". Pakistan is passing through worst times but Media Barons are least bothered, and all they are interested in is Rating even if they can get through igniting Civil War in the country where Political Polarization has reached on a threshold where even a minor slip can put Pakistan's sovereignty in doldrums and Jang Group/GEO TV is very fond of inciting Ethnic and Sectarian Hatred via their newspaper Daily Jang's Opinion page and its Third Class News Channel GEO TV specifically the 24/7 news tickers they relay are nothing but hate mongering , here is a glimpse from WikiLeaks.
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2. Summary: Post believes the time has come to end the contract the BBG holds with “GEO TV Network” and move it to a responsible organization. GEO is owned by the “Jang Group,” a multimedia corporation owning Urdu and English language newspapers and magazines and Urdu television stations in all major media markets in Pakistan, with cable TV contracts in the United States and elsewhere. While claiming to be moderate and neutral to USG policies, the “Jang Group” recently has increased its criticism of the USG and its policies, has engaged in anti-Semitic behavior and has specifically targeted the Ahmadi religious minority group in a television program that resulted in the death of two (including one Amcit) Ahmadis.
3. We have evidence the Jang Group is consciously publishing and broadcasting false and inflammatory stories, without regard to the fact that they could encourage violence against Americans or against U.S. interests. It is purposefully using the reach of its television network to amplify unchecked hate speech and promote violence in a brazen attempt to uphold or even increase its market share in a down economy. Post requests that the BBG cancel its contract to disseminate VOA programming through GEO. [End summary]
4. The “Jang Group” is a multimedia corporation owning Urdu and English language newspapers, magazines, and television stations in all major media markets in Pakistan with a country-wide reach.
Founded at the end of the Second World War by Mir Khalil ur Rehman. The company consists of three groups: Independent Newspapers Corporation (Pvt) Limited, News Publications (Pvt) Limited, and Independent Media Corporation (Pvt) Limited.
5. The Group Chairman and Executive Director is Mir Javed ur Rehman, the eldest son of founder Mir Khalil ur Rehman. The Group Chief Executive and Editor in Chief is his younger brother, Mir Shakil ur Rehman. The Group Editor is Mehmood Shaam (Karachi).
6. The Independent Newspapers Corporation (Pvt) Limited owns the daily Urdu language “Jang” with editions issued in Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Quetta, Multan, and London. It has a combined estimated circulation of 300,000 plus (the largest in the country). Other papers owned by group include the Urdu daily “Awaz” (Lahore), evening Urdu daily “Awam” (Karachi), evening Urdu daily “Inqilaab” (Lahore), Urdu weekly “Akhbar-e-Jehan” (Karachi), English weekly “MAG” (Karachi), and the website www.jang.com.pk.
7. News Publications (Pvt) Limited owns the English daily “The News,” with editions issued in Karachi, Islamabad, and Lahore. Its combined daily estimated circulation is 50,000.
8. Independent Media Corporation (Pvt) Limited owns Urdu language “GEO TV Network.” The satellite TV channel is headquartered in Dubai, UAE, with studios and offices in Karachi, Islamabad, and Lahore. “GEO TV Network” started in 2002 with its flagship “GEO TV,” later branching into two channels “GEO News” and “GEO Entertainment” (dramas, sitcoms, etc.). It has subsequently launched “GEO Super” (24-hour sports), “Aag” (24-hour music) and international editions including GEO UK, GEO USA, GEO Middle East, GEO Canada, GEO Europe, and GEO Japan. The Chief Executive is Mir Ibrahim Rehman (based in Karachi), the son of Mir Shakil ur Rehman and the President is Imran Aslam (Karachi).
9. Post has watched with growing concern, as “Jang Group” media entities have grown more irresponsible running erroneous and clearly unsubstantiated stories against not only USG policies and the Embassy, but also a minority religious group in Pakistan, as well as espousing anti-Semitic rhetoric. While initially this could be seen as a flexing of new found media freedoms allowed under former President Musharraf — and continued under newly-elected President Zardari – we now believe these stories are intentional and put our people at risk. The Group’s outlets have frequently been the only media outlets in Pakistan to run, without modification or qualification, releases put out by the Taliban.
Among the more egregious acts:
– On August 27, 2008, Jang Group papers ran a story claiming all USAID offices in the FATA had closed due to a threat from Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan. Not only was the story a fabrication, but it also made baseless inflammatory accusations claiming Blackwater USA was handling security and identifying an American Peshawar Consulate employee as a Jew, stating that as a Jew he should close down his offices there, “since the presence of Jewish officials in FATA would not be tolerated in any case.” ISLAMABAD 00003712 002 OF 003
– On September 7, 2008, “GEO TV Network” aired the program “Aalim Online.” The date coincided with the anniversary of a change in Pakistan’s constitution in 1974 that officially classified the Ahmadis as “non-Muslims.” The host Dr. Aamir Liaquat Hussain egged on guests about the Ahmadis. One guest responded that, “As long as this sedition is alive and even one (Ahmadi) remains on this earth, there is a need to eliminate it.” Two other guests used the Arabic phrase “Wajb-ul-Qatal (duty to kill) to describe those who believe in the Ahmadi doctrine. Dr. Hussain did not intervene to moderate the views, and in his closing statement belittled the Ahmadi founder and agreed in essence with the guests’ contention that his followers were not true Muslims. No member of the Ahmadi community was invited to speak. Two prominent Ahmadi leaders, one of them an American citizen, were murdered in Pakistan shortly after the program was televised.
– After the September 20, 2008 Marriott Hotel bombing, English language paper “The News” ran a series of baseless pieces attempting to blame the bombing on the U.S., claiming that Post had been using the hotel as a base of operations for “hundreds” of “Marines,” carrying on about steel boxes that had been moved in and out of the hotel under cover of night. When those stories petered out, it claimed that the fire that raged throughout the night of the bombing, was started by chemicals in the guest room of the one of the Americans who died in the blast. None of this was ever substantiated in any way, yet ran on the front page of the paper and was echoed by “GEO TV.”. Few of these stories were picked up by any of the other media, and completely ignored by the international press here.
– On October 23, 2008, Post’s Information Officer received a call at 2200 on the mobile telephone he reserves for press calls from someone who would not identify himself, but claimed that he had just driven by the IO’s residence, saw there were cars there, and asked if he had not been invited to a reception. The individual then asked about a resolution that had recently been passed by the Pakistani parliament, and then asked to speak to the Ambassador.
The IO was then asked about a “Daniel Pearl Lecture” he had heard the IO conducted in Karachi earlier in the week, and then inquired if the IO was Jewish. The subsequent story in “The News” took the IO’s comments out of context in a clear effort to paint a derogatory picture.
– On November 17, 2008, “GEO TV” suddenly disappeared from the airwaves in Karachi. The blackout lasted about six hours. A senior “GEO” staffer told our senior information LES that the stoppage was a result of pressure being applied by one of the political parties due to “GEO” not airing a speech by one of its politicians. Post found out subsequently that another “GEO” official disclosed to an officer of a European diplomatic mission that they had taken themselves off the air in order to blame the political party, and garner support for the station.
10. We have protested directly to reporters, editors, and the Group Chief Executive and Editor in Chief Mir Shakil ur Rehman over the consistent inaccuracy of “Jang Group” reporting, as well as their refusal to apply the most basic standards of journalistic ethics, stating that we expect to be called about and to respond to any story any entity of the group is carrying about the Embassy or its activities, and even provided them with direct telephone numbers for the IO, the PAO, and the Ambassador. Despite these efforts, the “Jang Group” has not changed its practices.
11. All of this occurs under the eye of the Group Editor who has not exercised supervision or applied good journalistic practices when assigning and reviewing stories. When queried by Post’s IO he stated that they know that many of their reporters have political agendas, are paid by ISI, military intelligence, Jamaat-e-Islami, or other interests but that they prefer not to fire or reprimand these reporters.
12. The problem of reporting rumor, innuendo, and unsubstantiated allegations is bad enough when limited to the distribution numbers of “Jang” daily or “The News.” However, it is when these stories are amplified by the “GEO TV Network” that the truly negative influence expands to substantial numbers. And all of this by their own admission is calculated to maintain or increase their market share.
13. On a recent visit to “GEO TV Network” offices in Karachi, our IO had a conversation putting all of this into context. “GEO” sees
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its behavior as win-win with sensationalism and hate speech generating ratings and any attempt by authorities to rein it in allowing them to exploit their circumstance by claiming censorship.
While they realize that we (like the GOP, Brits, Canadians and many of the international reporters) find their reporting reprehensible and dangerous, we have supported them in the past, especially when President Musharraf took “GEO TV” off the air during the 2007 State of Emergency, and believe we dare not stop them lest we be seen as hypocrites. Their calculus is that we are more cowed by accusations of actively trampling their freedom of the press than we are of tacitly supporting hate speech. Therein lies the rub for the USG – at what point do we cater to consistent, blatant hate speech and intentionally inaccurate and irresponsible reporting in major daily newspapers and a country’s largest broadcaster which threatens the safety of American citizens or U.S. interests?
14. We have discussed the issue with the GOP at different levels, including President Zardari, and all are concerned by the “Jang Group’s” coverage. While wishing to grant the benefit of the doubt in order to protect the right to a free press, we believe the utter lack of any journalistic standard or editorial restraint has now proven too much to overlook.
15. Action Request: In light of this calculated behavior, post believes it is time to terminate the BBG contract to disseminate VOA programming through the “Geo TV Network.” Post recommends finding a more balanced and responsible partner with whom to deal for our media program contracts in Pakistan.“ 2008: US criticised major media group for irresponsible reporting DAWN.COM | 1st June, 2011 http://dawn.com/2011/06/01/2008-us-criticised-major-media-group-for-irresponsible-reporting/
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HoshMedia has done a great service to media. They sat down with respected veteran journalist Abbas Nasir (Dawn) to talk about fundamentals of good journalism including the difference between opinion and fact, properly using anonymous sources and intelligence sources, and avoiding traps in the ratings race during times of tragedy. The advice in these short videos is excellent, and can really be summed up in one important reminder: As a journalist, your obligation is to the truth, not any particular agenda. But don’t take our word for it, we’ll let Abbas Nasir tell it: Abbas Nasir on Journalism Ethics http://pakistanmediawatch.com/2012/01/26/abbas-nasir-on-journalism-ethics/ Those in the media who had taken to flag-waving, sloganeering and other jingoistic mannerisms first during the Raymond Davis affair, then the OBL raid and finally following the Salala attack and had ferociously slammed what they saw as the government’s pro-US stance now seem to be at a loss. Perhaps, if their criticism had been well-founded through those episodes, it wouldn’t have been so difficult for them to have remained consistent. But some august members of the media appeared to have relied too heavily on the briefings by Gen Pasha’s psy-ops brigade. And now that GHQ, one could argue rightly, has changed its mind, the defenders of our sovereignty particularly in the media are feeling short-changed. In fact, they are so embarrassed that they are either accusing the government of mismanaging the issue or they aren’t addressing it at all. Now, if you ask me who I would blame for poor governance, maladministration, unaddressed corruption charges, the sharpest decline in major public-sector corporations, a breakdown of the law and order in many cities, I’d say the PPP-led government without much hesitation. Look no further than the recent ‘Lyari’ operation as a glaring example of the PPP’s incompetence. It was launched with so much fanfare but apparently so little planning that nobody knows what it aimed to achieve or did actually achieve in the end. All one saw was a police officer known for ‘extrajudicial’ killings claiming to the media everyday that the ‘criminals will be finished off by the end of the day’. After this, his men made sure the TV cameras got their dramatic footage share as they fired aimless volleys into the air from different angles. It was an abject failure which led to pointless, callous and criminal loss of life on all sides. At the same time, it brought misery to innocent citizens who feared getting caught in the crossfire and remained bunkered down in their homes with no power, food and water for days on end. But please don’t tell me the PPP is to blame for any shortcomings, indecision or outright failure in foreign, defence or even national security policies because rather spinelessly, it slowly but surely surrendered these to GHQ in a process initiated after the furore over the Kerry-Lugar bill. It can come in for criticism for having hived off to GHQ what should fall in the civilian domain according to the constitution. However, the realities of politics in Pakistan would also help you understand, even if not appreciate, what it means by its policy of ‘reconciliation’. ‘Reconciliation’ for a party that sees itself as besieged and believes it is under attack from every conceivable adversary at all times can best be described as a series of costly compromises to remain in power and build up support from this rather minimalist base. It is the triumph of realpolitik over ideological, principled politics. Therefore, I have my own, to me, exceedingly valid grounds to attack the PPP. But frankly the reopening of the Nato supply routes won’t form the central plank of my objections. Wouldn’t you have liked to see an illuminating debate in the media, particularly on the electronic platform, which placed a diversity of views, opinions and analyses before our many confused souls and informed and empowered them to reach judicious conclusions whatever they may be? What we are seeing instead is an embarrassed lot of media personalities, influential opinion-makers, ducking the main issue and instead discussing topics which are no more than distractions, given the magnitude of what we face. REFERENCE: When the media falls short From the Newspaper | Abbas Nasir | 19th May, 2012 http://dawn.com/2012/05/19/when-the-media-falls-short/News Night with Talat -- 24th May 2012 p 1
LONDON: Top British journalist Victoria Schofield and other speakers at a seminar on the May 12 violence in Karachi have said that the British government should take people’s concerns into account about MQM chief Altaf Hussain. They held the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) responsible for the Karachi killings, and drew comparisons between the cases of Altaf Hussain and the radical Muslims being extradited to face terrorism charges in the countries of their origin. A large number of MQM leaders, including Haider Abbas Rizvi, MNA, and Faisal Sabzwari, MPA, also attended the seminar organised by the May 12 Group at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), London, to discuss the events of May 12 in Karachi and their wider social and political repercussions in the future political landscape of Pakistan. The May 12 Group was launched by Pakistani students from the University of Oxford, London School of Economics, and SOAS in collaboration with leading journalists, financial and legal professionals, and businessmen. The group's membership soared as Pakistanis living in Britain and America and human rights organisations have associated themselves with its cause.
Speaking on the occasion, senior Pakistani journalist M Ziauddin said that President Pervez Musharraf, who was patronising Altaf Hussain, had once called him a traitor when the former was the Chief of the Army Staff in 1999. Ziauddin criticised the MQM for joining hands with feudal lords against whom it had launched a struggle. He also accused the MQM of working for the military establishment to counter the PPP power in Sindh. He claimed that the Army and the MQM were behind the recent threats to journalists in Pakistan and termed it dangerous for the freedom and independence of the media. He claimed that even the Chief Executive of ARY TV, Shaheen Sehbai, had to leave Pakistan once again after his name appeared on the hit-list. Ziauddin also highlighted historical perspective of Pakistan's politics and its relations with the emergence of the MQM in the 80s. He elaborated the MQM's sporadic involvement in violence in collaboration with the Army against the mainstream political parties for the past two decades, particularly ethnic polarisation in Karachi.
Responding to some questions from the audience, he said that he was alarmed by the silence of state institutions which led many to put May 12 violence's responsibility on the Musharraf regime in Pakistan. Ali Hasan Dayan, a representative of the Human Rights Watch, declared Pakistan a military state which, according to him, has no respect for the rule of law and human rights. He blamed the MQM and the Sindh government for the Karachi massacre. He also expressed concerns over human rights violations and attacks on press freedom in recent days by the MQM, a coalition partner of the government. He also questioned the Musharaf regime's legitimacy after the present episode of violence. Earlier, Victoria Schofield analysed the British government's policy vis-a-vis providing shelter to individuals and organisations, which are allegedly involved in terrorist activities abroad. She drew comparison between the cases of Altaf Hussain and the MQM and those of Muslim radicals, who were allegedly involved in inciting terrorism abroad, and who have been or are being deported to the countries of their origin. She asked the Labour government in the UK to look into the concerns of Pakistan's civil society about Altaf Hussain, and praised the May 12 Group for raising such an important issue. REFERENCE: London seminar slams MQM Rauf Klasra Sunday, June 03, 2007 http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=8289&Cat=13&dt=6%2F3%2F2007
News Night with Talat -- 24th May 2012 p 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOqEUoqoGP4
LONDON: Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain is facing the danger of being tried in the UK courts over terrorism charges after the British media declared on Saturday that the MQM is run like the mafia from an office block in London amid accusations that the party had planned (the May 12) carnage which left 42 dead. This was declared in the findings of an investigative report of The Guardian. The MQM chief refused to meet its reporter when he tried to get his version on all these charges. His refusal strengthened the British media's view that the MQM is run like the mafia and whatever was being said about the party in Pakistan carried a lot of weight. On the eve of arrival of Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan in London to file cases against the MQM chief, the UK media also splashed his demand that Altaf should face anti-terror charges. The Daily Telegraph was the first paper to run a four-column front page story against Altaf, headlined, Running Karachi from London. The Guardian had assigned two of its reporters to investigate charges against the MQM and its chief Altaf Hussain. One of them went to Karachi and the other visited the MQM's London office to meet Altaf in his party office. The first reporter visited Altaf's residence in Karachi and found only one telephone operator running the house. The second reporter was shown only certain rooms of the MQM office in London and told that Altaf Bhai was not available to meet him.
According to The Guardian, outside may be Karachi but inside the discreetly guarded room all minds are focused on London. The clock is set to British summer time and a pair of telephones connect to an office 5,000 miles away, from where a controversial leader runs his political empire. Altaf Hussain leads the Muttahida Qaumi Movement -- a powerful, popular and, critics say, thuggish political force that has a vice-like grip on Karachi. At "Nine Zero", the party headquarters in Karachi, his presence looms large. A giant poster hangs over the entrance and reverential acolytes speak of "Altaf Bhai". But the great leader is missing. The Guardian writes that for the past 16 years, Altaf has lived in self-imposed exile in the UK, first as an asylum seeker and now as a British citizen. Based in an office block on Edgware High Street in north London he rules by phone, directing his closest lieutenants in long, late-night conversations. But in Pakistan that arrangement has become a matter of controversy -- one about to land at the British government's door.
The Guardian said cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan arrived in London to try to have Altaf prosecuted under British anti-terror laws. Three weeks ago gunmen opened fire on a rally in support of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, triggering a day of bloodshed that left 42 people dead. Imran -- as well as lawyers, human rights activists and opposition parties -- accuse Altaf of orchestrating the carnage from his sofa in London. "The whole thing was planned. No British citizen is allowed to sit in London and direct terrorist operations abroad. So why should Altaf Hussain?" said Imran Khan who described the MQM as a fascist movement run by criminals. "If Pakistan has to arrest al-Qaeda operatives, then Britain has an obligation to pick up Altaf," added Imran, who plans to bring a petition to Downing Street. "There's a war on terror going on but here we have Pakistan's No 1 terrorist being given sanctuary by the British government," he said.
The MQM denies the charges, and insists it was the victim and not the perpetrator of May 12. The party says 13 of its own activists were among the dead, and last week it produced a video from May 12 showing apparent supporters of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) firing their guns in the air. "This is a conspiracy against us. Our decision to hold a rally on May 12 may be open to criticism, but we were not involved in armed attacks," said Dr Farooq Sattar, deputy convener of the MQM's Rabita Committee. But Altaf has little to say. At the MQM's International Secretariat on Edgware High Street -- a red brick office block opposite a supermarket -- a party official said the leader was not available for comment. But he was happy to show the Guardian around the offices, which he confirmed was Altaf's London headquarters, and he vowed to repel any court action by Imran.
The fight is getting personal. Back in Karachi, graffiti slurs against Imran appeared on walls and the MQM-dominated local government has banned him from the city for one month. The report said the MQM was founded in 1984 by Altaf, a former Chicago cab driver, and won broad support among the Mohajirs. The party prided itself on its well-oiled machine and its secular, liberal outlook. But since May 12 the party's aspirations of becoming a national force lie in shreds, and there are worrying echoes of past tactics. On Tuesday, three Karachi journalists with foreign news agencies found unmarked envelopes containing a single bullet on their car windscreens. Two of them had earlier been denounced as anti-Mohajir by the MQM-linked Muhajir Rabita Council. The Guardian asks, "Will Mr Hussain ever come home?" At Nine Zero, where beefy young men with baseball caps stand guard, there is little sign. "We do not want him to come back to Karachi; it is too dangerous here," said parliamentarian Faisal Subzwari. But there is always hope. A few doors down Altaf's deserted terraced house is waiting, protected by blast proof metal shutters. For now, though, it has just one occupant -- a 24-hour telephone operator. REFERENCE: UK paper blames MQM for May 12 carnage Rauf Klasra Sunday, June 03, 2007 http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=8280&Cat=13&dt=6%2F3%2F2007
News Night with Talat -- 24th May 2012 p 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fF8z3-XIsr4
News Night with Talat -- 24th May 2012 p 4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jznoJ1e2cI
LONDON: The new proposed powers to British police to use telephonic conversations as evidence in a court of law might land Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain in hot waters, or at least greatly affect his regular telephonic addresses to his followers in Pakistan. The British government has been bringing sweeping anti-terrorism laws to use telephonic addresses, secret conversations and email messages of individuals as strong evidence in the courts on the pattern of American and European laws. After the enactment of these new laws at least Altaf would be required to be very careful in choosing his words as these might be used as evidence by police, if someone accuses him of inciting violence. Pakistani opposition leaders, particularly Imran Khan, are already levelling allegations against Altaf for inciting violence in Pakistan through his telephonic addresses during the last 16 years since he arrived here in 1992. Parts of the proposals will be laid out in more detail on Thursday, when the outgoing home secretary, John Reid, will announce a consultation on the terrorism bill due this autumn. They include detaining suspects for more than four weeks without charge, allowing questioning after charge and the use of intercept evidence.
It is understood here that regular telephonic addresses of Altaf Hussain from London to Karachi were recorded by the secret agencies of Britain. But under the current laws, these conversations could not be produced as evidence in courts of law. According to available details of these proposals, now material gathered from intercepts, and transcripts of telephone and email conversations would be admissible in evidence in criminal trials. Currently, patterns of phone contacts — who called who, and how often — can be used as evidence, and lengthy schedules of calls are a common feature of criminal trials. At present telephonic conversation or emails can only be used as intelligence, which may act as a springboard for an evidence-gathering investigation. This prohibition has been enshrined in law since the 1980s. One of the proposals says police should be able to question terror suspects who have been charged and are awaiting trial. Under current law, police can arrest someone for an offence when the person is facing trial for a completely separate offence. However, the police are not allowed to question the person about the offence they have already been charged with, even if evidence emerges that was not available before they were charged. The shutter comes down when someone is charged. Another proposal is to make terrorism an aggravating factor in sentencing, in the same way that racial motivation is. This would have the greatest effect in cases that spin off from core terrorism inquiries, such as benefit or passport fraud, where there is intelligence about terror links but no obvious crimes of violence. Police want these lesser offences to be punished more severely if they can show the fraud was to help terrorists. One proposal calls for greater public scrutiny of the heads of MI5 and MI6. Currently, they are overseen by the Intelligence and Security Committee, which reports to the prime minister and conducts its work in secret. REFERENCE: New UK laws might affect Altaf’s telephonic addresses Rauf Klasra Tuesday, June 05, 2007 http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=8317&Cat=13&dt=6%2F5%2F2007
Altaf hussain involvment in Hakeem Saeed Murder case
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKfMk282g6M
LONDON: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday claimed that as the prime minister he knew that the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) had murdered Hakim Muhammad Said in Karachi on October 17, 1998. Talking to newspersons at the PML-N office here, he also alleged that Federal Minister Babur Ghauri was now secretly playing the role of a "messenger" between President Gen Pervez Musharraf and Altaf Hussain. He also claimed that Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz would soon ditch President Musharraf and join the opposition parties.Nawaz alleged that Musharraf and Altaf were busy hatching a conspiracy against Pakistan and their collaboration might harm the country. He said that he had made it clear to the MQM leaders, who were part of the coalition government then, either to surrender those who had murdered Hakim Said or quit the Sindh government. "After the refusal of the MQM to surrender the killers, I preferred to sacrifice the provincial government of Liaqat Jatoi instead of making compromises with those who had killed an honourable man like Hakim Said," he said. Nawaz said the MQM leaders were playing a dangerous game by collaborating with Gen Musharraf. "Being the twice elected prime minister of Pakistan, I have some understanding of politics, and my political intuition tells me that Altaf and Musharraf are working to harm the country's interests," he said. Nawaz said, on May 10, while addressing a press conference, he had warned that if the MQM was not stopped from holding a rally in Karachi on the arrival of the chief justice, many innocent people might be killed. He regretted that his timely warning was not heeded to. Nawaz disclosed that even certain elements had tried to warn Gen Musharraf about the likely bloodshed in Karachi if the MQM was not stopped from holding the rally. But, he claimed that instead of giving a serious thought to that logical advice from the intelligence quarters, Musharraf got furious and told them to leave the room. Nawaz said that these words gave a clear idea that Musharraf and Altaf had planned the massacre in Karachi. Nawaz also backed the movement of Imran Khan against Altaf and said his own hard-hitting stance on the MQM was known to everybody. He said that he was against the MQM since it murdered Hakim Said. Nawaz also disclosed that the ruling party leaders sitting in the government were secretly in touch with him to secure their political future after 2007 and claimed that soon Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz would ditch Gen Musharraf and join the opposition, as he was not a stranger to them (Nawaz and Benazir Bhutto) because, as a banker, he used to meet them regularly both within and outside Pakistan. "Look, you will soon see Shaukat Aziz ditching Gen Musharraf and joining the political leadership of the opposition parties," Nawaz told the press conference. Nawaz asked Benazir to attend the all parties conference in London, instead of sending a five-member delegation of her party, as he observed that her presence would make a difference. To a question, Nawaz dropped a hint at accepting some of the ruling party members, saying that he would be required to make a distinction between people like Sheikh Rashid and those who did not come out in the open to launch attack on the opposition leaders. However, Nawaz did not reveal who was in touch with him and whether they were federal ministers, MNAs or senators. Earlier, Nawaz Sharif blasted the top generals and heads of secret agencies who had filed affidavits in the Supreme Court. He wondered how could the generals make such claims in their written statements and that how could they all come to the office of the Army chief only on the phone call of the chief justice. Nawaz said that they could not dare enter the room of Musharraf unless he directed them to visit his office. He said that it was a ridiculous thing to say that the generals had come to the office of Musharraf on the telephone call from the chief justice and Musharraf had no idea about their likely visit to his office. He said the secret agencies had no role in the affairs of the chief justice, as no law allowed them to interfere in the legal and constitutional affairs. He said the heads of these agencies were also subverting the Constitution. Nawaz questioned the powers of heads of secret agencies to even discuss the reference issue with the CJ in the office of the Army chief as this was not their mandate and legal duty. He said that it was a laughable excuse that the chief justice wanted Musharraf to dissolve the assemblies as what kind of benefits a chief justice could get after the sacking of a Parliament. Nawaz said political change must come and come early in Pakistan but it should not be on the wishes and help of foreign forces like America or rest of the world. Nawaz said that former US President Bill Clinton had made him five telephone calls to persuade him not to conduct nuclear tests and had offered $5 billion as aid but he refused to surrender before pressure and Pakistan became a nuclear state. Nawaz said, on the other hand, just one telephone call from Collin Powell on 9/11 was more than enough for Musharraf to toe the US line. The former prime minister claimed that had Musharraf been the ruler of Pakistan on May 28, 1998, the country would not have become a nuclear power. REFERENCE: MQM murdered Hakim Said, claims Nawaz Rauf Klasra Saturday, June 09, 2007 http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=8391&Cat=13&dt=6%2F9%2F2007
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joCPkq40lQU
LONDON: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and its leadership continue to be at the receiving end since the May 12 Karachi carnage, as the daily Guardian alleged that the party was linked to South African crime networks. The British paper's investigative report alleged that the MQM was linked to “extortion, gun smuggling and South African crime networks”.The British media has turned its guns toward the MQM; it never did this in the past 16 years. It did not care about Altaf Hussain or any other Pakistani politician living in the UK and doing politics from London. But, the prevailing judicial crisis followed by killings in Karachi has changed the perception of the British media, which is publishing regular anti-MQM stories almost everyday putting pressure on its own government and people to review policies on leaders who acquired British citizenship but still participating in the politics of their country of origin. REFERENCE: MQM linked with crime networks: Guardian our correspondent Monday, June 04, 2007 http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=8312&Cat=13&dt=6%2F4%2F2007
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