Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif addresses the Parliament in Islamabad on June 24, 2013. – AFP Photo - ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif told the National Assembly Monday that the government would put former military ruler Pervez Musharraf on trial for treason, charges punishable by death or life imprisonment. He told the lower house of Parliament that the newly elected government of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) will file a written request before the Supreme Court to try former military ruler General (retd) Pervez Musharraf for treason under Article 6 of the Constitution. Sharif said the former president had committed treason by abrogating the Constitution and he should be tried under the law. The premier moreover said Musharraf would be tried for imposing a state of emergency in the country in 2007 while also suspending the Constitution. Earlier, Attorney General of Pakistan Munir A. Malik informed the Supreme Court that the government was fully committed to initiate high treason case against the former military ruler and his abettors according to the provisions of the Constitution. The AG submitted a written statement before the three-member SC bench comprising Justice Jawwad S. Khawaja, Justice Khilji Arif Hussain and Justice Ijaz Afzal Khan during the hearing of petitions against Pervez Musharraf for imposing emergency in the country on November 3, 2007.
“Given the primacy of the issue in the struggle for upholding the spirit of Constitution, the federal government will proceed in accordance with law and also take political forces into confidence through a consultative process so that the collective will and wisdom of the people of Pakistan is duly reflected in further process in this behalf,” said the statement. The attorney general stated that the government would need time to frame the whole process. However, the apex court adjourned further hearing of the case till June 27 while directing the AG to further explain the government’s stance on the issue. Leader of Opposition in NA Syed Khurshid Shah welcomed the prime minister's speech in NA and said that the pictures of all past dictators should be removed from the parliament premises. He said that people rejected those who called the Constitution of Pakistan a meagre piece of paper, a reference to another former dictator General Ziaul Haq. Other members of the NA sitting on opposition benches also extended their full support to government in its decision to try the former dictator. Following Shah’s address, Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi said his party would support every constitutional step taken by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. The premier later took the federal cabinet into confidence over government's response in high treason case against Pervez Musharraf. REFERENCE: Former dictator Musharraf to be tried for treason: PM Nawaz Sharif http://dawn.com/news/1020442/musharraf-to-be-tried-under-article-6-for-treason-pm-nawaz-sharif
16 October 1999 Altaf asks army to restore democracy LONDON, Oct 12: Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain has asked the army chief and the its leadership to restore democracy in the country at the earliest. "This (restoration of democracy) is in the interest of the country as well as the army," Mr Hussain told Dawn while commenting on the dismissal of Nawaz Sharif government in Pakistan. The MQM chief held former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif responsible for the current situation and said that his "autocratic and dictatorial attitude" forced the army to step in. "Nawaz Sharif had left no choice for the army," he added. He said the foremost task of any government installed in Pakistan should be to hold accountability of all corrupt politicians who have looted the national wealth. He said the army should move fast towards restoring democracy, adding that the army had been forced to take the action, which was not liked by democracy-loving people like him. Asked whether he would favour holding of fresh elections within 90 days, he said he would support the restoration of democracy in the country as well as demand accountability of those who looted the national wealth, suppressed the judiciary and subjugated the national press. He said Nawaz Sharif had resorted to extra-constitutional measures to suppress the opposition parties, particularly the MQM in Sindh. "He (Nawaz Sharif) must be tried for extra-judicial killings that took place during his tenure in Pakistan in general and Karachi in particular." Asked whether he would support a caretaker government set up for a year or two to hold across the board accountability of all politicians before holding the next elections, he said it was too early to say that. "I am waiting for the speech of the army chief," he said. "But whatever decision will be taken, will be by the central coordination committee and not by me." REFERENCE: Altaf asks army to restore democracy Daily Dawn 16 October 1999 https://dl-web.dropbox.com/spa/zohkohb0i282t94/Area%20Studies/public/SouthAsia/SAserials/Dawn/1999/16oct99.html#alta
June 3, 2013 MQM to support Nawaz Sharif for PM slot: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Chief Altaf Hussain announced his support for the prime minister-elect Nawaz Sharif and his party, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Monday, Express News reported. He said, the decision is being taken to uphold the interest of the country. This declaration of support from the second largest party in Sindh bodes well for PML-N who emerged as the clear winner in the general elections. Having won the highest number of seats in the National Assembly, PML-N is expected to form the next government with Nawaz as the prime minister, who has already been offered support by various independent candidates and political parties. Premiers of China and India also extended their vote of confidence to Nawaz after the general elections. REFERENCES: http://tribune.com.pk/story/558204/mqm-to-support-nawaz-sharif-for-pm-slot/ 2007: MQM murdered Hakim Said, claims Nawaz : 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. 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=6/9/2007
Musharraf's insistence that he would stay in Pakistan is again based primarily on the calculation that until the two major parties break up he should be provided a safe stay and when they break up, he would re-launch himself, probably as a leader of the Karachi-led Mohajir population, with or even without, the blessings of Mr Altaf Hussain. This streak of leading the Karachi political scene was more than evident in his recent visits to Karachi where he tried to create his own lobby of businessmen and mohajir leaders, almost to the exclusion of Altaf Hussain and his hard core supporters. Musharraf's address one night a few weeks ago to a select group of Karachi businessmen, where his strong supporter Governor Ishrat ul Ebad was present and Karachi Mayor Mustufa Kamal made his famous, but mysterious, comment that within a few months the geography of Karachi may change, was seen by Altaf Hussain as an attempt to challenge him on his turf. Within hours of that Musharraf address, his first after months of post-Feb 18 polls hibernation, Altaf Bhai had to arrange his own gathering of Karachi businessmen and address them from London. Why this need for a parallel event felt by the MQM headquarters in London was obvious: Mr Musharraf was trying to hijack his party and Altaf Bhai is not an amateur in fighting turf wars. Soon thereafter both Governor Ebad and Mayor were summoned to London for whatever happens to MQM men when they err. REFERENCE: Musharraf will wait for his political comeback BY Shaheen Sehbai Tuesday, August 19, 2008 http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=16694&Cat=13&dt=8/19/2008
Musharraf to be tried for treason: PM Nawaz Sharif
Musharraf to be tried for treason: PM Nawaz Sharif by SalimJanMazari
2005: Justice Iftikhar sworn in as CJP ISLAMABAD: Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry was sworn in as chief justice of Pakistan on Thursday. President Pervez Musharraf administered oath to him at the presidency. Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, National Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain, cabinet ministers, chief ministers and other dignitaries including several foreign diplomats attended the ceremony. Justice Iftikhar will serve as chief justice for a record period of eight and half years till December 11, 2013, and almost all serving judges except for Justices Tassaduq Hussain Jillani and Nasirul Mulk will retire without having a chance of becoming chief justice. Justice Iftikhar started his professional career in 1974. He was a lawyer for more than 16 years and became a judge of the Balochistan High Court on November 6, 1990. He became chief justice of the Balochistan High Court on April 22, 1999. Later, he was elevated as judge of the Supreme Court on February 4, 2000. He is also the chairman of the Enrolment Committee of the Pakistan Bar Council, which issues licenses to lawyers to practice in the Supreme Court. Justice Iftikhar was the most senior judge of the Supreme Court after Chief Justice Nazim Hussain Siddiqui, who retired on June 29. He was designated chief justice by the president by an announcement last month. All bar associations and representatives of other judicial departments have hailed Justice Iftikhar’s appointment for being in consonance with the principles of seniority and merit. Justice Iftikhar has authored several landmark judgements and was a bench member for almost every important case. His fellow judges acknowledge his acumen and prudence in constitutional and statutory matters besides his sagacity in adjudication of public litigation. REFERENCE: Justice Iftikhar sworn in as CJP Friday, July 01, 2005 Friday, July 01, 2005 http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_1-7-2005_pg7_6 Five judges elevated to SC 5 February 2000 DAWN WIRE SERVICE http://www.lib.virginia.edu/area-studies/SouthAsia/SAserials/Dawn/2000/05feb00.html#five
23 Oct 1999: General Pervez Musharraf, whom Benazir called a "moderate" and "professional soldier," NEW YORK, Oct 16: Exiled opposition leader Benazir Bhutto said on Friday she had "nothing to hide" from an investigation into politicians' bank accounts by the new military government in Pakistan. "This is a preemptive measure taken against all politicians, it is not Benazir specific or Nawaz specific, pending investigation of the accounts," former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, who lives in London and was on a two-day private visit to New York, said in an interview with Reuters. "And I welcome it because I have nothing to hide." "These are trumped up charges," she said on Friday. "Now that the military has taken over I hope they will put an end to all previous persecution and establish a non-partisan accountability body, which will start a fresh investigation in these matters because the past regime forged papers and on the basis of unproven documents sought to convict." General Pervez Musharraf, whom Benazir called a "moderate" and "professional soldier," overthrew Nawaz Sharif hours on Tuesday. Benazir, who has described Sharif's government as a "civilian dictatorship", said her Pakistan People's Party would support efforts by the military toward "restoring political and economic stability." REFERENCE: Benazir says she has nothing to hide from probe Daily Dawn 23 October 1999 https://dl-web.dropbox.com/spa/zohkohb0i282t94/Area%20Studies/public/SouthAsia/SAserials/Dawn/1999/23oct99.html#says
Real Face of Ugly Benazir Bhutto after 12 Oct 1999 Military Coup --: LONDON, Oct 12: Former prime minister Benazir Bhutto on Tuesday blamed Nawaz Sharif for provoking military take-over against his own government. Bhutto said Sharif had sought to politicise the army and the army had therefore risen against him. "Ever since Nawaz Sharif took over he sought to dismantle democracy," said Bhutto, who is in London. "The people believe that the man is violating every rule of law and there is no-one to stop him. "The armed forces had to protect themselves as an institution," Bhutto said in an interview with Sky television. Earlier, Bhutto said the situation in Pakistan resembled civil war, but she later toned down this analysis. "Perhaps civil war is a bit extreme," she said. "But Nawaz tried to use elements of the military against the bulk of the military." The army as an institution had reacted against this attempt to politicise it. Bhutto said it was "very serious" that Pakistan, a nuclear weapons state, should be leaderless. "I have been calling on the western community to raise its voice to support fundamental human rights and the rule of law in Pakistan," she said. "I feared that if the rule of law collapsed it could create a vacuum into which the military could step. That's what has happened today." The military could earn the respect of the people of Pakistan by agreeing to hold free and fair elections and then returning to its barracks. "If they don't, Pakistan will be an international outcast and that would be bad for Pakistan and the region," she said. In an earlier interview with the BBC, Bhutto said Pakistan appeared to be in a state of civil war. "When you hear reports that the military is fighting with the civil government and elements of the military are supporting the ... government, well, that looks very much like civil war to me," she said. Bhutto said the events had little to do with Kashmir, instead placing the blame on Sharif. "I don't think the change has anything to do with Kargil but it has a lot to do with Mr Nawaz Sharif's manner of running the country. "He has sought to dismantle democracy, he has been sacking everyone - the chief justice, the president - attacked the press, the foreign investors, the opposition," she said.-Reuters REFERENCE: Benazir blames Nawaz for Army take-over 16 October 1999 https://dl-web.dropbox.com/spa/zohkohb0i282t94/Area%20Studies/public/SouthAsia/SAserials/Dawn/1999/16oct99.html#bena
Asma Jahangir on Balochistan and Musharraf Treason Trial (Target Point - Dawn News 28-6-13)
Asma Jahangir on Balochistan & Musharraf... by SalimJanMazari
2005: Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry named new CJ : ISLAMABAD, May 7: President Pervez Musharraf on Saturday appointed Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, the senior most judge of the Supreme Court, as the next chief justice. He will assume the office on June 30 after retirement of the incumbent Chief Justice, Justice Nazim Hussain Siddiqui, on June 29. “The notification has ended speculations of appointment of a junior judge as chief justice in violation of the seniority principle settled under the 1996 Judges case,” commented a senior Supreme Court lawyer on condition of anonymity. Justice Chaudhry will reach the superannuation age of 65 years in 2012, which will make him one of the longest serving chief justices in the judicial history of Pakistan. He will serve as chief justice for over seven years. Earlier Justice A. R. Cornelius and Justice Mohammad Haleem served as chief justice for eight years from 1960 to 68 and 1981 to 89, respectively. Justice Chaudhry was elevated as a judge of the apex court on February 4, 2000. He has performed as acting chief justice from January 17 to 29, 2005. He holds the degree of LLB and started practice as an advocate in 1974. Later he was enrolled as an advocate of high court in 1976 and as an advocate of Supreme Court in 1985. In 1989, Justice Chaudhry was appointed as advocate-general of Balochistan and elevated to the post of additional judge in the Balochistan High Court in 1990. He also served as banking judge, judge of Special Court for Speedy Trials and Customs Appellate Courts as well as company judge. He served as the chief justice of the Balochistan High Court from April 22, 1999 to February 4, 2000. He was elected the president of the High Court Bar Association, Quetta, and twice a member of the Bar Council. He was appointed as the chairman of the Balochistan Local Council Election Authority in 1992 and for a second term in 1998. Justice Chaudhry also worked as the chairman of the Provincial Review Board for Balochistan and was appointed twice as the chairman of the Pakistan Red Crescent Society, Balochistan. Presently he is functioning as the chairman of the Enrolment Committee of the Pakistan Bar Council and Supreme Court Buildings Committee. REFERENCE : Chaudhry Iftikhar named new CJ May 8, 2005 By Our Staff Reporter http://archives.dawn.com/2005/05/08/top4.htm
Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan: When reminded that he was very close to Nawaz Sharif, the former information minister said he never took part in talks with the army or the United States. "On both these issues Shahbaz Sharif and Chaudhry Nisar used to talk and advise Nawaz Sharif and I had nothing to do with that." "The time has now come to bury the politics of vendetta and revenge and to harness energies for nation building. Pakistan today needs a healing touch," said a statement issued after his release. Another close compatriot of Nawaz Sharif, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan is expected to be released soon because of a compromise he had reportedly reached with the military authorities. Chaudhry Nisar, who is under house arrest, is said to be enjoying the facility of visiting the city late at night. People close to him claim that he had distanced himself with Nawaz Sharif to have his freedom soon. REFERENCE: Mushahid freed: aims to unite PML by Ihtashamul Haque 30 December 2000 https://dl-web.dropbox.com/spa/zohkohb0i282t94/Area%20Studies/public/SouthAsia/SAserials/Dawn/2000/dec3000.html#mush
Meet PML-N Law Minister Zahid Hamid (The Musharraf Loyalist)
Meet PML-N Law Minister Zahid Hamid (The... by SalimJanMazari
2007: CJ says chiefs of MI, ISI asked him to quit: ISLAMABAD, May 29: The Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, on Tuesday narrated for the first time his version of the events of of May 9 at the President’s camp office in Rawalpindi.
He said in an affidavit that top intelligence officials had constantly pressured him into resigning, and after keeping him confined at the office for over five hours, he was allowed to leave in a flagless car.
“I was informed that I have been restrained from acting as the chief justice.”
The `non-functional’ chief justice informed the full-bench hearing identical petitions against the presidential reference that since the action of March 9, he had remained a victim of intrusive and not-so-intrusive intelligence and police operation.
Justice Iftikhar said his entire house had been bugged, all his activities were being monitored, and `everything and everyone’ in and around his residence was being watched through a listening post set up at the nearby Sindh House.
He did not say in the affidavit if he had been summoned to the Army House by President General Pervez Musharraf or whether he had made a request to meet the president.
“When I reached the Army House, President Musharraf, wearing military uniform, told him he had received a complaint against him from a judge of the Peshawar High Court..
“I replied that it was not based on facts as my case was decided by a two-member bench and that attempts are being made to maliciously involve the other member of the Bench as well.” After this, the president said there were a few more complaints as well, directing his staff to call the 'other persons'.
The 'other persons' entered the room immediately. They were: Prime Minster Shaukat Aziz, the Directors General
of Military Intelligence (MI), Director General of Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), Director General Intelligence Bureau (IB), Chief of Staff (COS) and another official. All officials (except the IB chief and the COS) were in uniform.
He said Gen Musharraf started reading notes from bits of paper. There was no single consolidated document containing charges against him. Most of the allegations had been taken from the contents of a 'notorious letter' written by Mr Naeem Bukhari.
The Chief Justice said he dismissed the accusations as being baseless, having been engineered to defame him and the judiciary.
He said President Musharraf insisted on his resignation. The president also said that if he agreed to resign, he would 'accommodate' him.
In case of refusal, Gen Musharraf warned him, he would have to face a reference. “I replied: `I will not resign and would face any reference since I am innocent; I have not violated any code of conduct or any law, rule or regulation. I believe that I am the guardian of law. I strongly believe in God."
He said the reply angered the president. He left the room in haste along with his military secretary, COS and the prime minister, saying that others would show evidence to him.
“The meeting lasted about 30 minutes. The chiefs of the MI, ISI and IB stayed back, but they too did not show him me a single piece of evidence.”
In fact, Justice iftikhar said, no official, except the ISI chief, had any document with him.
The officials, however, alleged that Justice Iftikhar had used his influence
to get his son admitted in Bolan Medical College, Quetta, when he was serving as a judge of the Balochistan High Court. The ISI and MI heads persisted in their demand for resignation, the CJ said. “I refused, saying that the demand has a collateral purpose.” Reference: CJ says chiefs of MI, ISI asked him to quit: Affidavit on March 9 camp office event
By Iftikhar A. Khan May 30, 2007 http://archives.dawn.com/2007/05/30/top1.htm
LAHORE: State Minister for Information Tariq Azeem on Thursday dubbed President Pervez Musharraf as the “most popular leader” of Pakistan, while Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Senator Babar Awan said the president could not win a councillor’s seat without uniform.
Speaking on Geo television’s Capital Talk programme, Azeem said the Musharraf government had made “amazing achievements” during the last seven years. “Even the worst enemies of President Musharraf admit that he brought about economic and political stability in Pakistan, empowered people and gave the best foreign policy that made Pakistan stand proudly in the comity of nations.”
Federal Minister for Ports and Shipping Babar Ghauri said that it was difficult for politicians to praise military rulers. He said the opposition had failed to mobilise people against the government, adding that the failure proved that Musharraf was the most popular leader of the country.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Khwaja Saad Rafiq refused to answer why his party could not gather 5,000 people to protest against Javed Hashmi’s arrest, contending that the channel had called him to comment on Gen Musharraf’s seven-year rule. Rafiq said that movements against military rulers always took time and hoped that the opposition would unite gradually. Ghauri and Azeem said that misunderstandings between their parties - the Muttahida Qaumi Movement and Pakistan Muslim League, respectively - had been cleared. They said that a good working coordination between the two coalition parties was in the offing. daily times monitor . REFERENCE: Musharraf ‘most popular leader’: Azeem Friday, October 13, 2006 http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006%5C10%5C13%5Cstory_13-10-2006_pg7_27 Musharraf will not leave Pakistan: Azeem Wednesday, August 20, 2008 http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008%5C08%5C20%5Cstory_20-8-2008_pg7_5
Meet The Federal Minister Ijaz ul Haq (ARY 2008... by SalimJanMazari
2005: The federal religious affairs minister, Ijaz ul Haq, repeated his view on a private TV channel on September 9, that there was no evidence that the madrassas were involved in terrorism. He said a mistake was made in Pakistan, and outside, in associating the banned jihadi-terrorist organisations with the madrassas. He said the Uzbeks in South Waziristan were the people who came as the vanguard of the Soviet troops to fight the 1979-88 Afghan war, but went back to Uzbekistan to demand their rights from “the worst dictator in the world”, President Karimov of Uzbekistan. They were savagely treated and pushed into Afghanistan where the Taliban gave them asylum. They took no part, he said, in the war against America but had to flee to Pakistan after 9/11. (This is the most hypocritically disingenuous account of the movement of Qari Tahir Yuldashev that one has ever heard. It also contradicts the position taken by Lt-General Safdar Hussain, the Peshawar corps commander, on the same TV channel, a week earlier.)
The pro-MMA-madrassa flurry of statements by Mr Haq has encouraged others to use private TV channels to obfuscate the issue of the isolationism and rejectionism of the madrassas and their exploitation by terrorist organisations, including Al Qaeda. Thus we had a former chief justice of the Sindh High Court shocking us out of our wits by stating on a private TV channel on September 10, that the madrassas were the central education system of the Muslims in India till the British got one man willing to serve them (he was referring to Sir Syed Ahmad Khan) to open a parallel system of education to outflank and destroy the madrassas. He said the 9/11 and 7/7 incidents were stage-managed to justify plans to destroy the Muslims. He said he did not believe that Muslim youths were capable of the terrorism of 7/7, leaving behind telltale evidence to implicate them.
It appears that Mr Haq’s rhetoric is catching on with private TV channels, where the hosts or anchorpersons either do not know the background to the growth of terrorism in Pakistan or are a part of the “Islamic reply” to the “accusations” of the West. On September 9, Maulana Abdul Maalik of the MMA was so emboldened by Mr Haq’s presence that he announced that the madrassas would teach jihad as qitaal and needed no permission from the state for starting a war. Mr Haq remained quiet, even though he knew well that Sufi Muhammad of Malakand had ordered a private jihad in favour of the Taliban and had got 8,000 Pushtuns to populate the prisons of the Afghan warlords. He pretended not to see the implications of madrassas deciding when and with whom to go to war without asking the nation-state in which they were located. Indeed, Mr Haq got a discussion so skewed in favour of those who would depose President Pervez Musharraf in the name of Islam that an “unofficial” discussant, Mr Javed al-Ghamidi, had to say that mistakes were made by the madrassas as well.
The fact is that most top madrassas are directly or indirectly involved in breeding militant Islamists who are inclined to become terrorists. This has been proved beyond doubt, unless you want proof of nothing less than actual military training grounds on their premises. Pakistan’s most notorious terrorist wanted by India together with Ahmad Umar Sheikh, the murderer of Daniel Pearl in Karachi, is Maulana Masood Azhar, a graduate of the Banuri Town madrassa in Karachi. The director of the madrassa, Mufti Nizamuddin Shamzai — target-killed last year –arranged the first meeting between Osama bin Laden and Mullah Umar, the self-styled “caliph” of the Taliban. The South Waziristan terrorist still on the loose in his area, Abdullah Mehsud, went straight to Banuri Town madrassa after his release from Guantanamo Bay and declared war on the Americans and “their allies”. After his mentor Mufti Jamil of the madrassa was killed in Karachi, he struck in South Waziristan, kidnapping two Chinese engineers, with horrible consequences for Pakistan. On June 24, Mufti Rehman and Maulana Irshad, new heads of the Banuri Mosque madrassa in Karachi, were also target-killed.
Before the world pressured Pakistan into banning them, some of the jihadi organisations boasted the highest number of madrassas in Pakistan. Those organisations have changed their names, but still exist — and so do their madrassas. One private TV channel exploring the world of madrassas (and finding them clean!) last month visited a very well appointed “university” in Karachi run by Lashkar-e-Taiba, a banned terrorist organisation. Another TV channel visited another madrassa in Islamabad — this time a women’s seminary called Dar al-Hafsa — and was bombarded with rhetoric of rejection of the state, which begins a young Pakistani’s journey into extremism and violence. The TV host wanted to know if the seminary did not take them away from the mainstream of society and expose them to a discourse that made them reject the state. One woman seminarian said that General Pervez Musharraf had blasphemed by saying that women should not be behind the veil. The women said wahi was their command; the state was not. One said she rejected the state. On the other hand, Mr Ijaz ul Haq said on TV that the government had apologised to Dar al-Hafsa and had punished the police officer who had tried to force his way into the madrassa looking for a terror suspect.
President Musharraf has said many things on TV that his religious affairs minister is trying to negate through his own gloss on the madrassas. For instance, the president said that the men who tried to kill him had been trained and equipped with explosives in South Waziristan where, he said, he had hunted down and killed some Uighur terrorists from Sinkiang at the request of China. New research is available on the presence of Uighur terrorists in Pakistan, if Mr Haq is interested in the latest information. President Musharraf had also complained of the terrorists of Southeast Asia getting their ideological training in the madrassas of Karachi — the largest Deobandi concentration including madrassas belonging to Sipah-e-Sahaba. He even named Hanbali, the Indonesian terrorist linked to Al Qaeda. The man he got arrested from Dubai on the charge of trying to kill him in Rawalpindi, Qari Saifullah Akhtar, is a graduate of the Banuri Town madrassa.
The problem with all madrassas is that they nurse a mind that adopts isolationism as a way of looking at the world. The total lack of realism following World War I that inspired the Khilafat and Hijrat Movements and the Reshmi Romaal Conspiracy tells us that the madrassa is and has always remained a politically dangerous fool’s paradise. This isolationism breeds rejectionism of the world in general and the nation-state in particular. It is the incubator of personalities that later lead Muslim society to extremism and violence. Therefore, Mr Ijaz ul Haq should have the guts to either denounce President Pervez Musharraf and leave his cabinet or admit that the president is pulling a fast one on the world and the people of Pakistan. * REFERENCE: EDITORIAL: Madrassas, Ijaz ul Haq and Musharraf Monday, September 12, 2005 http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_12-9-2005_pg3_1 Ejaz says he helped release Ghazi in terror cases Wednesday, April 11, 2007 http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=7065&Cat=13&dt=4/11/2007 Govt. non-serious for Musharraf trial: Ejaz-ul-Haq Updated at: 0248 PST, Sunday, August 16, 2009 http://www.geo.tv/8-16-2009/47694.htm
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