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Friday,
August 2, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
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Benazir plans grand return NEWS ANALYSIS Kashmir issue already international: Pervez |
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USA lists India among
nations posing threat India to give $ 2.5m for ASEAN projects
Pashtuns protest against Karzai Russia holds war games
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Benazir
plans grand return
Islamabad, August 1 Although party officials were evasive in their replies, the News reported today that Ms Butto was planning to end her self-exile in Dubai with a “plane load of media and prominent political personalities from the USA and the EU to stake her claim to participate in the (October 10) general elections, defying threats of arrest by the Musharraf regime.” The daily reported that “a list of selected media and political personalities who are likely to accompany the former premier on a chartered plane was presently being given a final shape but would not be announced until a day before the landing in Pakistan.” A large number of US congressmen had already given their consent to accompany Ms Bhutto, the paper quoted a senior party official as saying. The entourage, it said, was also likely to include prominent lawyers “who would directly rush to the Supreme Court with a bail plea” as she was convicted only for not appearing before a court and not against any specific charge.” However, spokesman for Ms Bhutto’s Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Faratulla Babar told PTI that plans were afoot to mobilise prominent national and international media and other personalities. But things were under preparation and nothing had been finalised yet. Ms Bhutto earlier preferred to come back with deposed Prime Minister Nawaz Shairf who has been exiled to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia by the Musharraf government. But he appears to have backed out, and now reportedly plans to nominate his wife Khulsoom Nawaz or brother Shabaz Shairf to head his Pakistan Muslim League (PML) which plans to hold its party polls within two days. The strategy of Ms Bhutto, the paper said, appeared to be to get arrested on her arrival under the glare of national and international media and then take her battle to the Supreme Court to get a bail and also possible relief from the new rules brought in by the Musharraf government to prevent her from contesting the poll or lead the PPP, which was widely considered to be a front runner to win the elections. Raja Zafarul Haq, chairman of the PML of which Mr Sharif is president, said: “I think (Nawaz) Sharif would not like to annoy his host Saudi Arabia (by leaving for Pakistan).” About a dozen prominent Pakistani journalists could also be invited to join Ms Bhutto on her way back, the sources indicated. They said the party is finalising where Ms Bhutto should land. Both Mr Sharif and Ms Bhutto are barred from the election as they have convictions still outstanding against them and both have been Prime Minister twice, making them ineligible under a new Musharraf decree banning anyone from ruling for a third term. PTI, UNI
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Zia’s
son stakes claim to PML post
Islamabad, August 1 The party is perceived to have best chances to win the October 10 poll as it is backed by the government. “I will fight come what may, and will not withdraw like I did in March 2001,” Mr Haq was quoted by local daily “The News” today. Accusing Mian Azhar of not providing him the voter list, Mr Haq said “If I am not provided with the accurate list of voters (members of the General Council), I will challenge the elections (party) in the superior court.” Mr Haq threatened to go to court after PML-QA secretary-general Col Ghulam Sarwar Cheema (retd) said the voter list was not ready.
PTI |
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NEWS ANALYSIS Dhaka, August 1 It was evident from his comments to mediapersons before his departure on Wednesday afternoon for Colombo: “The visit was extremely fruitful and it will strengthen the existing relations between the two countries”. He also said it could set into motion a warm relation with Bangladesh, which emerged after the split of Pakistan in 1971 for which millions sacrificed their lives. The main objective of his visit ostensibly was to renew the relations with the ultra rightist Jamaat-e-Islami which extended unflinching support to the Pakistani military operation against the Bangladesh liberation struggle. The founder of the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), the late Gen Zia-ur-Rahman, was the man to change the wheel of secular nationalism that brought about the independence of Bangladesh, rehabilitating the forces which were inimical to Bangladesh’s liberation. He withdrew the ban on religion-based political parties that included the Jamaat and the Muslim League. His widow Ms Khaleda Zia, the present Prime Minister always pursued anti-Indian policies which should please the Pakistani authority of any hue. General Musharraf re-established direct contact with these forces during his visit. Providing funds and other assistance to the BNP and the Jamaat for electoral expenses by Pakistan and Iran is an open secret in the country. They have never denied the allegation. The Awami League opposed General Musharraf’s taking over power by removing an elected government and endorsed Pakistan’s suspension from the Commonwealth. These developments left the relations at their lowest ebb. After the rout of the Awami League in the general election on October 1 last year, the coalition of the BNP and Jamaat came to power. Political analysts in local newspapers like the Bangladesh Observer, Dainik Sangbad and Dainik Janakantha remarked that General Musharraf would definitely feel comfortable to hold talks with the present government. But he was all through found with a pale face, maybe because he had to offer regrets for what he described as the “calamitous situation” in 1971. However, the endorsement by the Bangladesh Prime Minister of his expression of regret was a solace. None other than her accepted the expression of regret for the “incidents of 1971”. The atmosphere turned completely hostile before General Musharraf’s arrival because of recalling by the people and the press of the genocide and war crimes committed by the Pakistan army during the nine months of armed fight against the freedom fighters of erstwhile East Pakistan. This was followed by an anti-Musharraf student demonstration on the Dhaka University campus by the main opposition parties like the Awami League, the Communist Party of Bangladesh and the organisations demanding the trial of Pakistani forces on charges of war crimes and genocide. The government also dismayed the visiting dignitary by raising unpalatable demands like the repayment of assets left in Pakistan and the repatriation of Bihari migrants now known as stranded Pakistanis. The Opposition political parties, including the Awami League, boycotted General Musharraf. The League refused to make a courtesy call at his hotel suite. Interestingly, Lt.-Gen Hossain Mohammad Ershad, a military ruler like General Musharraf, who also came to power by removing the elected President, Justice Abdus Sattar, on March 24, 1982, instead of meeting the guest left for Saudi Arabia a day before the arrival of General Musharraf. Only the leaders of the two partners of the coalition government — the BNP and the Jamaat-e-Islami, called on him separately. |
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Pak writes off Bangladesh debt of Rs 84 m Dhaka, August 1 This information was given to senior journalists whom President Pervez Musharraf met over breakfast here yesterday, a report in The News said.
ANI |
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Kashmir issue already international: Pervez
Colombo, August 1 “There is a hypocrisy in this attitude. They just juggle around with the semantics of words like mediator, facilitator and interlocutor, but the reality is that Kashmir has already been internationalised,” General Musharraf told a gathering of select local journalists here. “Whatever English word they used to refer to the role played by world powers — facilitator or interlocutor, the fact was that Kashmir was already an international issue and a dangerous flashpoint’ in the region”, he said. His remarks came when asked about India’s rejection of US Secretary of State Colin Powell’s observation that Kashmir was on the international agenda. “What are Colin Powell or (Britain’s Foreign Secretary) Jack Straw doing and what are world governments and world powers doing, except talking of Kashmir?”, he asked. In an opening statement before taking questions, he said relations between Pakistan and India were at their ‘lowest’, and reiterated that while Pakistan did not want war and would not initiate one, it would not compromise on its ‘honour and dignity’ in the name of peace. Musharraf said de-escalation alone would not bring about lasting peace and a permanent solution lay only in a peaceful resolution through dialogue and “in accordance with the wishes of the people of Kashmir. The United Nations resolutions on the issue should be honoured.” PTI
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USA lists India among nations posing threat
Washington, August 1 Other such nations specifically named include Iran, Iraq, Libya and North Korea. The director of the State Department’s Office Of Chemical, Biological and Missile Non-Proliferation, Vann Van Diepen, in his testimony before a Senate panel, said: “We must strengthen cooperation and cope with the impact of technological advances. We must continue to combat the terrorist threat. “We must consider new potential threats, expand our non-proliferation toolkit and improve the efficacy of those tools we have.” He said the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) was considering US proposals to enhance its ability to deal with the threat of nuclear terrorism. These proposals include enhanced information sharing on approvals of ‘Trigger List’ and nuclear-related dual-use exports as well as denials of ‘Trigger List’ exports. Mr Van Diepen said the NSG would continue to pursue vigorous outreach dialogue with key non-member states, including China, India, Israel and Pakistan. “The NSG also continues to focus on the problems raised by Russian nuclear supply to India.” He said treaties and multilateral non-proliferation regimes were important as “two components of a comprehensive approach” for US policy. The treaties he referred to are the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, the Biological Weapons Convention and the Chemical Weapons Convention. IANS
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India to give $ 2.5m for ASEAN projects
Bandar Seri Begawan, August 1 Making this announcement at the ASEAN Regional Forum meeting today, External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha said though India and ASEAN had pursued functional cooperation across several sectors, including science and technology, trade and investment, transport and communication and other fields of mutual interest, there was still a long way to go. “We have taken some small steps in this direction,’’ he added. He promised India’s full cooperation in ASEAN’s efforts to develop bilateral and regional cooperation to combat terrorism. In the key area of the so-called knowledge economy, he said, “The India-ASEAN Biotechnology Centre is an initiative that brings together our diverse strengths and resources. Its research programme is expected to focus on inventorisation and cataloguing of the region’s rich bio-resources, plant biotechnology and some highly infectious diseases. Mr Sinha said the India-ASEAN Vision 2020 project, over which RIS, a New Delhi-based think tank is collaborating with ASEAN ISIS, could provide a road map for future development of Indo-ASEAN ties. UNI
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Suharto’s son won’t appeal on jail term
Jakarta, August 1 Indonesians had expected former playboy and stock car driver Hutomo “Tommy” Mandala Putra to appeal against a verdict his lawyers had labelled as unfair and driven by media pressure. But claiming he was traumatised by the legal action against him, Tommy told a news conference at Jakarta’s Cipinang jail he was innocent and saw no point in appealing but would consider other legal options. “Considering the situation which is disadvantageous for me as a seeker of justice, with a heavy heart I have decided to let the time for the appeal pass by,” Tommy said in a low voice. Independent lawyers said Tommy still had legal options, with the head of Judicial Watch Indonesia saying these could be exploited in favour of the country’s most famous felon. “I will find other legal efforts, taking into account the political situation in the country. The creation of public hatred against me is the doing of some people or a small group that wants to destroy me and my family,” Tommy said. “There are two possibilities. First, legal review by presenting new evidence. Second, asking for clemency when the politics have changed...perhaps (the president) would give him that. Who knows?” said lawyer Frans Hendra Winata. Reuters
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Pashtuns
protest against Karzai Islamabad, August 1 The Pushto-speaking protestors accused Karzai, himself a Pashtun, of leaning towards the Tajik-dominated Northern Alliance and demanded his resignation, the independent Peshawar-based Afghan Islamic Press (AIP) reported. They also demanded the removal of the men Karzai appointed as Governors of eastern Paktia and Khost provinces, Raz Mohammad Dalili and Mohammad Hakim Taniwal. The protesters were supporters of Zadran, a powerful Pashtun warlord, who was sacked as governor of Paktia by Karzai earlier this year amid local opposition. AIP said it was the second day of protest by Zadran’s supporters, all of whom gathered at the Governor’s house before starting their rally.
Reuters |
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Russia holds war games
Moscow, August 1 The two-week exercises, seen as an attempt by Russia to flex its muscles in the disputed oil-rich region, are divided into two stages: purely theoretical until August 7 and then seven days of war games involving air, sea and land forces. Some 30 planes and helicopters will also take part in the exercises, which will involve all branches of the Russian military. AFP
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In video: Women supporters of Jamiat
Ulema-e-Pakistan hold an anti-Israel demonstration in Karachi. (
