Monthly Archives: January 2012

Pakistan

Mullah, Military and Media: The Memogate drama

1 Comment

by Gulshan Ara

Allah Detha abducts the Chaudhri’s daughter one day. The Chaudhri lodges an FIR against the rising young graduate Fazlu of the village. The case nips evil in the bud: the rise of Fazlu–a middle class representative. The Chaudhri, on the insistence of his daughter, christens the abduction as a ‘marriage of convenience’ but Fazlu’s fate hangs in a court of law.

It is a typical narrative of Pakistan’s Chaudhris. So is the storyline of what media has termed as memogate—a letter requesting US to foil a possible military coup in Pakistan after the killing of the world’s most wanted terrorist Osama bin Laden in the garrison city of Abbottabad on May 2 last year.

Continue reading Mullah, Military and Media: The Memogate drama →

Current Issues, News, Pakistan, Politics

PAKISTAN’S Supreme Court opened a potentially government-toppling commission into the “Memogate”

Leave a comment

‘Memogate’ scandal threatens Pakistan stability

PAKISTAN’S Supreme Court opened a potentially government-toppling commission into the “Memogate” scandal yesterday, ignoring accusations from the human rights commissioner that the law was being used to transform the country into a “security state”.

Asma Jehangir, also president of the Supreme Court Bar Association, lashed out at the judiciary as she announced she was standing aside as legal counsel for former US ambassador Husain Haqqani because she believed he had no chance of a fair hearing.

Courtesy: THE AUSTRALIAN

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/memogate-scandal-threatens-pakistan-stability/story-e6frg6so-1226235079207

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, News, Pakistan, Politics, Punjab

Al-Qaida, Taliban ask Pakistani militants for help against US-led forces in Afghanistan

Leave a comment

Al-Qaida, Taliban ask Pakistani militants for help

By AP

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Pakistani militant commanders say prominent al-Qaida and Afghan Taliban fighters have asked them to set aside differences and step up support for the battle against US-led forces in Afghanistan.

The Pakistani Taliban commanders say the request came during two meetings in Pakistan’s tribal region in November and December.

They said Monday that the senior al-Qaida commander Abu Yahya al-Libi attended both meetings, as did Sirajuddin Haqqani, the de-facto head of the most feared militant group in Afghanistan.

Pakistan’s most prominent militant leaders, including Pakistani Taliban commander Hakimullah Mehsud, also attended. The commanders who described the meetings spoke on condition of anonymity because of their sensitivity.

Courtesy: DAWN.COM

International, News, Pakistan, Politics

Husain Haqqani’s wife parliamentarian Farahnaz Isphani talks to Wolf Blitzer

Leave a comment

Farahnaz Isphani discusses the status of memogate hearing and threats being made while making an emotional appeal for justice in the case.

Courtesy: CNN » Wolf Blitzer

Current Issues, Human Rights, News, Pakistan, Personalities, Politics, Video

Pakistan’s leading lawyer, Asma Jahangir on Supreme Court’s decision on memogate: we know of Shakespearian tragedy, now we will see “Sheikh Chillian” tragedy

Leave a comment

Asma Jahangir, Pakistan’s leading lawyer, former President Supreme Court Bar Association of Pakistan and former United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion says says, “we can’t compromise on fundamental rights, people’s rights. 2ndly, there was no danger to national security”. The language of interview is urdu (Hindi).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJcL6wpeVeQ&feature=player_embedded

Courtesy: DAWN News Tv (Memo Gate [Asma Jahangir Exclusive Interview with Matiullah Jan] 1st Jan 2012 p3)

via » Twitter » Facebook » ZemTV » YouTube

TO LISTEN OTHER PARTS OF INTERVIEW: CLICK HERE

Pakistan

JamaatuDawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed feels safe in Pakistan

Leave a comment

JuD chief appreciates freedom in Pakistan

By Rana Tanveer

LAHORE: Jamaatud Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed has appreciated the freedom in Pakistan to spread the message of Islam.

“No other territory in the world can match Pakistan. The country is a blessing from Allah Almighty and we should understand conspiracies [against it] by non-Muslims,” Saeed said in a statement issued on Sunday.

He said that the JuD did not believe in modern nationalism. “Pakistan’s security is based on the Kalma Tayyaba only,” he asserted. “The internal and external threats that Pakistan is facing can only be tackled through the methodology of the State of Madina.”

Reiterating the JuD’s stringent anti-India and anti-America stance, he said that the people of Pakistan were not ready to accept the Most Favoured Nation trading status for India and the terrorist attacks of Nato. “It is a matter of great regret that our rulers are afraid of severing their relationships with Europe and America.”

Saeed said that American forces are facing a humiliating defeat in Afghanistan. “Islam will emerge as a great power in the near future,” he said.

Criticising the government, he said that the rulers are trying to avert the war instead of taking counter-measures on conspiracies against Pakistan. “They must take national solidarity and sovereignty seriously and bravely defend Pakistan.”

Read more about : jamaatuddawa

Courtesy: The Express Tribune

Current Issues, News, Pakistan, Politics, Punjab, Video

Watch – Asma Jehangir speaks courage, clarity and truth on Dawn News Tv in her interview

Leave a comment

ASMA JEHANGIR, Pakistan’s leading lawyer, former President Supreme Court Bar Association of Pakistan and former United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion says she did not trust the commission formed by the Supreme Court to investigate the memo-scandal, alleging that the Supreme Court judges were under the [military] establishment’s influence. She says, ISI fear forced former Ambassador Husain Haqqani to stay at PM House. She said Supreme Court’s job to support citizens, uphold Constitution & fundamental rights not “national security”. The language of the interview is urdu (Hindi).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=HD2w6mYSxZ8

Courtesy » Dawn News Tv (Memo Gate [Asma Jahangir Exclusive Interview withMatiullah Jan] 1st Jan 2012 – p4)

via » ZemTv » YouTube

TO WATCH OTHER PARTS OF THE INTERVIEW: CLICK HERE

Current Issues, Human Rights, Media, News, Pakistan, Personalities, Politics, Video

Asma Jahangir says; the Supreme Court says they (military) cannot come now, but I ask when did they leave?

Leave a comment

‘Aap (Chief Justics) kehtay hain Vo (the Armed Forces) ab nahi aa saktay. Bhai, Vo gaey kab hain ke aa nahi saktay. Pehle aap unko jaanay to dee(n)” Asma Jehangir says this in this interview. Whole interview is like primer for those who consider fundamental rights of an individual more important that the bogey of ‘national security.’ Part 5 and 6 of this interview are a must watch for thinking Pakistanis. She (Asma Jahangir) says transition to democracy not complete – transfer of power not taken place from military establishment to elected government in effective terms! The language of the interview is urdu (Hindi).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBKnuFMHkQk&feature=player_embedded

Courtesy » DAWN News Tv (Memo Gate [Asma Jahangir Exclusive Interview] 1st Jan 2012-p5)

via » Twitter » Facebook » ZemTv » YouTube

News, Pakistan, Politics, Punjab, Religion

Pakistan’s top Islamist politician tells nation to be prepare for revolution in country before next election

Leave a comment

JI chief tells nation to be prepared for revolution in country

KARACHI: Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan Syed Munawar Hassan called up on the nation on Sunday to be prepared for bringing a revolution in the country and viewed that elections held after the revolution will bear better results. ….

Read more » DAWN.COM

Human Rights, News, Pakistan, Religion

Pak Hindu girl forcibly converted to Islam

9 Comments

Pak Hindu girl ‘converted’ to Islam, married off to Muslim

A teenage Hindu girl in the southern Pakistani city of Karachi was allegedly forcibly converted to Islam and married off to a Muslim man, prompting her family to lodge a police complaint.

The case of the girl identified as Bharti, who has been renamed Ayesha following her conversion, is the 18th instance of forced conversions and marriages in the Lyari area of Karachi, The Express Tribune reported on Sunday.

The family of the girl alleged that she was forcibly converted to Islam and married off to a Muslim man. They filed an FIR at Baghdadi police station and a local court is now hearing her case.

During an appearance in court on Saturday, she was clad in a black ‘abaya’ and barely looked at her parents when she saw them, the daily reported. ….

Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/pakistan-hindu-girl-forced-conversion-islam/1/166757.html

Current Issues, News, Pakistan, Politics

Asma refuses to continue as Haqqani’s lawyer

Leave a comment

ISLAMABAD: Renowned lawyer Asma Jahangir on Sunday refused to continue as former Ambassador to the US Hussain Haqqani’s counsel in the memogate case, DawnNews reported.

Asma Jahangir said that she did not trust the commission formed by the Supreme Court to investigate the memo-scandal, alleging that the Supreme Court judges were under the establishment’s influence.

Asma also told DawnNews in an exclusive interview that Hussain Haqqani feared the powerful spy agencies may force him into giving a statement. This fear was the reason behind the former ambassador’s stay at the prime minister’s house, she said.

Moreover, she said that the Supreme Court’s decision on the memogate petition was a victory for the country’s establishment. The law was being used to transform the country into a ‘security state’, she said.

Courtesy: DAWN.COM