A ‘Designed Campaign’ to Unseat the President

[mujahideen]

President needs no vote of confidence, says Amir

Special Report

ISLAMABAD - National Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain has said that President Musharraf does not need getting vote of confidence from the new Parliament as he has been elected by outgoing Parliament for five-year term and the elected office-bearers do not need vote of confidence for a second term.
He said the PML-Q was doomed to lose otherwise the margin of defeat of Q candidates would have considerably reduced if people had kept the development work done by ‘Q’ in mind.
Ch Amir was talking to Nawa-i-Waqt on Saturday. He said that he was inwardly very satisfied and he had run the house with sincerity and commitment.
“I keep the parliamentarians in high esteem and for that reason, they give me respect,” he said.
In reply to a question, he said that everything was set for the inaugural session of new parliament and the session would be held on March 17 and 19 in which newly elected members would take oath in addition to election of speaker and deputy Speaker. “After all this exercise, the meeting will be adjourned and it would be discretion of the President to convene the session again for the election of Prime Minister”, he said, adding that most probably the meeting will be convened on March 24.
He claimed that he had completed a number of development projects in his constituency but tide against PML-Q became the reason of his defeat.
He praised Nawaz Sharif very lavishly saying that he was a very reasonable man. He paid homage to President Musharraf as well terming him a man of great prudence.

The Nation

 

[mujahideen]

Musharraf to welcome new MPs

* President expected to deliver televised address soon

By Azaz Syed

ISLAMABAD: President Musharraf is likely to welcome the newly elected MNAs in an address to the nation within the next few days.

Sources told Daily Times on Saturday that this would be the first time that Musharraf would greet the newly elected MNAs of the PPP and the PML-N — both of whom have opposed his policies for the past eight years. The PML-N and the PPP have both said that their priority is reducing the sweeping powers accumulated by Musharraf since he seized power in 1999, according to AFP.

They said that the president, who has repeatedly expressed a willingness to work with his political opponents, would welcome the newly elected parliamentarians as a confidence-building step.

The sources said that apart from taking credit for free and fair election in the elections, Musharraf might also praise the members of parliament for their political reconciliation in his address. The incoming coalition government comprises the PPP, the PML-N, the ANP and the JUI-F. The sources said that the president was not willing to resign from the office of the presidency.

Television: Separately, sources in the state-run PTV told Daily Times that they had been asked to set up a stage to record a presidential address to the nation. However, presidential spokesman Major General (r) Rashid Qureshi said that he was not aware of any such address in the near future.

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

 

[mujahideen]

Musharraf creating rift between PPP, PML-N: Qazi

Sunday, March 16, 2008
By our correspondent

LAHORE: Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Qazi Hussain Ahmad has said Pervez Musharraf is busy creating differences between the PPP and the PML-N to defect their members and ensure a strong foothold for himself.

Qazi warned that if Musharraf remained in the Army House for any longer and American policies were continued, the new parliament would become ineffective and the people would deem that merely faces were changed. He was addressing a training workshop of JI members at Mansoora and replying to queries of the participants.

Qazi said Washington had no interest in General Musharraf or any other particular person, but it only wanted the continuation of its policies and a role in policy-making in Islamabad. He said Musharraf and his team had provided perfect tool for Washington to carry on its war on terror inside Pakistan.

Qazi said the Jamaat-e-Islami will not contest the by-elections even after the departure of Pervez Musharraf and the restoration of judges sacked by him, adding the JI will focus on the next general elections. He said the restoration of the sacked judges will make a big difference, as all the missing persons will be recovered and high-handedness of the officials will be stopped.

Musharraf creating rift between PPP, PML-N: Qazi

 

[mujahideen]

Musharraf says he braved extreme pressure

ISLAMABAD: President Pervez Musharraf said on Sunday that he and his family have kept up their spirits despite extreme pressure in the last few months.

In an interview with Geo TV, the president said the democratic system is essential to make progress and there should be a mechanism to implement policies for the welfare and betterment of the masses.

Replying to a question, as to how he would like to be remembered as president, he said, "I shall be remembered by the people as a person who has cared for the country, for the people and worked honestly and diligently for them."

Replying to a question on how the people should remember him as a person, the president said, "A very frank, straightforward, honest and practical person." He said Pakistan has the potential and desire to make progress and achieve prosperity but there is a need to have good governance and dedication.

Referring to the qualities of a good society, the president said, "We should have an open society where everyone can discuss matters and exchange views freely." Regarding any regret, the president said God has given him a lot and beyond his expectations. "I never worked and influenced anyone for my promotion," he added.

The president said decision-making is also a very important element in the government, as the leader has to analyse things and receive suggestions before taking a final decision. He said the guts, feelings, impulse and sixth sense played an important role in decision making. The president said there has never been a "dull moment" during the last eight years of his life.

The president said he was a very open person who discussed things with his colleagues and his family members, who always extend support to him in taking the decisions. President Musharraf praised his mother who he said, always helped and guided him for a successful life. He said his father was a very honest and faithful person and loyal to the country.

The president said he has very friendly relations with his children and grandchildren. "They are also very supportive of me in all my decisions." Regarding relations with children, the president said, "One should be very friendly with them, guide them and train them to stand on their feet."

He said the intellectual development of children should be the number one priority for the parents. He said unless women are emancipated and educated in Pakistan, they cannot play their role in the society and for the progress and prosperity of the country. "If we have to improve qualitatively, women have to be empowered, educated and trained."

Recalling some unfortunate incidents of the past, he said some organisations tried to malign him on the issues of Mukhtaran Mai and Dr Shazia. He said Pakistanis were a determined nation and every citizen should be confident of being a Pakistani. He said every Pakistani should work together to protect the prestige and respect of the country.

Musharraf says he braved extreme pressure

 

[mujahideen]

‘Remember me as honest, frank person’

* Musharraf says democratic system essential for progress
* Says society needs equal rights for women

ISLAMABAD: President Pervez Musharraf said on Sunday that he hoped people would remember him as a “very frank, straightforward, honest and practical person”.

In an interview with Geo TV, he said he would like people to remember his presidency as one that was backed by “a person who has cared for the country, for the people and worked honestly and diligently for them”.

Essential: Musharraf said the government had filled the gap between policy-making and implementation through the introduction of local government institutions. He said a democratic system was essential for progress, adding that there should be a mechanism to implement policies for the welfare of the masses. He said Pakistan has the potential and desire to achieve prosperity, but this cannot be achieved without good governance and dedication.

He said decision-making was a very important element of government and a country’s leader had to analyse all eventualities before taking a final decision. Impulse and “sixth sense” play an important role in the decision-making process, he added.

On the state of education in the country, the president said there were comprehensive laws on compulsory education in place, adding that the problem lay in their implementation. “Implementation is the most important thing in government,” he said.

Equal rights: Talking about women’s rights, the president said there was a need to give equal rights to women in society. He said the women would be unable to play their due role in society if they were not emancipated and education. “If we have to improve qualitatively, women have to be empowered, educated and trained,” he said. The Hudood Ordinance, which originally discriminated against women, had been changed to assure their rights.

President Musharraf said there had not been a single “dull moment” during the eight years of his tenure.

On a compulsory yearlong military training requirement for every single youth of the country, the president said it was not feasible in Pakistan’s environment. He said, “We need a standing army due to threat on the borders, to maintain deterrence level.”

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

 

[mujahideen]

It's last day of dictatorship: Zardari

Our staff reporter

ISLAMABAD - The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-Chairman, Asif Ali Zardari has said that the inaugural session of National Assembly is the first step towards the restoration of real democracy and end of dictatorial rule in the country.
Talking to newsmen before attending the joint meeting of the coalition parliamentary parties, Asif Ali Zardari said that the people of Pakistan had conveyed a very clear message to the world by giving their verdict in favour of democratic forces that they wanted a democratic dispensation.
Answering a question regarding the nomination of prime minister, he pointed towards PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif, who was accompanying him at that moment and said, “Mian Nawaz Sharif is our prime minister”.
Agencies add: Zardari aid the world had witnessed the end of dictatorial rule in Pakistan. “This is the last day of dictatorship,” he said after joint parliamentary meeting of PPP, PML-N, ANP and MMA here in the Parliament House.
“This is our first step. We have conveyed a message to the world community to support democracy, which defeats dictatorship,” Zardari said.
He further said, “The days of dictatorship are over and we, with the support and help of the people of Pakistan, have ensured that the democracy is put on track. For this very act, we are thankful to the masses who voted us into power.”
He expressed the hope that the future government would take steps so as “the democracy is strengthened in the country in a minimum time limit”.
PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif said the coalition’s strategy was “very clear - our agenda is democracy versus dictatorship. It has to end, it has to be defeated.”
Abrar Saeed from Islamabad adds: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Quaid Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif said that dictatorship was at verge of extinction and asked the political forces to come forward and gave it a final blow to rid the country of this menace once for all.
Addressing at the dinner reception hosted in honour of party MNAs at a local hotel PML-N Quaid said that the people of Pakistan had given them mandate to run the affairs of the country as per their wishes and made it loud and clear that they would not sit in the Parliament like a beggar and would snatch the powers of 58(2)B, National Security Council and other powers given to the President Musharraf under 17th Constitutional Amendment.
Terming it a defining moment in the history of the country, Mian Nawaz Sharif said that people of Pakistan had brought a revolution on February 18 by giving the true political forces their mandate and now the MPs were duty bound to pay back the people of Pakistan in the same coin and rid the country of the dictatorial forces.
Mian Nawaz Sharif said that they were in a make or break situation and would not concede any ground to the dictators and his coteries this time and would force them out of power once for all.
He said that would not turn back from their stand even if the dictator dissolved the assemblies by using the unconstitutional powers he had vested in himself.
Referring to the summoning of a full court meeting of the apex court by the establishment apparently to block the way of the Parliament to pass a resolution for the restoration of deposed judges of superior judiciary, Mian Nawaz Sharif said that they would not be cowed down by such negative tactics and made it clear that even they need not any resolution for the restoration deposed judges and a simple executive order by the chief executive would be sufficient to do the job.
Mian Nawaz Sharif said that the dictatorial forces had made mockery of the Constitution and were out to sideline the public mandate and said that President Musharraf acts under the November 3 PCO still required indemnification by the Parliament and all his orders under the PCO would be of no legal value.
He also said that this time all the political forces in the Parliament had joined hands against the dictatorial forces and they were all selflessly working for the supremacy of the Constitution and the Parliament and would not let the conspirators play their dirty game again.
He further added that they have two-thirds majority in the Parliament and they would throw the dictator and his coteries out of power.
He told the MPs of his party to stand by their oath that after getting elected they would work for the restoration of the judges, supremacy of the Parliament and the Constitution and rule of law.
He also referred to the rigging being done by the establishment to marginalize their victory by around 20 seats and said that they were also with the party leaders who had lost their seats due to these below the belt blows of the establishment.
Earlier, party chairman Raja Zafarul Haq in his inaugural address paid glowing tributes to party Quaid for his unflinching stand on the major issues including the issue of restoration of judiciary.
Agencies add: talking to reporters, he said that they were still sticking to their stance of restoration of judges and would not even budge an inch away from that and would raise their voices in the National Assembly for the supremacy of the democratic institutions.
Nawaz said that the 30 days countdown for restoration of judges had started from today (Monday) and promises made to the nation would be fulfilled. He said that the previous government had left behind a legacy of problems, inflation and hatred but “we would try our level best to rid the nation of these problems and would devise a counter strategy with the allied parties in this regard”.
To a question whether the PPP and the PML-N had decided their nominee for the slot of Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif said, “Zardari is my Prime Minister”.
In response to the goodwill gesture by the PML-N leader, Asif Zardari, like a smart politician, sharply repeated the same words, saying,” And my Prime Minister is Mian Nawaz Sharif”.
He said the nomination of candidate for the slot of Prime Minister depended on the PPP leadership’s decision, adding as the PPP had emerged as the largest party in the parliament, therefore it was the its right to name the candidate for the office of PM.
Nominations for the cabinet would be finalised within the next few days, he added. He further said the PML-N would work with other allied parties to ensure good governance at the Centre and provinces.
After having a meeting with the heads of PPP, ANP and JUI-F, the PML-Chief had a brief talk with the media. Nawaz Sharif was looking happy as he arrived at the Parliament House after a lapse of eight long years.
Talking to media after a meeting with justice (r) Saeed-uz-Zamaan Siddiqui here at the Frontier House, the PML-N leader said, “We do not accept extra-constitutional steps and have rejected the PCO.” He said the PML-N would work to strengthen the newly elected assembly and the federation and take the country forward.
About possibility of an impeachment move against the President, he said it depended on the President, who, he said, should make timely decision to avert such action.
Saeed-uz-Zamaan Siddiqui also talked to reporters on the occasion, saying he had given his viewpoint to the PML-N Quaid over the reinstatement of deposed judges. The former chief justice said a simple majority of the National Assembly could restore the sacked judges, adding that the President should respect the masses’ verdict in the elections. He said the parliament should not in any case validate the steps that were taken on November 3 under the emergency rule.

The Nation

 

[mujahideen]

Fazl against Musharraf’s impeachment

Lahore—Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal Secretary General and Jamiat-Ulema-e-Islam Amir Maulana Fazlur Rehman says there is no need to table impeachment motion against President Pervez Musharraf but if tabled his party will support the move.

He went on to say that Pervez Musharraf was not need of the country nor now and called for of his immediate resignation.

He said the new parliament should change the internal and foreign polices of the previous government as these polices were not formulated in the county.

“The country is being badly damaged at international level owing to Musharraf’s wrong policies” he added.

Maulana Fazlur Rehman made it clear that though the restoration of the deposed judges was not top priority of the JUI yet it would support it if they were reinstated but he was not seeing any possibility of the restoration of the judges within thirty days.

“It is not right to link judiciary restoration with reinstatement of deposed Chief Justice of Supreme Court Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry” he sad.

The JUI Amir noted that the PML-N Quaid Mian Nawaz Sharif has trapped to become part of the government as he gained votes in the name of judiciary and he wanted to sit on opposition benches.

He said the JUI and PPP have agreed over power sharing formula and the PPP leadership would decide how many portfolios would be given to the JUI in the centre.—NNI

Pakistan Observer - Newspaper online edition -

 

[mujahideen]

Musharraf admits contacts with PPP

ISLAMABAD: President Pervez Musharraf has admitted that Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-chairman Asif Zardari was in touch with him. He was talking to an eight-member delegation of Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) led by Ch Shujaat and Pervaiz Elahi at the President’s House late on Sunday night, party sources told Daily Times on Monday. They said PML-Q leaders talked to the president about the problems they expected in future, but he assured them that the new government would not trouble them.

azaz syed
Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

 

[mujahideen]

New NA sets anti-Musharraf tone, softly but firmly

By Tariq Butt

ISLAMABAD: The new National Assembly, dazzling with political veterans and fresh entrants, on its very first day softly but firmly set the tone for its future relations with President Pervez Musharraf and his actions on Nov 3, 2007, including sacking of the superior court judges.

The two leading coalition partners, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N), which have the electoral mandate to decide the destiny of the nation, made it loudly clear once again through their representatives that they have not and will not accept the Nov 3 amendments.

It has been decided in their pre-session meeting what Syed Naveed Qamar and Ahsan Iqbal would say, highlighting the joint stand of their parties on Musharraf’s actions. They projected that they were taking oath under the pre-October 1999 Constitution, and not under the document that contains the Nov 3 amendments.

“We do not want to leave any doubt anywhere for what we stand for and what we are going to do in the days to come in the National Assembly,” PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal remarked to this correspondent. “Anybody still unclear about our strategy is sadly mistaken.”

It was undoubtedly a great sight to watch true representatives of the people occupying their due place. They succeeded in smashing the stiff resistance at the ballot box and forced their entry into the Lower House.

PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain was seated in the speaker’s box, a few meters away from the VVIP gallery where Asif Ali Zardari and Nawaz Sharif were also present. They did not get any opportunity to have eye contacts. There was no opportunity for them to exchange pleasantries or sarcastic remarks.

Zardari and Nawaz entered the gallery together like truly triumphant leaders moments before the oath-taking ceremony started. Taking the assembly of MPs in the circular hall as some kind of a public meeting, Zardari waved them by raising his both hands. The two leaders were seated side by side.

But Nawaz found a strange fellow, Hussain Haqqani, sitting on his left. On his right was Zardari, flanked by Senator Raza Rabbani. For the first few minutes, Nawaz didn’t pay much attention to Haqqani, perhaps recalling in his mind the relationship this extremely clever but smart man had with him during different times. Nawaz was apparently withdrawn and inhibited, but Haqqani soon roped in him in the pleasant talk, provoking a broad smile on Nawaz’s face.

Haqqani, a lethal propagandist, closely worked with Nawaz for years, but the latter’s well-placed distrust led him to get rid of Haqqani during his rule in a decent manner. There are multitudes of interesting anecdotes involving Haqqani, who does too many things at a time.

Way back in 1993, to get him out of his office, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had appointed his special assistant on foreign media Haqqani as Pakistan’s high commissioner to Sri Lanka. At the time, the tension between Nawaz and the then chief of the Army staff Gen Asif Nawaz Janjua was at its peak and both sides were mulling extreme action to ditch the other.

When Haqqani had met Intelligence Bureau (IB) Director Brig (retd) Imtiaz during his customary calls on important government personalities before taking his ambassadorial assignment, the IB chief gave him a highly loaded written questionnaire with a recording device to be secretly used by him when he would meet the Army chief a few days later. He was asked to bring the recorded answers to him.

As Haqqani entered the general’s room at the General Headquarters for the call on him, he put the recording instrument and questions before him, saying he had been given all this by Imtiaz and forced to secretly record his answer. This further fuelled tension between the two.

Haqqani remained high commissioner in Colombo, but quit the position a couple of months before the dismissal of Nawaz Sharif government by President Ghulam Ishaq Khan. This was the precise purpose of his resignation. Since then, he has been miles away from Nawaz Sharif and has been inching closer to the PPP.

In her book, Benazir Bhutto described Haqqani as a loyal and committed friend. His relations solidified with her during his long stay in the United States. Now, his third wife, Faranaz Isphani (a distant relative of the Bhuttos), is a PPP MNA, elected on reserved seats for women, and a very close aide to Zardari. Both husband and wife are going to get rewarding assignments in the new dispensation.

All the three prime ministerial hopefuls of the PPP — Yousuf Raza Gillani, Shah Mehmud Qureshi and Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar — were immaculately dressed in suits although it is yet to be officially announced who will wear the crown.

So was also Makhdoom Amin Fahim who, despite being unlikely to be named for the premiership, is putting up a defiant posture to contest. He made the most cutting remark when he was asked who had displayed banners in Islamabad, dubbing him as a traitor.

“Ask Asif Zardari,” he said pointing finger at the PPP chief without any reservation. The fight is coming in the open with vengeance. Ahmed Mukhtar, known for his candid remarks, told this correspondent that Asif Zardari would take time to have full command and grip over the PPP as Benazir Bhutto used to have.

New NA sets anti-Musharraf tone, softly but firmly

 

[Always Neutral]

First they will get rid of all of the Gen M's key men and then ease the General Out.

Regards


Intelligence Bureau chief removed -DAWN - Top Stories; March 18, 2008

Intelligence Bureau chief removed

By Syed Irfan Raza

ISLAMABAD, March 17: The government has sacked the controversial Intelligence Bureau (IB) Director-General Brig (retd) Ijaz Shah. Brig Shah paid a farewell call on caretaker Prime Minister Mohammedmian Soomro.

Mr Soomro expressed appreciation for his service and wished success in his future, a press release issued by the government said.

Appointed in 2004, the IB chief became a controversial personality and he was accused of using his department for political victimisation and for undermining the judiciary.

Mr Shah, a former official of Inter-Services Intelligence, was said to have worked as a close associate of President Pervez Musharraf.

He was one of the people named by former prime minister Benazir Bhutto as the prime suspects in the bombing attack on her homecoming procession in Karachi in October last year.

 

[mujahideen]

Munawwar smells intrigues in presidency

KARACHI: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Secretary General, Syed Munawwar Hassan has said that a network of conspiracies against the restoration of judiciary and judges was being laid in the presidency and added that the nation would have to back up the parliament for the implementation of Murree Declaration. Addressing Karachi Bar Association (KBA) General Body, Munawwar Hassan said that efforts were afoot to take the elected parliament hostage. He said that the parliament was supreme and the Supreme Court could not make it pliant. Munawwar Hassan urged upon the People’s Party not to induct MQM in the Sindh government formation and get the May 12 incident investigated afresh. KBA president, Mahmoodul Hassan on this occasion announced that a Karachi to Mirpurkhas judicial bus would be run on March 22, in which, Karachi Bar, Sindh Bar, Malir and Hyderabad Bar lawyers would be participating.

Courtesy Geo

 

[mujahideen]

Musharraf asks parties to avoid confrontation

ISLAMABAD (Online) - President Pervez Musharraf has asked political parties to solve the issues amicably instead of adopting way of confrontation, adding that being a head of state the door of Aiwan-i-Sadr are open for every party.
Aiwan-i-Sadr is not creating hurdle in formation of government, he said this while talking to PML-Q leaders Shujaat Hussain Pervaiz Elahi on Tuesday.
Pakistan, he said, is passing through a critical time of its history. All the political parties are same in his eyes, he said, adding, it is very regrettable that some circles are pointing finger at Aiwan-i-Sadr that it is creating hurdle in formation of government.
He said he being President of Pakistan would continue to play his constitutional role. The President said that there would be no delay to call session of the National Assembly for the nomination of Prime Minister.
“I am a big supporter of democracy. I had introduced democracy at every level in the country. I have fulfilled all the pledges which I had made with the nation,” the President pointed out.
He said that he wants cordial relations with incoming government. During the meeting, various issues related to overall political situation of the country, parliamentary affairs and judiciary were discussed, sources said. Chaudhry brothers have assured their full cooperation to President Pervez Musharraf.
Meanwhile, President Musharraf has strongly derided any notion of wanting to indulge in any internal discords of PML-Q at all.
Rebuking 'the offer' of the top hierarchy of PML-Q, which called on him at his residence in Rawalpindi to discuss national politics and party issues, the President said that he had fulfilled the promise of conducting free and fair elections, and now he wanted smooth transfer of power to the new winning parties.
It is learnt that during separate meeting with Musharraf, Shujaat 'offered his resignation from the party’s presidentship requesting Musharraf to take over as President of the PML-Q'. The President reportedly advised the PML-Q top leader to keep their house in order at the important juncture of transition of power.
Sources told Online that some Q-Leaguers in their separate meetings had earlier argued before President Musharraf that Shujaat should leave the party office. According to the sources, Mian Manzoor Wattoo and Khurshid Kasuri advised the President to force Chaudhrys of Gujrat to leave the PML-Q.
However, present at the occasion, Farooq Leghari and Faisal Saleh Hayat defended Shujaat and Pervaiz Elahi reminding the President of the services rendered by them for him during the last seven years.
After hearing both sides, President Musharraf, however, refused to be dragged into the internal politics of PML-Q. Sheikh Rashid Ahmed was also present on the occasion.
It has also been learnt that Hamid Nasir Chattha who has been nominated as parliamentary leader of the PML-Q in the Punjab Assembly has regretted from becoming leader of the opposition on the pretext of health reasons. However, the PML-Q sources revealed that Chattha is avoiding becoming parliamentary leader following the formation of forward bloc within PML-Q in Punjab. “Majority of our members are leaving PML-Q and I don’t want to be a leader of an empty party,” commented Chattha to his close associate.

The Nation

 

[mujahideen]

‘Parliament, Musharraf can’t work together’

Wednesday, March 19, 2008
By our correspondent

LAHORE: Hamza Shahbaz, a PML-N contender from the NA-119, where the election was postponed after the death of a candidate, said on Tuesday the elected parliament could not work with an unelected and unconstitutional president.

Addressing meetings in his constituency, he said that President Musharraf should quit immediately for the sake of the country. He said the survival of the country depended on the unity of the democratic forces and the politics of the PML-N was based on public service.

He said all the promises made with the people would be fulfilled and the PML-N would ensure the provision of justice to the people besides ushering in a new era of progress and prosperity by alleviating poverty and creating job opportunities. He said the reinstatement of the deposed judges was purely an internal issue of Pakistan and the forces that matter must raise their voice in favour of the judiciary as per the aspirations of the people of Pakistan. He maintained that political and economic stability in the country could not be ensured without the restoration of the judiciary.

He said the democratic forces had neither accepted Pervez Musharraf as president nor the PCO as part of the Constitution. He said there was no logic for 58-2(B) as an individual could not be given the right to send an elected parliament packing.

‘Parliament, Musharraf can’t work together’

 

[mujahideen]

Confrontation will be disastrous: Musharraf

OUR STAFF REPORTER

ISLAMABAD - President Pervez Musharraf on Wednesday said that the key to the country’s future and way forward is sustained economic growth and control of extremism.
He made these remarks while speaking to the participants of National Defence Course and Armed Forces War Course here at the National Defence University. The President said that it is the economic stability that needs to be maintained for any kind of influence on security and other issues of national importance.
He also said that Pakistan had a geo-strategic relevance, which cannot be undermined. “However, the geo-strategic location of Pakistan can be developed as a trade and energy corridor which will provide more leverage to Pakistan geo-political terms”, he added.
While emphasizing the role of media in image building of Pakistan, he said that media should project worldwide the economic rise and potential of Pakistan. The President who dwelt at length on various issues related to national security said that over the last five years, Pakistan had gained economic strength and it must continue to move in that direction.
Emphasizing on energy security imperatives, the President said, “Our economic growth must match the progress in energy sector to maintain a good balance between them”. He also highlighted the importance of food security in view of an overall stress on food commodities world over.
The President further said, “We must concentrate on progress in education, health and poverty alleviation, as these are the key elements for progress of any nation.” Talking about the national security, the President said, “Pakistan’s Minimum Deterrence Strategy is must for peace and we shall never compromise on our nuclear programme”.
Monitoring Desk adds: President Musharraf warned that any confrontation between democratic institutions would be dangerous for democracy itself, reported a private TV channel.
Addressing the interim cabinet members at a farewell dinner in Islamabad on Wednesday, Musharraf said the government had completed its promise of holding fair and free elections. The President hoped that the third phase of transition of power would meet its end successfully.
APP adds: Musharraf said the new government can meet the challenges of terrorism, energy crisis, rising fuel and food prices through good governance and by always keeping “Pakistan First”.
“Politicking has to give way to good governance,” the President said and added “I am confident that the new government will consider Pakistan always first and face the challenges it faces.”
He said the economy was on the upsurge and all macro-economic indicators were strong. He cited a recent report by Merrill Lynch that attributed these to healthy economic policies over the past several years.
The President said the country in the past few months has been passing through a “turmoil”, however stressed that the new government must sustain the economic growth to meet the difficulties it faces.
President Musharraf also pointed at the rising prices of international fuel, edible oil and wheat and said the days of cheap food are now over.
He said the current energy shortage was the fallout of rapid industrialisation and said the growth in the energy sector must match the growth in the national economy.
However, he pointed that maintenance of law and order was an important prerequisite to achieve this balance.

The Nation