Musharraf 'will exit in days, not months': Telegraph

[MOSABJA]

15% turnout is pretty poor, but according to the Constitution he has the right. Are you suggesting Musharraf ignore the Constitution?

He has the right.
but soon Inshallah neither will he be president nor will any other president have this undemocratic power. Inshallah they would amend constitution.

If true criminals weren't in power, the Army would not have intervened either.

Criminals??????????

Army was the one who gave the NROOOOOOOOOOO
If they were criminals then why forget all their crimes.

Why does the army takes its support from the same politicians.

LOL. BS. Democracy in Pakistan is a facade. People are bribed by candidates, making the biggest crook the winning candidate. People won't do anything as long as they are promised things - illiterate poor people live in hope.

People of Pakistan are the most Mature Voters.

HAvent you seen the COLLAPSE OF PML Q

Indeed Musharraf can abolish the National Assembly it seems at will. Let's hope after a year of scandals, he does exactly that, and the illterates that were promised jobs and money realize they were lied to. Welcome back Musharraf, or some new candidate (I don't care who as long as it isn't Mr10pt or NS)

He wont even live up to one year.

You know why people voted for NS and Zardari.

BECAUSE MUSHARRAF's CORRUPTION IS 100 TIMES LARGER THAN THAT OF ZARDARI OR NS

http://pkpolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/lootsalebymusharafpdf.pdf
http://pkpolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/lootsalebymusharafpdf.pdf
http://pkpolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/lootsalebymusharafpdf.pdf
http://pkpolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/lootsalebymusharafpdf.pdf

 

[BATMAN]

Amazing !!!!!!!!!!!!

You think ONE INDIVIDUAL should have the right to dissolve assemblies elected by MILLIONS OF VOTERS.

It's not about the right, infect it is about system and function of a position.
Which is subjected to conditions.
Tell me what should be the function of President in your opinion?
BTW, billlion voters have the right to decide for them self not for others.
They can not collectively decide to burn tyres on road the smoke of which may go to my home or millions collectively cannot force me to close my bussiness to serve their political agendas.
million votes only help to choose member of an assembly, the prime fuction of whom is to take the country forward.

As far as kingdom of N or PPP is concerned .
If true democracy was in this country and PRES and ARMY would not have intervened.

What was undemocratic? Excercising presidential powers, in legal way?

People would already have TAKEN CARE of PPP or PML N if they deviated As they have done to PML Q..

Err is to human.
PML (Q) is not my concern and neither Musharraf hold any party position.

It is amazing that you prefer One individual over an NA having mandate of Millions.

NA does not have my mandate and they should not impeach me for this reason.
This one man in question is elected President from very same NA, is it not amazing enough for you?

58 2b should be abolished and will be Inshallah

Sorry i cannot say Ameen.

 

[MastanKhan]

Hi,

You need the president to dissolve the parliament---do I need to say or this young kid is really ------. Remember Benazir and her first stint as premier---the president had the power to dissolve the parliament to stop the criminal activities of Zardari. The sitting president had to use it 2 more time after that---within a period of ten years---it was used 3 times and people were glad that there was something to check the power of the premier. Othwise you have Robert Mugabes and and the likes of him.

The word being used---true democracy is an OXYMORON---democracy is democracy---it comes in all different shapes and sizes but it still isw democracy---it may have different levels of implementation---but then would an islamic democracy be the same as democracy in NORWAY or SWEDEN or in the U S of A.

It is a prime minister's dream come true not to have 52 B---it will give him the oppurtunity to be the dictator.

People need to understand---the pakisanis didnot elect PPPP or PML N---they rejected what PML Q stood for and people wanted to punish PML Q for not doing enough.

Are pakistani intelligent voters---no they are not---because they niether have enough food for their children to feed nor do they have enough money to buy the very basic neccessities of life---they cannot make an educated analysis of the situation---but this decision they have made is for their survival. It is not a good position to be for the politicians---under these circumstances you would need the prseident o have 52 B. Because if after a year or two there is unrest amongst the people and they want a change, instead of coming out to the streets and tearing the nation apart with riots---the president can dissolve the cabinet and hold new elections---so people don't worry---52 B is just like your DADDY and MOMMY in pakistan---you said you wanted to marry a girl of your choice---they say no---we marry you where we want to otherwise get lost.

How can pakistanis have democracy---when the average pakistani house hold is dictatorial. How can you ask for true democracy or any other form of democracy---when you cannot do anything wothout the approval of your mother and father. I mean to say---here at this guy---SHAHBAZ SHARIF--- a grown up man---ruled by his older brother by an iron fist---can't make a decision by himself---where is the democracy in this family.

 

[mujahideen]

Lawyers to accept Musharraf if elected by new assemblies: PBC

Staff Report

KARACHI: General Pervez Musharraf’s election from the previous assemblies was illegal, however, lawyers will accept him as the President of Pakistan if he is elected by the new representatives, Muhammad Yasin Khan Azad, vice-president of the Pakistan Bar Council and a senior member of the Sindh High Court Bar Association (SHCBA), said Monday. Addressing a daily protest general body meeting, he demanded President Musharraf to resign. The people of Pakistan have given their verdict against him and his allies (PML-Q), said Azad. The defeat of the king’s party must serve as an eye opener for every politician, he said. Azad warned that if any party tried to betray the lawyers, it would face a movement on the same scale. He congratulated the PPP and PML-N for emerging as the dominant political forces. He also thanked PML-N’s leaders for a clear stand on the issue of the restoration of the judges and the independence of the judiciary, and hoped that the PPP would also follow suit by announcing an unambiguous stand. Earlier, Zahida Naqvi, a member of SHCBA’s managing committee, and Razia Sultana staged a two-hour token hunger strike.

Courtesy Daily Times

 

[araz]

Guys
Now that the dust has settled and tempers have calmed down, everyone is realizing that there is a desprerate need to work together. Musharraf is no angel but generally pre March 2007, he has done a lot of good for the country. Our Democracy is nascent and needs guidance, although they might not think so. The powers that be dont want a void with Musharraf gone and therefore are stepping on a few tails to ensure that all parties work together.
Nobody can fortel the future but it seems that Zardari has seen the light. Whether it is astuteness or by command is difficult to comment on, but the offshoot is that Musharrraf may yet stay and people may have to work with him for the forseeable future.
As to who safeguards the people against unlicenced and rampant democracy, the role needs to be taken over by the judiciary and the Army. I have long believed that we need a quartet rather than a troica to govern our nation. The fourth arm has to be judiciary with police under it and it should be independant to run its affairs.
Araz

 

[MOSABJA]

guys lets come to the facts.

Instead of saying .

this should happen or That should happen???

what matters is What is going to happen!!!!


I dont see 58 2b going beyond 2 months.Even Mushahid Hussain Sayed The senator and secretary general of PML Q has stated that if an amendment is moved against it their group of senators would support it.


PPP + PML N + ANP already have 2/3 in NA with INDs.

In senate Opp has 42 mems.6 of PML q have formed forward block.
With Mushahid's statement I think SENATE TOO WOULD APPROVE ABOLISHING 58 2 B WITH 2/3 rd.



Then it doesnt matters whether musharraf stays or not.

 

[mujahideen]

US senators deny calling for Musharraf to quit

* Say they are encouraged by political leaders’ commitment to move forward constructively

WASHINGTON: Two key US senators, who witnessed the February 18 polls, have clarified their reported remarks regarding President Pervez Musharraf’s political position, saying they never called for Musharraf to step down.

Democratic Senator Joseph Biden and Republican Chuck Hagel, who travelled to Pakistan as part of a three-member Congressional election observer delegation, opposed any notion of presidential impeachment by the new parliament and also particularly highlighted the Pakistani leader’s avowed role in the transition period.

Senator Joseph Biden, who heads the influential Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said, “What we all three have been saying is that if, in fact, he’s treated with some respect by the parties that are forming the government, I believe that he will, in fact, step back from the exercise of the kind of power he’s tried to exercise.”

The legislator from Delaware also addressed the question on Tuesday at a press conference on Capitol Hill, saying he did not call for the Pakistani leader to relinquish his position.

“I’ve been reported to have said that I called for him to step down. That’s not what I said,” he clarified.

He said that Musharraf if treated with respect would “gracefully draw back, meaning not attempt to exercise the role of the prime minister, but exercise the role of the president. And so that’s what I mean when I say the transition is under way”.

In the Public Broadcasting Service programme, Biden said the Pakistani leader “made it pretty clear to us that he understood his role as president”.

“And the point I’ve been making — and all of us, actually, have been making — is that this is a transitional moment. The parties should look forward, not backward.”."

Biden added that President Musharraf “made it clear to us he thought the parliament should make the decisions now that it was elected”.

Hagel, who was part of the delegation that also included Democratic Senator John Kerry, said he “didn’t ever call for [Musharraf] to resign”.

“My goodness, what I said yesterday — go back and checck the record on CNN — is that, first, the leaders who will form a new government, a coalition government, will need to work this through. Certainly, it’s up to them, the Pakistani people, represented by their leaders,” he told the same programme..

He said Musharraf had accepted the elections and felt confident and comfortable when the delegation met him on the morning after the polls and he had accepted those results.

Hagel also acknowledged Musharraf’s vital role as an ally in the fight against terrorism, both in the interests of his country and of the world.

He added, “So I in no way want the record to show anything but what I’ve said about how important Musharraf has been, and he deserves that kind of respect, because he — let’s not forget hereeafter September 11, 2001, Musharraf became a very important ally to us at his political risk, his own risk here.”

Constructive way: Separately, Senator John Kerry, who also observed the February 18 polls, told a press conference, “I think Senator Biden, Senator Hagel and I were all enormously encouraged by the conversations we had with the leaders of each of the parties and by their commitment to try to move forward in a constructive way.”

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

 

[mujahideen]

Musharraf has no role, says spokesman

By Tariq Butt

ISLAMABAD: “President Pervez Musharraf has no role,” said his spokesman Maj-Gen (retd) Rashid Qureshi tersely when asked about his boss’s reaction to the demand aired by the top leaders of the three main winning parties of the Feb 18 elections.

“Let the notifications be issued first [by the Election Commission of Pakistan or ECP],” he said to a question and avoided to talk further without any provocation from The News. Under the rules, the president can’t summon the new National Assembly unless the ECP notifies the poll results. After that, the ECP would require at least three days to select women for special seats from the lists provided by the political parties.

Wednesday’s grand gathering of anti-Musharraf victors and their MNAs-elect was intended to show unity among their ranks rather than their numbers. It is clear to all and sundry that these parties have the solid support of 163 MPs (excluding the new entrants) with 87 of the Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians (PPPP), 67 of the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) and 9 of the Awami National Party (ANP). Besides, another eight MNAs, standing with these parties, were also present at the session.

The total tally did not make the two-third majority in the National Assembly as it was short of 19 MNAs. The unison demonstrated by them was no good news for the Presidency and others, who have been dreaming and struggling to rock the newfound love between the two main political parties, the PPPP and PML-N.

“United we stand against you,” was the resounding message in the words of a PML-N leader that the gathering sent to Musharraf. “The beauty of the meeting was that there was not even a minor difference among the participants on any point.”

For many it was a feat, worth watching and remembering. The main players who have the shabby history of gunning each other were vowing to stand for a cause – to “get Musharraf”. Another telling message for the president was that his opponents were not only numerically strong but were also a unified and cohesive force. The session was intended to mount further pressure on the beleaguered Musharraf, forcing him to cry quit. However, the president is not publicly speaking these days and is holding his cards close to his chest. More tormenting for Musharraf than the humiliating electoral defeat of his allies is the statements emanating from different powerful American senators, anticipating his exit.

Musharraf has no role, says spokesman

 

[mujahideen]

PML-Q, allies launch ‘save president’ campaign

By Our Staff Reporter

ISLAMABAD, Feb 28: The Pakistan Muslim League-Q and its allies have started a campaign to muster support for President Pervez Musharraf both inside and outside parliament in the face of other parties’ demand for his resignation.

Some PML-Q leaders met the president at the Army House twice on Wednesday. One of the meetings which took place at midnight involved MNAs elect Chaudhry Wajahat Hussain from Gujrat, Sumaira Malik from Vehari, Sheikh Waqas from Jhang and Riaz Fitiana from Toba Tek Singh.

The meetings were followed on Thursday by a flurry of activity at the residence of Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain who had invited a number of politicians to a luncheon meeting.

Party sources said that some newly elected MNAs and senators and senior leaders of other allied parties, except the PPP-S, discussed at length ways of helping the president out of the situation that he is now facing. Prominent among those who attended the meeting were MQM senators Col (retd) Tahir Hussain Mashhadi and Mohammad Ali Brohi, Justice (retd) Abdur Razzaq Thaheem of PML-F, former Sindh chief minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim, Senator Salim Saifullah Khan, Sumaira Malik, Hamid Nasir Chattha and Mohammad Ali Durrani.

Later, talking to journalists, Chaudhry Shujaat said that the PML-Q and its allies would remain united in parliament to play the role of a positive opposition.

About his meetings with President Musharraf, he said that the president was the constitutional head of the state and everyone would have to accept his position. The president, he said, was ready to receive leaders of any party who wished to meet him.

He claimed that the statement of PML-Q’s Secretary-General Mushahid Hussain Sayed about a possible support for a move to repeal 58(2) b article was his personal opinion and not the party’s policy.

He said the article was made part of the Constitution as a check and balance lever to ensure that no government went above the law of the land.

He said he had called MQM chief Altaf Hussain, PML-F leader Pir Pagara, NPP’s Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi and PPP-S leader Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao to discuss the matter and they had assured him that the erstwhile coalition partners would remain united in opposition.

PML-Q, allies launch ‘save president’ campaign -DAWN - Top Stories; February 29, 2008

 

[mujahideen]

Azeem says Musharraf won’t be impeached

Saturday, March 01, 2008
By our correspondent

OKARA: Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Q) information secretary and Senator Tariq Azeem on Friday claimed that no party had two-third majority in parliament to impeach President Pervez Musharraf.

Talking to journalists on phone, Tariq said Asif Zardari, Nawaz Sharif and Asfandyar Wali could not bring a move against the president as it required two-third majority in the parliament. He said Zardari did not want to involve himself in politics of confrontation, which was a positive sign.

He said a meeting of the PML-Q central executive committee would be held on Saturday (today) to nominate the parliamentary leader of the party in the National Assembly.

Former Punjab chief minister Mian Manzoor Wattoo was still in the PML-Q, he said. He said that Wattoo would attend the PML-Q CEC meeting as the partyÍs central vice-president. He said Nawab Zulfiqar Magsi was made the Balochistan governor purely on merit.

Azeem says Musharraf won’t be impeached

 

[mujahideen]

Musharraf called ‘the missing man’

By Khalid Hasan

WASHINGTON: The failure of a senior US State Department official to name President Pervez Musharraf even once in his prepared testimony before the Senate was so conspicuous that the Washington Post ran a report on Friday under the caption ‘The Missing Man’, comparing what the official had said in November about the Pakistani president and what he did not say now.

Deputy Secretary of State John D Negroponte testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Thursday, the Post writes, pointing out that “his words were most noteworthy for what he did not say: Negroponte made no mention of President Pervez Musharraf ... whose party was ‘routed’ in the February 18 legislative elections. “In what appeared to be a clear effort to distance the United States from the embattled Musharraf, Negroponte’s prepared testimony made not a single reference to the Pakistani leader. ... Quite a difference from the last time Negroponte testified about Pakistan nearly four months ago, shortly after Musharraf had declared emergency rule.”

The Post report went on to quote both from Negroponte’s testimony before the House Foreign Affairs Committee on November 7, in which he referred to Musharraf around 11 times in his prepared testimony, often with praise. He called the Pakistani leader “indispensable in the global war on terror”. On Thursday, he said, “Pakistan has been ‘indispensable to our worldwide struggle against violent extremists’.”

Last time, he said “under President Musharraf” Pakistan had become “more moderate, more prosperous”, but on Thursday, he said the US continued to believe that “only democracy can build a long-term consensus among Pakistanis on a moderate, prosperous future for their country”.

Last time, he attributed Pakistan’s economic growth to “President Musharraf and PM Shaukat Aziz’s sound economic policies”, but this week, he said, “we should now renew our efforts by continuing to support Pakistan’s democratic progress” etc.

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

 

[mujahideen]

Musharraf called ‘leader of leaders’ in India

* Indian scholar-journalist calls for free borders

By Ali Waqar

LAHORE: Dr Ved Pratap Vaidik, a prominent Indian scholar-journalist and the chairman of the Council for Indian Foreign Policy (a major think tank in India), said on Thursday that President Pervez Musharraf was known in India as a ‘leader of leaders’.

Dr Vaidik, who is on a friendly visit to Pakistan, spoke to a select media gathering, where he said that in certain Indian circles, President Musharraf was called the ‘leader of leaders’ because of his friendly attitude towards the Indian government and the way he extended his hand for better Indo-Pak ties. However, he said, Indians were also irked by “the same reservations (that Musharraf was not a politician but a ‘military dictator’) that irk the people of Pakistan”. Dr Vaidik lauded the decision of the PML-N and the PPP to join hands in the formation of a new government. He said the decision promoted “politics of mutuality, tolerance and acceptance”.

The scholar called for free borders between India and Pakistan. Commenting on the Kashmir issue, he said that the ‘third option’ (a free and independent Kashmir) could be the best one to resolve the long-standing conflict. He said if India and Pakistan did not budge from their traditional positions on the issue, it would never be resolved.

He said, “I frequently tell Pakistani military men and politicians in informal interactions that if they (Pakistan) think they are treating the part of Kashmir they call Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) better than India’s treatment of Indian-held Kashmir (IHK), the Indians also think the same way (that IHK is more prosperous than AJK).” He said the need of the hour was to open the Indo-Pak borders and declare a principle of ‘one people many nations’ in the region. Dr Vaidik added that Burma and Tibet should work together and build a united strength in the region. “The unity of these states can bring a revolution in the world as these regions have a history of bringing about revolutions and movements that changed the world, since the time of the Aryans.” He said that Osama Bin Laden had used this part of the world for his movement, and its impact had also been global. Dr Vaidik said Iran, like Afghanistan, should be made part of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), since this would add to the region’s strength.

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

 

[mujahideen]

Fazl ‘declines’ to meet Shujaat, refers him to Sherani: Shujaat seeks JUI-F’s support to secure Musharraf’s future

* Former coalition partners to meet on Tuesday

By Irfan Ghauri

ISLAMABAD: After losing the Feb 18 political battle to Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), the former ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) president, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, has geared up efforts to secure the future of President Pervez Musharraf.

Hussain, as a first step, approached his party’s former covert ally at centre and overt ally in Balochistan – Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) – on Friday and called a meeting of former ruling coalition on Tuesday.

Sources said Hussain’s meeting with Maulana Muhammad Khan Sherani, Balochistan JUI-F chief, at the latter’s residence mainly focused on seeking cooperation of Maulana Fazlur Rehman-led JUI-F in annulling possible moves of upcoming government against President Musharraf and to foil attempts of bringing amendments to the constitution.

Meeting declined: The sources said that Hussain had shown interest in meeting Rehman, but the JUI-F chief declined saying he (Shujaat) may meet Sherani. A close aide of Sherani, who also attended the meeting, told Daily Times that besides JUI’s cooperation in government formation in Balochistan, Hussain also sought JUI-F’s support for President Musharraf’s post-Nov 3 acts and opposing his possible impeachment by coming parliament.

Hussain later told reporters that the meeting discussed issues including formation of coalition government in Balochistan. “This meeting was not only for government formation, but it also discussed overall political situation. It does not matter whether or not we form a coalition government but we want that our cooperation should continue like before,” he said. Answering a question, the PML-Q chief his party would decide the nominee for its parliamentary leader in Balochistan in a couple of days.

Maulana Sherani said he would take up the issues discussed in the party meeting and the party’s decision would be final. About JUI’s meeting with PPP and PML-Q simultaneously, Sherani said his party was listening to views of all parties, but it would take decision in best interest of country and “ummah”.

CEC meeting: Shujaat later met with Aftab Ahmed Sherpao and discussed the country’s current political situation. Before the meeting of coalition partners, PML-Q’s Central Executive Committee will meet today (Saturday). It would be the first meeting of the CEC after the elections. The party’s political policy and issue of dissident group in the Senate top the agenda. PML-Q is also likely to announce its parliamentary leader in the National Assembly in this meeting.

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

 

[mujahideen]

Musharraf should resign from the office of President: Bukhari

LAHORE: Central Deputy Secretary Information PPP Senator Sajjad Bukhari has opined that president Pervez Musharraf should resign from the office of President by responding to the verdict of the public. Bukhari said this while addressing a press conference at Peoples Forum center here on Friday. he said PPP and PML-N have decided to jointly move ahead and they would keep on following this. Statements and expression of opinion by members of both the organizations may be personal their views and not policies of the parties, he added. Responding to a question, he said that Pakistan People's Party would have no objection to changing the name of NWFP as “Pakhtoonkhawa” as the party wanted to settle the 60 years old issue in an amicable manner. He, however, maintained that provincial organization of PPP-NWFP has given a proposal to hold referendum on the issue that is also a viable proposal to solve the matter.

Courtesy Geo

 

[mujahideen]

Memon says Musharraf respects public mandate

GILGIT, Mar 1 (APP): Caretaker Minister for Information and Broadcasting Nisar A. Memon Saturday said President Pervez Musharraf respects the public mandate and power will be transferred to the new government.The minister who arrived here this morning, addressed members of the Northern Areas Legislative Assembly (NALA) and later inaugurated the PTV Re-Broadcasting Centre at Ghakuch near here.

Addressing the members of Northern Areas Legislative Assembly (NALA), the minister said that which ever group or party achieves majority in the national assembly will be facilitated once the notification of the MNAs-elect is issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan.

He said more than one thousand electoral experts, observers and journalists visited Pakistan to monitor the election process and the entire world acknowledged the impartiality of the polls.

The minister said that President Musharraf has been elected through a democratic process and he would hold the post for five years.

Memon said the president is a symbol of federation and any bid to weaken him would tantamount to destabilising the federation.

He said government formation is an obligation of the political parties and as any political party could not win a clear majority, they are holding talks to form a government.

Hailing the consultation process between political parties to form the government, Memon said the political leadership is taking the political process ahead in a responsible manner.

He said the caretaker government was focussing on the development of Northern Areas (NAs) and the third package for the development of the NAs was being worked out.

President Musharraf has ordered preparation of another package for the people of NAs which would ensure provision of clean drinking water, education, health and other basic facilities to the people of the areas, he added.

On the occasion, Speaker National Areas Legislative Assembly (NALA) Muhammad Miskeen expressed gratitude to President Musharraf on behalf of the people of NAs for two development packages, saying that the NALA fully backed the steps being taken by the President.

He congratulated the president and the caretaker government for holding free, fair and transparent election. Terming the holding of free and fair polls a difficult task, he said, the obligation was fulfilled in a befitting manner.

Miskeen said President Musharraf had launched massive and unprecedented development projects for the uplift and prosperity of the people of Northern Areas. He hoped that this development course would continue in the future as well.

Later, the Caretaker Minister for Information and Broadcasting Nisar A. Memon inaugurating the PTV re-broadcasting centre said setting up of the centre was a testimony to the fact that the government wanted people of far flung areas to remain informed of the affairs of the country.

The centre will cover 25 kilometres and 80,000 people will be able to watch the TV broadcasts.

Nisar Memon said the re-broadcasting centre has been set up under the package announced by President Pervez Musharraf for development of the Northern Areas.

He said the President had announced special packages for Northern Areas in 2004 and 2007 to bring them at par with the rest of the country.

The information minister assured that the local people would be provided employment in the project which was a gift from President Musharraf for the area.

Memon said as a successful democratic country, Pakistan is setting new traditions. The terrorists tried to destabilise and derail the system but were failed in their effort.

He said the terrorists killed Benazir Bhutto who was one of the great world leaders of the present times. It was followed by a propaganda campaign that the elections would not be held. He said elections were rescheduled but the caretaker government fulfilled its constitutional obligation and held free, fair and transparent polls on time under the leadership of President Pervez Musharraf.

He said the country’s nuclear assets are in safe hands and there is a complete command and control system for their administration.

He said the armed forces are in high spirits and fully prepared to defend the country.

Memon said President Pervez Musharraf is the elected president of Pakistan and has fulfilled his promise by relinquishing the command of the army. With this, he said, the president has set a tradition unprecedented so far.

He said ways are looked into for internal autonomy of the Northern Areas adding that the royalty of Bhasha and Diamer Dams will be spent for the uplift of the people and the areas.

He said there are over 50 television channels operating freely and without any official intervention. He said there are a large number of newspapers but none of them is owned by the government.

Nisar Memon said investors from the private sector should launch projects in the field of media in the Northern Areas.

He said nine FM Radio Stations will be set up while two Radio Transmitters were being installed by Radio Pakistan at Chilas and Astore.

He said for the benefit of the farmers of the Northern Areas the President had written off loans worth rupees one billion and for the empowerment of the people had upgraded Northern Areas Council and made it Northern Areas Legislative Assembly.

Nisar A. Memon announced a grant of Rs.100,000 for the Gilgit Press Club and Rs. 50,000 for Gizer Press Club.

On his arrival at the re-broadcasting centre, the minister was given a briefing on the project.

app - Memon says Musharraf respects public mandate