Imran should think about country’s future, says Khursheed

KARACHI: Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Khursheed Shah said that he did not like Imran Khan’s threats of resignations from the provincial and national assemblies.

It was not the right thing to do, he said and added that Imran should think about the country’s future. A very well-known analyst of the country, Ata-ul-Haq Qasimi, said that the mental status of Imran Khan and Tahirul Qadri is alike, and both are suffering from deprivation syndrome.

Defence analyst Talat Masood said that Operation Zarb-e-Azb is progressing according to its strategy. The plan was to begin with aerial activity to create chaos in the rank of the leadership of the terrorists, and then to proceed with ground assault.

Khursheed Shah said that Imran Khan was giving threats of resignation from the provincial and national assemblies is an inappropriate thing. Shah, however, said that he did not oppose the demand of the PTI for verification in four constituencies. Although the supporters of the PPP in the Punjab are angry over electoral irregularities, yet the PPP realises the challenges before the country and so it is dealing with the political matters discretely. The Pakistan Army is engaged in a war against the terrorists, and the PPP does not want to complicate national affairs any further.

Khursheed Shah advised Imran Khan to put the future of the country above everything else. Imran should utilise the forum of Parliament.Khursheed Shah said he sees Tahirul Qadri and Imran Khan travelling down separate paths though the path may converge later on. The government must find a political way out. Protest demonstrations and rallies are not going to solve the issues. The country’s history bears witness to the fact whenever such things happened they disturbed the country’s system. Shah said that they must learn from past mistakes. He said that resignations from provincial and national assemblies by PTI members would create a crisis because after resignation the PTI would agitate on the streets and bring life to a halt.

The PPP leader said that the Model Town tragedy was a result of the government’s cronies’ overreaction. Senior columnist Ata-ul-Haq Qasimi said that he had never been optimistic about Imran Khan’s politics. Ever since Imran Khan entered politics, he had been making blunders one after the other. He had been consistently deviating from his own statements and going back on his promises, and that is the reason behind the friction in his party. Imran has also failed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Ata-ul-Haq Qasimi said when Imran realised that his performance had been unsatisfactory he started talking about resigning from the assemblies. There will be a strong resistance from the party over Imran’s call for resignations.

The senior columnist said that Imran’s decisions reflect his inexperience in politics. Ata-ul-Haq Qasimi said that mental state of Imran Khan and that of Tahir-ul-Qadri is alike and both are suffering from deprivation syndrome. What Imran Khan is doing can derail democracy.

Defence analyst Talat Masood, while talking to the host on the programme, said that Operation Zarb-e-Azb is progressing satisfactorily. The strategy was to panic the leadership of the terrorists through aerial bombardments and then to launch the ground attack, and the strategy has been successful.

The host of the programme, Masood Raza, said that the ICC has given Pakistan the status of Big Four.Commenting on Imran Khan, Masood Raza said that it seems that Imran’s politics is confined to four constituencies only. A year has passed since the elections but still there is an echo of rigging in elections.

Imran now bent upon removing Nawaz through street agitation

 

ISLAMABAD: One thing is now clear that Imran Khan will not wait for 2018 for fresh elections. He appears to have decided to remove the Nawaz Sharif government through street agitation.
Perhaps, he has been assured that he would be the next prime minister if the country goes for early elections.All his have been structured in a way that it is impossible to meet the demands. Except one, none of his demands has any relevance to the PML-N or its government. It was really surprising to hear him say after over one year that he does not accept the May 11, 2013 election results.

Despite his rigging charges, Imran Khan had accepted the election results in his televised speech within days after May 11, 2013. He, along with other PTI members, joined the National and provincial assemblies and had even formed his party’s government in the KPK.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif could possibly only respond to Imran Khan’s first demand/question as to who had made him to make the victory speech at around 11:30pm on the election day. There may be some conspiracy involved in this act of Nawaz Sharif but the fact remains that by that time, almost all TV channels had concluded that the PML-N would be forming the next government.

Trends of the election results, as collected by media persons from polling stations, generally help suggest who is winning and who is losing hours before the formal announcement of the polls by the Election Commission of Pakistan.

Regarding Imran Khan’s second question as to what role the former Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice (retd) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry had played in the rigged elections, one can only lament that the former CJP has been unfairly dragged into this controversy despite the fact that he had no role in the election process in any manner.

Instead, Imran Khan was one of those politicians who had demanded of the Election Commission to hold the 2013 elections under the judiciary. The former CJP was opposed to this but after repeated requests from the-then CEC Fakhruddin G Ebrahim, Justice Iftikhar had convened a meeting of the high-powered judicial committee to allow the appointment of sessions judges as returning officers. Otherwise, the superior judiciary under Iftikhar Chaudhry had decided in 2009 never to let the judiciary get involved in the election process.

The Returning Officers for election purpose are placed under the Election Commission of Pakistan whereas being judges they come under their respective provincial chief justices and not the Chief Justice of Pakistan. Still Imran Khan has involved the ex-CJP in election rigging.

The PTI chief’s question about the role of caretaker governments in the rigged election has also no relevance to the present government. All the provincial caretaker chief executives were appointed as per the constitutional provisions. It is also a fact that at the Centre and in most of the provinces, including Punjab, the caretaker chief executives were the nominees of the PPP and its allies in the previous set-up.

With regard to the caretaker governments’ role in the rigged elections, only the Election Commission of Pakistan could say something for being the concerned authority.

Similarly, the questions as to who had made changes in the electoral rolls and why there has been massive rejection of votes during the last year’s polls, purely falls in the domain of the Election Commission of Pakistan, which is presently led by Justice Nasirul Mulk, who would be the Chief Justice of Pakistan next month.

The incumbent Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Tassaduq Jillani, has also been the Acting CEC for a few months after former CEC Fakhruddin G Ebrahim decided to quit.

Imran makes four new demands

 

BAHAWALPUR: The Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, on Friday presented four demands before the government and gave one month’s time for acceptance of the same.
He threatened that if the demands were not met, one million people would march on Islamabad on August 14 for a ‘Naya Pakistan’ and strengthening of democracy through reforms.

Addressing a big public gathering at Dring Stadium Bahawalpur, he asked the government who was behind Nawaz Sharif’s victory speech on May 11 after announcement of the only 15 percent results, what was the role of then Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry in the elections, who was declared winners through rigging in 35 constituencies and who had made changes in the electoral roll and why there were so massive number of rejected votes in the elections.

He said that the time was not far when he would mend the Punjab police. He said if any policeman fired at or tortured activists of the PTI, he would hang them with his own hands.He invited all the political parties to join hands with him for real democracy and ‘Naya Pakistan’ through electoral reforms.

The PTI chief said it was shameful that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) did not resign despite ‘massive rigging’ in May 11 polls. He claimed that results were changed in at least 90 constituencies under a massive rigging plan.He also attacked the Punjab Police over the Lahore incident and asked whether they were the servants of Sharif family or the Punjab government.

Discussing the IDPs issue, Imran Khan asked Nawaz Sharif not to play politics on the issue. He said the prime minister had invited him just for a photo session with IDPs in Bannu which he rejected because it was not time for politics, adding that situation required practical service for the IDPs.

He said the IDPs issue would become a huge problem for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, if all the Pakistanis did not support them.Imran demanded the Punjab and Sindh governments for removing the ban on the entry of IDPs in their respective provinces.

Earlier, Makhdoom Javed Hashmi in his address asked Imran Khan to support the demand of Bahawalpur and Seraiki provinces.It is important to note that although it was a big gathering but not as much as being claimed by the PTI leadership, especially by the south Punjab organisation.

Agencies add: Imran said if the prime minister was actually concerned about the IDPs, he would have informed him about the operation beforehand.Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that the days of PML-N government were numbered adding that he had to convey three important messages and the first one was for the PML-N government.

“The one, who was in power, is gone and the one, who is in now, will be removed very soon.”Hashmi described southern Punjab as the most neglected region and said Imran should recognise the sense of deprivation among the locals. Pakistan would progress with the creation of new provinces, he remarked.

Imran, Qadri, Rasheed, Chaudhry’s trying to derail democracy: Rafique

ISLAMABAD: Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique criticized those individuals who had been organizing and calling for anti-government protests.

Speaking to reporters, Rafique said Imran Khan, Tahirul Qadri, Sheikh Rasheed and the Chaudhry brothers were trying to derail democracy.

“Let’s see who will lead the grand alliance,” Rafique said.

Rafique added that Sheikh Rasheed will not allow the alliance to be hijacked.

Responding to a question, Rafique said fool-proof security will be provided to Tahirul Qadri upon his arrival in Pakistan.

Imran must be tried under Article 6, says Abid

 

FAISALABAD: Minister of State for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali on Sunday said that the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan must be tried under Article 6 of the Constitution for treason with the nation.
He said that Imran Khan was trying to create a rift between the government and the army.Addressing a press conference here, Abid Sher Ali said the PTI was using protests to reverse the development process in the country.

The minister criticised the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leader Pervaiz Elahi, Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri, Awami Muslim League (AML) Chairman Sheikh Rashid Ahmed and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan for hatching conspiracies against the governemnt. The minister said Khan was using the defence institutions for coming into power.

Abid Sher Ali said no one would be allowed to sabotage the progress, prosperity and peace in the country. He said the government would do whatever was needed to strengthen the domestic security.

He said the PML-N government had launched numerous projects to overcome the energy crisis. Criticising the political parties protesting against the government, the minister said Pervaiz Elahi was a conspirator and he was the root cause of the problem. Shaikh Rashid could not gather people at his residence, how could he launch a train march? he questioned.

The minister said these parties wanted to destabilise democracy and the country. “No one will be allowed to play the Sindh, Balochistan and KP cards and mislead the people,” he added.He said that record investment was now being made in the country.

Abid says Imran be tried under article 6

FAISALABAD: Minister of State for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali has said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan was trying to create rift among state institutions.

Addressing the inauguration ceremony of ladies park here Sunday, Abid Sher Ali said Imran Khan should be tried under article of the constitution, adding Khan was trying to create rift between the government and the army.

He said Khan was using defence institutions for coming into power.

Criticizing the political parties protesting against the government, the State Minister said Pervaiz Elahi is the root cause of the problem.

Shaikh Rasheed could not gather people at his resident, how he could launch a train march, he questioned.

‘Jobless politicians’ want to lure Imran into cage: Pervaiz

LAHORE: In an obvious reference to the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leaders Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Pervaiz Rashid on Saturday said those meeting in London were politically jobless people and they were luring Imran Khan into their cage.

Speaking to media persons here, he said the remnants of Musharraf were trying to bring together the associates of the former military dictator.

“These people are luring Imran Khan into their cage but he is scared of entering it,” the minister said.

Downplaying Friday’s meeting between Qadri and the Chaudhry brothers in London, the minister said: “It is a waste of time to comment on Dr Qadri and the Chaudhry brothers meeting. One can never enter parliament while the other cannot become an opposition,” he observed.

He said Imran had become isolated politically that’s why he was relying on rejected elements like the Chaudhrys of Gujrat and a Canadian national Tahirul Qadri.

To a question, he said Sheikh Rasheed was a ticket-less passenger, who would be checked by Khawaja Saad Rafique.

The information minister said the government would decide on the removal of Musharraf’s name from the Exit Control List (ECL) after the court ruling.

The minister said Imran Khan had no idea of national politics and wanted to fight with those the government was holding talks. He said Imran was obsessed with the issue of four constituencies. He said Imran had not mentioned the Kashmir issue in his speeches or public rallies yet.

Efforts being made to separate NWA from Pakistan, says Imran

ISLAMABAD: Referring to the military action against terrorists, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan told journalists Tuesday that it appeared that efforts were being made to separate North Waziristan from Pakistan. He said the internally-displaced persons were fleeing more to Afghanistan than to other parts of Pakistan.

“Why we want to push North Waziristan out of Pakistan? Foreign actors are also involved in this dangerous game.”Appealing to Army Chief General Raheel Sharif, he said: “For God sake think about Pakistan”. He claimed that women and children were dying in the ongoing operation and the East Pakistan-like thinking was developing among people.

The PTI chief asked where was the leadership of Pakistan and said the prime minister was busy undertaking foreign visits. He said the prime minister had undertaken record 14 foreign tours whereas foreign investment was the lowest ever during this period.

He again said Pakistan must come out of others’ war and insisted that war was no solution to Pakistan’s problems. He advocated resumption of talks with the Taliban. Imran pointed out that there had been significant decrease in terror acts after the start of peace process with the Taliban. He noted there had been a change in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa following talks with the Taliban.

Criticizing the government policies, he said the sense of deprivation among smaller provinces was increasing.Imran claimed to have received scores of messages that locals in Waziristan thought as if the agency was being separated. He recalled how he had witnessed a sense of deprivation among the people of East Pakistan when he was on tour as part of under-19 cricket team, where it was felt they were being treated as a colony of Pakistan. Imran said the same feeling was seething in Balochistan.

The PTI chief said it seemed as if only the Punjab was Pakistan for mega projects, as projects like metro bus were being launched there instead of funds allocation for hydel power projects.Imran claimed that circular rail project was for Karachi being Pakistan’s biggest city, but it was abandoned and now metro train project was to be started in Lahore, costing double amount.

“An impression is being given to the people of smaller provinces that Punjab was the only Pakistan,” he asserted.He repeated his demand for thumb verification of voters in four constituencies and claimed worst ever rigging was carried out during the last year’s general election. Imran noted that a party which could not hold public meetings in Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore had bagged so many votes after the polls.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervaiz Khattak said the prime minister should follow the Constitution in running Pakistan as a federation. He also complained that the Centre was ignoring his province. He said if the federation supported his province, they could produce power at the rate of Rs2-3 per unit. He reminded Nawaz Sharif that he was the prime minister of Pakistan and not of Punjab only.

Imran reiterated that they had proposed to the Centre to hand power generation and distribution over to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, saying they could not only cut down line losses, but also reduce power tariff. But, he continued, the federal government had declined to hand the electricity system over to them.

Khattak noted that his province that produced gas, hydel power and oil was being deprived of its rightful share of funds by the federal government. He said the federal government was yet to pay Khyber Pakhtunkhwa the agreed payment of Rs6 billion net hydel profit.

In addition, the decision on uncapping of net hydel profits, which was finalized by the technical committee of the federal government in March 2013 and duly notified, had yet to be implemented. “These arrears stand in excess of Rs138 billion owed to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government,” he said.

He said levy of excise duty on crude oil came under Article 161 of the Constitution. “This is the provincial revenue but the federal government has to notify it which they are refusing to do. As a result, the annual loss of revenue for his province is in excess of Rs15 billion,” Khattak said.

Khattak said provision of Windfall Levy under Clause 4.1 of the Petroleum Policy 2015 of which 50 per cent was to go to the province had not been levied. This had caused a loss of more than Rs25 billion per annum to the province.

Non-payment of royalty on LPG as decreed by the PHC was resulting in losses of hundreds of millions of rupees annually, he maintained.Meanwhile, the Geo News team was Tuesday afternoon barred from covering the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan’s news briefing at his Bani Gala residence here.

“Sorry, we have orders not to let you in,” asserted a security official when asked by a Geo journalist as to why they were not being allowed in to cover the event.The Geo team waited outside Imran’s residence along with the DSNG van but no one came out to let them enter the premises.

During the news briefing, when one of the media persons drew Imran’s attention towards the issue, he said the PTI was on boycott of Geo/Jang Group which will continue unless Jang Group owner apologised to him for their alleged campaign against him.

Meanwhile, a Jang Group spokesman said no campaign was launched against Imran Khan. If he had any proofs in this regard, he should send these to the Jang Group. He said the Jang Group people were in touch with the PTI team and they were never informed of any such alleged campaign.

The spokesman said as for as the coverage of recent days is concerned it was in self defence and consisted of replies to the allegations leveled by the PTI chief. He said these allegations have been proved wrong one by one. Imran Khan would not accept this but all will be clear in courts.The spokesman said Imran Khan can approach Pemra, Council of Complaints and courts in this regard.

Sethi had nothing to do with selling PCB rights: Imran hospital audit body chief

 

LONDON: The former president of the International Cricket Council (ICC) and a senior Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) adviser Ehsan Mani has said that Najam Sethi, ex-PCB chairman, had nothing to do with the bidding procedures or sports rights for the cricket series against Sri Lanka.
Geo TV’s detractors and Najam Sethi’s critics, without presenting any evidence, have alleged that Sethi, who hosts one of the most watched current affairs shows on Geo called ‘Aapas Ki Baat’, may have helped Geo Super get the sporting rights for the Pakistan-Sri Lanka series held in the United Arab Emirates last year.

But in an exclusive interview over phone with this correspondent from France, Ehsan Mani, who was the head of the PCB committee that approved the Geo Sports’ bid for the Sri Lanka/South Africa series, expressed shock that such baseless allegations were aired without giving any thought to the facts.

Ehsan Mani is a board member of Imran Khan’s Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital and a friend of Imran Khan — who has led the campaign of allegations against the Jang and Geo Group, accusing the group of being involved in election rigging and winning favours from Nawaz Sharif — but Mani said he was astonished that such allegations were being made knowingly by some whose aim was to malign rather than to do anything good.

But the stern rebuttal by Ehsan Mani will come as a shock to Imran Khan who faces court cases from Jang and Geo over these allegations.

Ehsan Mani clarified: “The committee that I headed comprised Justice Shabbar Rizvi, an ex-Lahore High Court judge, Ahmed Hussain and a lawyer. It had three PCB management members Subhan Ahmed, COO, Badar Khan, CFO, and Salman Naseer, PCB’s internal legal adviser. It has had an ex-PCB Board member Bughio, a close aide of Zaka Ashraf.

“It was on my request that renowned accounting firmErnst & Young was taken on board to oversee all the process and to ensure that the whole bidding process was independent and transparent. The aim was to ensure transparency so that no bidder should be given undue advantage. Ernst and Young made the final report with recommendations and sent it to the PCB.”

Ehsan Mani said that the highest bidders were Ten Sports and Geo and they were recommended on the basis of the merit of their bids, the highest amounts they put down to win these rights. “Najam Sethi wasn’t involved at any stage. He had nothing to do with the bidding at any of the stages. There was only one PCB representative Bughio who sat in the meeting as an observer. Najam Sethi didn’t have any influence at any stage. There was no pressure, corruption or manipulation. Everything was independent and the bid was open, negotiations were opened and on board. Everything was on record and minutes were taken down.”

After the bids were received, Mani said, the committee only recommended to the PCB board that the South African series shall go to Ten Sports and the rights for Sri Lanka shall go to Geo Super. “We had no power other than to make recommendations. The PCB governing body finalised the decision. There was no interference at all at any level, there’s no question of any pressure. It was not possible. The highest bidder won and it’s simple. The terms and conditions were provided in writing in advance to all the parties involved.”

Ehsan Mani refused to disclose how much money was offered by Geo Super and Ten Sports because it was “confidential” but he stressed that the rights were won by the highest and the most competitive bidders. “There is no doubt about that. This is all on the record. Ernst & Young witnessed the negotiations and recorded everything. Their report was confidential and private which we didn’t see. Everyone involved was satisfied with the procedures and no objections were raised.”

When asked if the chairman PCB could manipulate at any stage using his powers, Ehsan Mani said that the process of establishing committees was such that the chairman couldn’t do anything. “The PCB chairman cannot manipulate. When I was approached to be a part of this committee, I said I will help.”

Mani said that he has been helping the Pakistan cricket since 1992 and had been involved in many deals and at various stages. “My only condition was that this committee will be independent and the PCB chairman will not be involved. The committee was completely independent and any involvement from any quarter was out of the question. I had done the ICC deal for $500 million in 2000. In 2006 and 2007, I was asked again by the ICC to help with their rights and one of the deals was done for $1.1 billion. When my reputation is so high and I am trusted so much, then why would I do anything untoward?”

When asked again if Najam Sethi had anything to do with the bidding process, Ehsan Mani said that Najam Sethi had no involvement. “Najam Sethi had absolutely no involvement. He couldn’t have done that. We followed a transparent procedure. No bidder knew who was offering what amount. No one knew what was on board. We wanted maximum money. We wanted maximum money for the PCB and that was our aim. Those who failed our targets failed to get the rights. All bidders were there and they knew what was going on.”

Ehsan Mani’s interview has proved the allegation leveled by Imran Khan, Mubashir Luqman and several TV channels as a complete lie. Several channels, particularly ARY, were alleging that Sethi favoured Geo in getting the cricket rights. Imran Khan leveled this allegation in his several TV interviews. He particularly attended Mubashir Luqman’s programme at ARY and repeatedly leveled this baseless allegation.

The Jang Group’s response to this allegation was present at its website, parts of social media and even published several times in newspapers, but no anchorperson ever asked any question from Imran Khan about the role and stand of Ehsan Mani, who is the chairman of the audit committee of Shaukat Khanum Hospital.

As Imran’s allegation has been proven a lie, the lawyers community in the UK is discussing what would be the worth of Imran’s other allegations against the Geo and Jang Group. They think Imran, who enjoys respect in the UK, will face embarrassment on failure to prove his charges against the Geo/Jang Group in the UK courts.

Imran changes viewpoint on daily basis

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique has termed Imran Khan’s sit-ins as a move to put pressure on judiciary and Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for getting favorite decisions, Geo News reported.

Speaking to media outside the parliament here Tuesday, Saad Rafique asked Imran Khan not to take revenge from democracy if his dream to become prime minister did not come true.

The minister said judicial officers were appointed as returning officer on the pressure of Khan as the then chief justice had refused to do so. He added: “Imran Khan changes his viewpoint on daily basis which is not a sign of leader.”

He also advised Imran Khan to keep himself away from a former Railway minister.

Imran should wait for next polls, not short-cuts: Pervaiz

LAHORE: Federal Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid has said that PTI Chairman Imran Khan should wait for the next general elections instead of taking short-cuts.

In an interview, he said that the protests of the PTI and Awami Tehreek were no more than a storm in a teacup and they would not succeed in their efforts. He said that the protest of Imran Khan was the manifestation of his disappointment over his party’s failure to deliver in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

He added that Khan raised the issues of talks with the Taliban and the drone attacks for political gains but when he did not achieve his target in this way, he came up with the old issue of alleged rigging in the polls.

On the rally of Dr Tahirul Qadri to be held on May 11, Rashid said that Dr Qadri, who talked of the the people, would lead the “Canada Rally” on the day.The information minister remarked that Dr Qadri did not accept the Constitution and the democratic system but Imran Khan was walking shoulder-to-shoulder with him.

He said the government would not hinder the peaceful protest but if any of the political parties resorted to any illegal activity, the law would take its due course.He said that to hold a protest was the legal right of every political party, but it should be carried out within the limits stated by the Constitution and the law.

Imran out to support third force: Sethi

LAHORE: Senior analyst Najam Sethi said PTI chairman Imran Khan had decided to support the third force as some people in his party were advising him short-cuts.
Speaking in Geo News programme ‘Aapas Ki Baat’ on Sunday, Sethi said apparently Imran wanted to protest rigging in elections. “He moved the election tribunal and realised the process will take two years and then moved the Supreme Court which again sent him to the tribunal. He wanted verification in four constituencies and if rigging proved, he would declare the whole election a fraud and demand fresh polls. He wants the government to call new elections and its ouster if the government refuses it, so that new elections are held in a fair way,” he observed.

He said the timing of the move was intriguing as it would complete one year of the government. “However, there is some trouble as Tahirul Qadri will join him. Contrary to Imran, Qadri talks of a change of the system. Imran earlier supported democracy and Geo but now he has changed and blamed Geo for his defeat but he cannot explain it. There are also tensions between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the military leadership over the Musharraf case, Pak-India relations and talks with the Taliban. They are not on the same page. Then tensions arose between the army leadership and Geo and it appears the army is not willing to relent,” he added.

The noted analyst said some people were advising Imran Khan to exploit the differences between the prime minister and the army leadership, loadshedding and rigging in elections and launch a movement to bring the government on the back foot, even if violence occurred. “It is a dangerous situation,” he added. To a question, Sethi said Imran was targeting Geo to please the third force. “Geo has differences with the military leadership over Pak-India trade, friendship and Aman Ki Asha. Geo also had a difference of opinion with the military leadership on Musharraf’s trial. If some people are angry with the prime minister, they are also annoyed at Geo. The channel was a big target in the attack on Hamid Mir,” he elaborated.

To a question on talk of martial law in drawing-room debates, he said the prime minister should also think about it and remove misunderstandings with the military. To another question, he said it was difficult to remove an elected government. “The prime minister should act to defuse tensions with the military as it is also not good for the economy which is of prime importance today. The judiciary and the media should also not be weakened,” he added.

No response from Imran on Iftikhar's challenge

LAHORE: There has been no response from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan to a debate challenge by Director Geo News election cell Iftikhar Ahmad over allegations against the channel.

During his programme ‘Mere Mutabiq’ on Friday, Iftikhar Ahmad had urged Imran Khan to provide evidence defending his allegation against Geo News of being involved in rigging during general elections 2013.

In the programme, the senior journalist invited Imran Khan and his team for a debate over the allegations. Iftikhar Ahmad said Imran Khan had issued a 100-page white paper over election rigging but did not mention the allegations against Geo News. He added that Imran Khan and PTI workers were continuously leveling allegations against Geo News.

Speaking to Geo News on Saturday, Mr Ahmad said it was regrettable that neither Imran Khan nor any other PTI representative had contacted him. He added that his team was willing to address any grievances the PTI found during Geo News’ election transmission.

Meanwhile a response has been issued by a Jang group spokesman to all the allegations leveled by Imran Khan against Geo News.

Why Imran did not respond to Jang Group’s notice — the real story

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan has developed a habit of hurling baseless allegations against the Jang Group, apparently at the behest of angels.

After losing the May 11 election, he had been crying of rigging. First, he accused the judiciary and now the Jang Group of depriving him of an imminent victory, which the angels had assured him.

Last year, when Geo Television Network’s winning the bid of rights of Pakistan vs Sri Lanka cricket tournament series caused sleepless nights for local media and dark hidden forces, Imran came out with so-called allegations that Geo was favoured by Najam Sethi, the then acting chairman of Pakistan Cricket Broad. However, Imran kept a mysterious silence over a similar series rights (Pakistan vs South Africa) awarded to an Indian sports channel in which Zee TV owns 95% of the shares and is headquartered in Mumbai.

Here are some facts for Imran Khan: This was the first time that a Pakistani TV channel had acquired world rights of an international series with the responsibility to produce in High Definition and the venture was only set to upgrade the standards and expertise of a Pakistani company and production resources.

Importantly, Najam Sethi had no role whatsoever in the bids process of the two series rights. The entire process of award of media rights to sports channels was done through Pakistan Cricket Board’s bids committee. Regarding Pakistan Cricket Board’s bids committee that awarded Pakistan-Sri Lanka series rights to Geo Super after transparent and competitive bidding, it is stated that its chairman was none other than Ehsan Mani.

Mani is a former ICC president and has managed ICC’s bundling of commercial rights since 2000. It included media rights for ICC events that valued millions of dollars. He has also successfully managed media rights for West Indies and South Africa and also PCB since 1993. He has been one of Trustee of 15-member Board of Trustees of Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital. He also has been Chairman Audit Committee of Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital.

Other members of the bids committee included PCB Chief Operating Officer Subhan Ahmed — Masters in Business Administration with 19-year experience in cricket. He has worked with the ICC and wrote the contingency plans for ICC Cricket World Cups in 2003 and 2007; Chief Financial Officer Badar M Khan — Chartered Accountant with pertinent experience of cricket finances and good business practices; Member of PCB’s Governing Board Rafiq Bughio who oversaw and monitored the entire process, and an independent member Justice (R) Shabar Raza Rizvi, former judge who authored the report of Sri Lanka team attack. The whole process was monitored by an independent audit firm Ernst and Young, one of the leading audit firms hired to observe and report on the bid process for transparency.

The bidding committee submitted its recommendations to PCB governing board for approval after finishing their proceedings. This transparent process helped sell media/ broadcasting rights both for South Africa and Sri Lanka at a price more than what it got from the 5-year media rights deal which it had with an India-based sports TV channel for the same South Africa and Sri Lanka series played in Dubai/ Abu Dhabi. In fact, the PCB got around $1 million more from this South Africa and Sri Lanka series as compared to what it got in the last series played against both the countries at the same venues in the UAE.

Geo TV did bid in 2008 for securing media rights for five years, however, these rights were not given to Geo TV, though Ehsan Mani was heading the Bids Committee at that time too. Ten Sports got the contract for 5 years, which expired in 2013. In the case of Pak-SL series, it was the PCB Governing Body which approved the media rights contract and Najam Sethi remained out of this process.

It should be remembered that the Jang Group had issued a notice to Imran Khan for leveling basesless allegations at that time which made Imran angry. Instead of replying to the Jang notice, a hue and cry was made on the pretext of freedom of speech. The Jang Group then sent to Imran all the record showing its clear position and asked him to get the record examined through independent auditors. He should have replied to the notice then so that the Jang Group could move courts to prove his allegations wrong. The Jang Group did not pursue the notice and kept waiting for Imran Khan’s reply till todate. Now Imran had again started leveling the same allegations and Jang Group will have to also pursue its notice. Particular people including Lal Top Wala are following angels’ agenda on a particular channel. Imran Khan has visited that particular channel for five times. The Jang Group has moved courts against this particular channel.

Regarding the bidding process, Imran Khan is informed that the PCB floated a tender for two home series at different venues in the UAE - one against South Africa and the second against Sri Lanka on August 8, 2013. Against which, technical and financial proposals were sought from the interested parties. Two-stage tender process involved opening of financial and technical proposals, of which, the later was to evaluate financial standing, prior sports broadcasting and television production experience, details of company ownership including parent company/ share holdings etc and international distribution plans in case if their bids are successful.

On 30th of August, after careful evaluation, the Bids Committee approved India-based TV channel and Geo TV’s technical proposals and proceeded to the second round of opening the financial proposals. According to the process laid out, the Bids Committee announced reserve price for each series before opening of financial proposals which was not met by either Ten Sports or Geo TV for both series after which both parties were given the opportunity to submit revised offers the next day i.e. August 31, 2013 by 10 a.m. In the second round, Geo TV’s financial offer exceeded the reserved price for Sri Lanka series whereas India-based TV channel retained its original offer which was still lower than the PCB reserve price and not capable of acceptance by any standard and hence Geo TV was declared the successful bidder for Sri Lanka series. On South Africa series, both Geo and India-based sports TV channel could not meet the PCB reserve price and bidding committee decided to award rights to India-based sports TV channel on the basis of comparatively higher offer, though this offer was around $0.8 million, less than the reserve price fixed by the PCB.

The PCB, however, in line with a term of bidding document awarded contract to India-based sports TV channel without further negotiations. However, no one, including Imran Khan, raised any objection for the reasons best known to him.

Importantly, Abdul Rahman Bukhatir had sold 50% stakes in the company (Ten Sports) to India-based Zee TV Network for $57 million in November 2006 with Zee further acquiring further 32.2% stakes against $31 million in February 2010 and finally adding another 12.8% stakes against $13.4 million to take up its stake in the company at 95%. With the completion of 95% of control in Ten Sports by Zee, the corporate headquarters are now based in Mumbai and the entire up-linking operations of channel have now been shifted to Noida in India.

Ten Sports was the rights holder of Pakistan home series during the term 2008-2013 and in this period major changes in its parent company’s shareholding took place. Most television broadcasting agreements done by cricket boards do not allow such changes of corporate/ management controls without prior written consent by the cricket board concerned. In this case, the PCB can clarify whether it actually provided its consent to Ten Sports to continue working as its host broadcaster during the period 2009-2010 when India-based Zee Network gained 95% controlling shares of the company. Imran Khan preferred keeping mum when Indian channel had all the media rights for five years and only woke up when Geo got the rights of only one series.

Senior journalist challenges Imran to prove allegations

ISLAMABAD: PTI chief Imran Khan’s rigging allegations against Geo have baffled many as to how a TV channel could change the results of elections by airing the speech of a leader which was also telecast by all other major channels. Seasoned journalist Iftikhar Ahmad, who headed Geo’s election transmission, has challenged Imran to have a debate so that his allegations could be better judged.

Addressing a press conference on Friday, days after the star anchor of the channel Hamid Mir was shot six times, Imran said Geo played a role in rigging by airing the speech of PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif at around 11.23pm on May 11, 2013, more than six hours after completion of polling process.

However, Imran did not explain as to why other channels did not commit any rigging by airing the same speech of Nawaz Sharif at the same time.

Imran whose party is governing Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, conveniently ignored the fact that immediately after Mr Sharif’s speech on May 11, Geo also aired a “victory announcement” by senior PTI leader Asad Umar who claimed that his party would form government in the KP.

“If we go by the logic of Imran Khan how can (PTI MNA) Asad Umar tell before the completion of counting that PTI would form government in KP?” asked Iftikhar Ahmad who headed the Geo’s election transmission.

“How can Geo be held responsible for change in the election results for airing the speech of Nawaz Sharif six hours after the polling time? Only workers of the political party (PTI) could be held responsible for leaving the polling stations before the announcement of results as it was their job to oversee the counting process and get a signed copy of result from the polling staff,” he added.

The seasoned journalist said it was an international practice that media outlets keep their cameras and other devices at the offices of political parties to cover any possible development during and after the elections,” he said.

Iftikhar Ahmad also challenged Imran to hold a live debate with him on allegations of rigging against Geo. “Let us have a live debate on the issue so that people can decide what had actually happened.”

He also recalled that Geo also aired PTI’s allegation of rigging in Hamid Mir’s talk show at around midnight on May 11 and party’s senior leader Arif Alvi was given ample time to voice his opinion on the issue.

According to election experts, usually the results of majority of seats are known to contesting candidate within a couple of hours of polling even before the official announcement.“The party which has polling agents present in the polling stations can get the idea of results within two to three hours as the entire counting process takes place in front of all the polling agents and presiding officer is allowed to give a signed copy of result to each polling agent,” said Kanwar Dilshad who remained the longest serving Secretary of Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

Dilshad said it is not difficult for the leaders of major political parties and journalists to get the unofficial results prior to announcement by the ECP.“Normally the Commission does not announce the unofficial and unconfirmed results until it receives complete result from each and every polling station,” he said.

But after the voting, leaders of political parties usually maintain contact with their candidates who keep getting immediate results from every polling station through their respective polling agents, Dilshad added.

Imran boycotts Jang Group, accuses it of influencing polls

 

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman, Imran Khan, on Friday accused Geo TV of being a part in rigging during the 2013 general elections and announced to boycott the Jang Group and the channel.
Talking to media persons here, Imran said that no PTI representative would appear on Geo or subscribe to the Jang Group newspapers till the time the private television apologised for its role in the rigging.

Imran demanded of the government to investigate through an independent commission the foreign funding coming to the media houses, including Geo, which had allegedly received money from the US and other foreign sources.

He justified his party’s decision to take to the streets against the “unprecedented rigging’ in the last year’s general elections and singled out the returning officers (ROs) for their role in the irregularity, saying that he would not let this go without a probe.

Imran noted that PTI candidate for NA-118 had to pay a total of Rs5.2 million for thumbprint verification of voters, the election tribunal and lawyer fee, and it was found that out of 325 bags, 170 were opened while only 69 had all the requisite documents.

He continued that out of 170,000 votes cast in the constituency, only 81,000 had either partial or complete record and more importantly, 70 bags did not belong to the Election Commission of Pakistan but were altered.

The PTI chairman pointedtribunals to going to the Supreme Court (SC) and raising the issue in the National Assembly.“This was simply because the PTI did not want to destabilise the government. Never at any time did the PTI accept the rigging that had clearly taken place in general elections 2013,” he noted.

Imran asserted that almost a year had passed and neither the tribunals nor the SC had given any decisions on their petitions. PTI’s demand for thumbprint verification in only four constituencies had still not been acceded by the ECP and the petition for the same remained undecided by the SC.

The PTI chairman said that his party had been left with no option but to come out on to the streets to protest the rigging so that future elections were made transparent and fair, or people would lose faith in the entire electoral process.

“Others will assume that the only way to win is through rigging. And the unprecedented turnout of youth and the urban professionals who came out to vote will again retreat and they won’t bother to cast their votes. This bodes ill for the future of democracy in Pakistan and the PTI will not allow this to happen,” he noted.

Imran pointed to the ‘questionable role’ of the ex-chief justice of Pakistan, the ROs and the Election Commissioners from the Punjab and Sindh in aiding and abetting rigging, along with the now infamous 35 punctures of the then Punjab acting Chief Minister Najam Sethi, who had been duly rewarded.

He drew attention to the comprehensive PTI White Paper on rigging as well as the Fafen report.The PTI chief recalled when thumbprint verifications were ordered and then Nadra chief complied in NA 118, Babar Sattar stated that the Nadra chief was threatened by Rana Sanaullah and then removed. The IHC decision on Nadra chief’s removal corroborated this statement.

It is interesting to note that for other reasons, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), which was in power, had also boycotted Geo for some months but had to return to it on its own. PTI’s boycott of Jang Group was discussed during the recently held Core Committee meeting and more deliberations were held in a select group of party leaders.

Party insiders told ‘The News’ that the boycott of the leading media group, which been in the forefront in projecting the PTI, would be counterproductive, as ultimately Imran would have to end it, as had the PPP.

Imran repeats charges already proven wrong in SC

ISLAMABAD: Hamid Mir’s request for evidence regarding allegation about Geo TV accepting foreign funding he made on August 2, 2013 was responded by six bullets on April 19, 2014, but PTI chief Imran Khan repeated same frivolous and baseless allegations against Geo/Jang Group despite the fact that those who concocted these charges had to tender unconditional apology before the apex court.
In his usual style of levelling any kind of accusations against each and every one, not part of his party, PTI chief Imran Khan repeated the allegations which were “part of statement of some Pemra officials” produced in a Media Commission Report. However, Imran once again cheated the whole nation by not speaking the real truth that later when the apex court had summoned all these Pemra officials to provide evidence, all of them had tendered unconditional apology for levelling these wrong and baseless allegations. It is worth mentioning that Geo had rejected apology and had demanded evidences.

The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) had tendered apology on Friday August 2, 2013 in the Supreme Court over the statement regarding Geo TV’s awareness campaigns, including ‘Aman Ki Asha’ and ‘Zara Sochiye’. However, Hamid Mir had insisted that evidences must be provided of allegations levelled against Geo News. Counsel for Pemra Zulfiqar Maloka had submitted a written apology before the bench and stated that Pemra apologises over its statement.

The Supreme Court had remarked that it was a non-serious attitude of the Pemra officials as they should have behaved in a responsible manner. Imran Khan, who has launched a national campaign against Hamid Mir and Geo/Jang Group right after Pakistan’s top anchor and host of popular programme ‘Capital Talk’ was attacked and shot six bullets in his chest and lower abdomen, also hid a basic fact from the nation that this Media Commission Report was presented in a case which was filed by Hamid Mir himself. Hamid Mir, the petitioner in the case, had said that Geo did not seek an apology from Pemra, instead, he had said he and Geo wanted Pemra to present evidence to prove its allegations.

Not only this, Imran also repeated the allegation that Geo/Jang Group’s peace initiative ‘Aman ki Asha’, which was praised by Khan himself many times, has received big money from a Norwegian NGO ‘Friends without Borders’. It is important to mention that after PTI started airing this allegation few months back the said NGO had responded in writing that it has never ever funded Aman ki Asha initiative.

Imran Khan again tried to mislead the nation and directly attacked the institution of Supreme Court by dragging it into his slanderous allegations and provided journalists in writing a weblink of the official website of Supreme Court, saying that these allegations are present on apex court website as part of media commission report. Many judgements and reports of commissions are present on apex court website which always contains details of allegations which can later be proved true of false. These allegations present in Media Commission Report were not only proved false but even those who levelled allegations tendered unconditional apology which was out-rightly rejected by Geo/Jang Group. Imran now will have to prove all these allegations in court of law or will have to face consequences.

Imran should avoid hasty anti-govt drive: Khursheed

SUKKUR: Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah said on Saturday that Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan should not make a decision in haste to launch a movement against the government as it would, in the present critical juncture, harm the democratic set-up in the country.

He stressed that government, politicians and institutions should remain on the same page as this was the demand of the time. Talking to newsmen at the airport here on Saturday, he said that the country was facing the menace of terrorism and they had to provide the people with peace and relief. “Conditions are changing internationally, new governments are to emerge in India and Afghanistan and under the circumstances we have to remain united,” he said.

He opposed the agitation planned for May 11, by Imran Khan and Maulana Tahirul Qadri saying some serious issues were currently confronting the nation that demanded unity not confrontation.

Referring to the current dialogue process with the Taliban, he said when the government itself was not aware about it how could the opposition comment on it.

Politicians should declare assets to stop corruption: Imran

LAHORE: The Chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, said on Thursday that politicians had to declare their assets to root out corruption from the country.

Speaking at the launching ceremony of a book, ‘Haan Ye Sach Hai’, written by Brig (retd) Aslam Ghumman on corruption in the government ranks, the PTI chief said that corruption was an impediment to all growth efforts in Pakistan. The PTI chief said that corrupt leaders could never eliminate corruption in the country as it was the reason behind the decline in the level of governance and welfare in the country.

The ceremony was also addressed by PTI central leaders and parliamentarians, including Makhdoom Javed Hashmi, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, renowned intellectuals and writers including Hassan Nisar, Mujibur Rehman Shami and Orya Maqbool Jan.

Speaking on the occasion, Imran Khan said that corruption always started from the top and the leader who did not speak the truth always bred dishonesty at every level and in every department. He said whether it was an autocrat or democrat, their dishonesty would destroy the institutions like the judiciary, police, NAB, etc. To hide their own corruption, they either bought these people or removed them and brought corrupt people to serve their purposes, he added.

He said for a leader to succeed, he must have the courage to be honest and take tough decisions which might encourage the institutions like the judiciary, police, NAB, etc. To hide their own corruption, they either bought these people or removed them and brought corrupt people to serve their purposes, he added.

He said for a leader to succeed, he must have the courage to be honest and take tough decisions which might encourage the society to follow the values set the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

Imran said that leaders like Quaid-i-Azam and Mandela rendered great sacrifices for a larger cause. They were the leaders who could bring about a change and progress in their countries. According to a Gallup survey, in last eight months in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP), the people of the province had achieved the satisfaction level of upto 57 percent as compared to the Punjab and other provinces, where the level of satisfaction was 27 percent and 37 percent, he added.

He said this was an indication of how in eight months corruption in KP had started decreasing and institute building started. In the next three months, a great change in the KP would be witnessed where people would support the government performance even more, he said.

Speaking on the occasion, Makhdoom Javed Hashmi said most of the governments had been afraid of their past and had bowed down in front of autocrats. The rulers ran away from the country when things got tough, leaving the poor on their own, he said and added that the struggle against corruption was a major challenge to create a fair governance system.

PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that the book was a great effort by Brig (retd) Aslam Ghumman to reveal such dishonesty. The PTI would encourage such transparency within and outside the party, he added.

PTI Punjab President Ejaz Chaudhry said that the PTI Chairman Imran Khan had always termed corruption the root cause of all evils and this book gave examples of how this had been true in the previous governments. The PTI would set new standards of accountability and transparency, he added.

Brig (retd) Aslam Ghumman, the author of the book in his address, said he had spent all his life fighting against corruption and future generations could benefit from the lessons in the book. He said Imran Khan was the leader who would be able to purge the whole set up of corruption and set the country on the path of progress.PTI Punjab Information Secretary Andleeb Abbas, MNA Shafqat Mehmood, MPAs Dr Murad Ross and Shanial Routh were also present.

PTI has set up exemplary govt in KP, says Imran

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan claimed on Tuesday that his was the only party on which the nation had pinned hopes for a better future. He said that his party was ready to hold the local bodies elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on April 30.

He made this claim when an ex-candidate of the Qaumi Watan Party for PK-22, Charsadda, Khan Matta, and scores of his supporters joined the PTI here.Imran said his party had established an exemplary government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa that would be expanded to other provinces soon.

Meanwhile, he condemned the attack on the Jaffar Express in Sibi and called for thorough investigations into it and awarding of the severest punishment to the culprits.PTI Information Secretary Shireen Mazari said her party had emerged as the second largest political party in the general elections last year. She saidthis during a meeting with a team of US journalists, who called on her on Tuesday.

She noted that the PTI believed in elimination of corruption through across-the-board accountability, expansion of the tax net and imposition of the agriculture tax. She threw light on various initiatives taken by the PTI government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

APP adds: Meanwhile, Imran Khan on Tuesday said that the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) was ready to hold the local bodies (LB) elections in the province on April 30.Talking to the media outside parliament, he said that according to a recent survey, around 57 percent people were satisfied with the performance of the PTI government.

The chairman of PTI said that formation of a committee by the National Assembly to investigate the allegation of non-payment of taxes by members of parliament and report it within 90 days was a good development.

He said that the committee should first investigate non-payment of taxes by party heads. “I offer myself for the investigation first,” he added.Imran Khan said that payment of taxes by parliamentarians would enhance the prestige of parliament. He asked all the parliamentarians to declare their assets in and outside the country.

The PTI chairman said tax collection couldn’t be improved unless the politicians themselves set the example.To a question about the street children football team, he said that Pakistan had anincredible talent in all the sports. He said changing of the cricket team captain would harm the performance of the team.Shah Mehmood Qureshi said the PTI, in consultation with other opposition parties, would challenge the Pakistan Protection Bill.