Zardari had assured US, UK, Kayani of Musharraf’s immunity

 

ISLAMABAD: Former army chief General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani had played the most important role in brokering an immunity deal for former president General Pervez Musharraf in 2008, according to which Asif Zardari gave a firm commitment to the US, UK and Gen Kayani that indemnity for Musharraf would be forthcoming if he stepped down.
According to at least two leaked American diplomatic cables which had made their way to the international media on December 7, 2010, a series of political and strategic blunders by Musharraf had given cause and justification to both Asif Zardari and the then army chief General Kayani to work separately for his honourable exit.

In two separate cables written by then US ambassador to Islamabad Anne W. Patterson, details were given about how General Kayani (who had just been elevated as the army chief after Musharraf took off his uniform to retain the presidency), and Asif Ali Zardari, the leader of the majority party in the new National Assembly (after the 2008 polls), had systematically started to distance themselves from Musharraf.

In a ‘brief’ and ‘talking points’ prepared for Admiral Mike Mullen during his early 2008 visit to Pakistan, Ambassador Patterson states:

“As expected, Gen Ashfaq Kayani is taking slow but deliberate steps to distance the army from now civilian President Pervez Musharraf.” In a separate cable about a meeting of US Representatives Adam Schiff and Allyson Schwartz with Asif Zardari in May 2008, the American ambassador had given details of how the PPP co-chairman (who later became president following Musharraf’s exit) advocated an ‘honourable exit’ for Musharraf.

According to the cable, “Zardari blamed Musharraf for not taking enough responsibility for the war on terrorism in Pakistan”, which resulted in a marked increase in anti-US sentiments in the country.

“Anti-US feeling will go away when the old faces go away,” the leaked cable noted, adding that the American government should no longer rely on just Musharraf in fighting terrorism. In her own assessment of Musharraf’s public standing, Ambassador Patterson wrote in the cable that a year ago, his popularity was high. But “beginning with his decision to fire the Chief Justice (Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry) in March 2007, Musharraf has made repeated blunders culminating in a state of emergency and temporary suspension of the Constitution”. A detailed reading of some of these cables suggest that by this time all three major players, Asif Zardari, General Kayani and the American ambassador, had made up their minds that time was up for the former military ruler who had already been accused of involvement in the tragic assassination of Ms Benazir Bhutto.

According to one of the leaked cables, the US ambassador wrote on August 23, 2008, during her meetings with Asif Zardari, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and General Kayani, immunity for General Pervez Musharraf was discussed besides some other issues. The US Ambassador met with Pakistan People’s Party leader Asif Zardari on August 23, 2008 with then prime minister Gilani on August 21 and with then army chief General Kayani on August 20, 2008.

“In separate meetings with Asif Zardari, PM Gilani and chief of army staff Kayani, the ambassador pressed for quick action on immunity for former Musharraf. Zardari and Gilani said flatly they were committed to providing immunity, but not until after the presidential election (now scheduled for September 6, 2008). Pushing immunity now, they believed, could jeopardize Asif Zardari’s candidacy. General Kayani expressed concern that if immunity becomes tied up with the ongoing debate over the judges’ future, it may never happen. Zardari plans to continue to slow roll action on the judges’ restoration but remains confident that Nawaz Sharif will not walk out of the coalition.

“Nawaz’s deadlines for action on the judges continue to pass unfulfilled; the next one is scheduled for August 27, 2008. The August 20 decision by Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) to back Zardari for president has strengthened Zardari’s hand against Nawaz Sharif. Nawaz is left with the option of walking out of the coalition, but having little prospect of forcing a new general election in the short term.

“Asif Zardari is walking tall these days, hopefully not too tall to forget his promise to General Kayani and to us on an immunity deal.”

According to the leaked diplomatic cables, “Asif Zardari told the US Ambassador that he was committed to indemnity for Pervez Musharraf.

The ambassador stressed that only the promise of indemnity had persuaded Musharraf to step down as president. We believed, as we had often said, that Musharraf should have a dignified retirement and not be hounded out of the country. Zardari (subsequently) cited a British anecdote about the Spanish empire and said: “Tell the most powerful man in the world that there is no way that I would go back on what I have said.” Zardari noted that he already had firmly committed to the US, the UK and chief of army staff Kayani that indemnity for Musharraf would be forthcoming.

As the ambassador urged him to do it quickly, Zardari said flatly that to do it before he was elected president would lose him votes, but he would pass both the legislation and a presidential pardon as soon as he was elected. Zardari then revealed that Musharraf had approached chief justice (Abdul Hameed) Dogar about issuing a restraining order against the impeachment motion, but Justice Dogar had refused. Zardari also alleged that Musharraf had planned to replace General Kayani as COAS if Dogar had blocked the impeachment. Zardari said he was trying to keep Nawaz in the coalition and was candid that he planned to tie up the judges’ issue for a long time. He added that parliament would debate the restoration of the judges; chief justice Dogar would then submit some rulings on the restoration of the judges; all this could take months. In the meantime, he was trying to persuade former Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry to become Governor of Balochistan.

Going by the same leaked cable which was written by the US ambassador, Zardari said he did not think Nawaz would leave the coalition, but he admitted the Pakistan Muslim League had become increasingly testy. He said that he had already agreed with Nawaz Sharif to curtail the powers of the president and then allow Nawaz to be eligible for a third term as prime minister; both measures would require constitutional amendments. Zardari said he also had leverage over Shahbaz Sharif, who through paperwork snafus, had been technically elected illegally for a third term as the chief minister.

This, too, would have to be resolved in parliament, Zardari said. “So I can give them something they want,” noted Asif Zardari, “that’s what politics is all about.”

According to the leaked cable, after an August 20 (2008) meeting with the visiting S/CT Coordinator Dell Dailey, General Kayani asked the ambassador to stay behind and discuss his concerns that Asif Zardari was delaying General Musharraf’s immunity bill. Kayani had heard the large meeting of coalition partners (chaired on August 19, 2008 by the newly returned Bilawal Bhutto) had discussed the judges primarily. Then they decided to take a 72-hour break to consult the party members.

General Kayani said he took Asif Zardari’s commitments to now ex-president Pervez Musharraf as the most important argument in persuading him to resign. Asif Zardari made very specific commitments to Kayani. Now, for Asif Zardari to delay makes him (Kayani) look bad within his own institution “and I have to take the Army along with me.” Kayani also noted that the delay does nothing for Zardari’s reputation for trustworthiness. If this issue gets conflated with the judges and with Zardari’s own desires to be president, it will become too complicated to pass, Kayani said.

The US ambassador met with Prime Minister Gilani and Interior Minister Rehman Malik for 30 minutes on August 21, 2008. Gilani said the PPP was going to provide immunity to Musharraf, but the timing was important.

They were afraid that putting forward immunity legislation would lose them votes for Asif Zardari‘s presidential campaign. The ambassador pressed on this issue, saying that Musharraf would never have agreed to resign without the promise of immunity. He assured the ambassador that he and the party did not want vengeance. Regarding immunity, Gilani said “many will say that we have done a deal with America, but I still understand that we have to do it.”

Six years later, Gilani revealed on Friday that an understanding had been reached with the establishment that Musharraf would be given an honourable exit if he resigned, instead of going through impeachment proceedings.

Zardari for complete justice to Altaf Hussain

KARACHI: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-Chairman and former president Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday demanded of British government to provide complete justice to Altaf Hussain.

In a statement issued on Tuesday over MQM chief detention in London, Zardari said that Altaf Hussain was a leader of one of the biggest political parties of the country and his arrest was a sensitive issue.

He said that Britain is known for upholding human rights and justice and he hoped that all procedures would be followed and MQM chief would be given complete justice. (PPI)

Sixth joint move of Nawaz and Zardari in six years

 

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and PPP Co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari are committed to moving forward jointly for the sixth major success of the democratic system in the last six years.
Six months ago, Nawaz Sharif hosted a farewell for the outgoing president Asif Ali Zardari at the Prime Minister’s House. Zardari made a brief speech in the presence of the then military leadership and assured Nawaz Sharif that he will not play any dirty political games against the PML-N government for the next five years. He fulfilled his promise. He was standing behind PM Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday in Islamabad to assure his full support for the democratic system against any non-democratic adventure. No doubt, the government sources tried to downplay the tense relations between the civilian and non-civilian forces but Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan admitted this tension publicly a few days ago and it is not a secret why Zardari met Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday.

It was Zardari who announced on December 27, 2013 in Larkana that he would not allow the “billa” to run away from Pakistan. Powerful supporters of Musharraf disliked this statement and they conveyed their displeasure to Zardari through different channels but he never changed his position. At that time, many PPP leaders were expecting that the PML-N government would not dare start a treason trial of former president Pervez Musharraf. When Musharraf’s trial started, these PPP leaders suggested to Zardari that he should stay away from it but Zardari told them that Musharraf’s trial was a must for the rule of law and stability of the system. He told his party leaders that he would not leave Nawaz Sharif alone and in these difficult times all the major political forces must stand behind the democratic government. The Nawaz Sharif government started facing problems from some seen and unseen hands when Musharraf was summoned by the special court in the treason case. Zardari was not ready to play the role of a silent spectator. He called Nawaz Sharif many times and assured him of his support. He came to Rawalpindi and attended the proceedings of a NAB court. He gave a message that a former civilian president was ready to appear in a court but the former military dictator refused to do so. Finally, Musharraf was forced to appear in the special court.

Nawaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari are old political rivals but they resolved their personal differences in the Karachi jail after the 1999 military coup. Zardari met Nawaz Sharif in Saudi Arabia in 2005 and then in England in 2006. It was Zardari who tried to remove misunderstandings between the late Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, which resulted in the signing of the Charter of Democracy in London. Nawaz and Zardari came closer after the assassination of Benazir Bhutto in 2007. Nawaz Sharif was not ready to contest the elections after the tragic death of Benazir Bhutto but Zardari convinced him to change his boycott decision. Nawaz Sharif could not contest the elections of 2008 but his party was able to make the government in the Punjab province while Zardari made governments at the Centre and in two provinces. It was their first success. Then Zardari forced Nawaz Sharif to join the federal government with the condition that his government will restore the judges deposed by the Musharraf regime. Both of them announced the impeachment of Musharraf in August 2008 and forced him to resign. It was their second joint success.

Zardari and Nawaz Sharif developed differences over the restoration of the deposed judges but things were settled after the restoration of judges in March 2009. They again collaborated with each other for the third time and made a huge breakthrough for democracy by introducing the 18th Amendment in the Constitution. Ishaq Dar and Raza Rabbani played a vital role in developing a consensus between the two parties. They not only removed the changes made by the Musharraf regime in the Constitution through the 17th Amendment, they also tried to minimise the threat of further military coups by incorporating some new clauses in the Article 6. According to a new clause (2A), introduced in Article 6, any act of treason shall not be validated by any court, including the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

Their fourth collaboration came out in the form of the Swat operation. The Punjab government helped the federal government and the KPK government in looking after the IDPs of Swat. Zardari was not happy with Nawaz Sharif when the latter exploited the Memogate scandal by filing a petition in the Supreme Court but Nawaz Sharif realised immediately that the memo was a trap. They resolved their differences once again.

They helped each other the fifth time when Dr. Qadri crippled Islamabad with a few thousand supporters in December 2012 and demanded to delay the elections. Nawaz Sharif invited important political leaders to Lahore and stood behind the Zardari regime. Now Zardari is standing behind Nawaz Sharif against some internal and external players putting pressure on the government to stop the trial of Musharraf.

Delegations of the PPP and the government discussed many issues on Wednesday afternoon but the real issue was discussed when Nawaz Sharif spent some time exclusively with Zardari. They agreed that there was a need for showing political unity for the rule of law without offending any particular institution. Close associates of both Nawaz Sharif and Zardari are concerned that some forces are trying to create misunderstandings between the army chief and the prime minister. They think that some important non-civilian functionaries are near retirement this year and these functionaries are playing a major role in putting pressure on the government in the name of Musharraf trial.

Their actual goal is to get some extension. Other sources say that the media is overestimating the situation. The prime minister is going to attend a passing out parade at the Pakistan Military Academy next week and all rumours will die soon. Nawaz Sharif and Zardari are committed to making history by not bowing down to those who want Musharraf to run away from Pakistan but certainly they have some differences. They differ with each other on some aspects of talks with the Taliban and the Protection of Pakistan Ordinance but both agreed to resolve the small differences as soon as possible for achieving some big political goals.

Nawaz, Zardari show their strength to ambitious people

 

DUBAI: It would be a little too early to say that battle lines have been drawn, but serious polarisation has begun to show between forces, both political and apolitical, on the issue of General Musharraf’s fate and the once blurred lines are now getting clearer by the day.
After meeting a number of well-informed people, both in khaki and civvies over the last week in Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore, it was apparent that the uncertainty below the surface is simmering, with everyone waiting for the other to blink.

Supporters and opponents of the political and security establishment are also coming out in the open, judging the fast pace of the developments behind the scene. The expected cooling down of the face-off led by the Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has not yet happened and despite PM Sharif’s return from China four days back, General Sharif has not called on him. Khawaja Asif’s attempts to talk to the khakis have reportedly not produced any result so far.

The pro-Musharraf elements have started rallying and raising the temperature, day by day, degree by degree. The MQM has been in the forefront to stir the pot. The Sindh Assembly scenes of tearing up papers, shouting slogans as if it was the Bhaati Gate of Lahore or Chowk Yadgar of Peshawar and the immediate calls for protests in Karachi to be followed by the rest of Pakistan, are some of these signs.

Although, Haider Abbas Rizvi of MQM, a serious leader of the party, explained to me that the issue was of their missing persons and extra-judicial killings, the timing seems more linked to the tensions created by the Musharraf trial. The missing persons have been missing for years and killings have been going on also for years, both by security people and by rival political groups.

Likewise, the PML-Q and Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain have come out in the open to support Musharraf. Dr Tahirul Qadri has announced his plans to fill the streets again in early May and Musharraf’s lawyers have been blatantly taunting the military to save their ex-chief.

The government camp has also rallied its supporters and the Nawaz-Zardari meeting on Tuesday was a major attempt to demonstrate the strength of the political side to the security establishment.

Statements that came after the meeting focused on protecting and preserving democracy, although no one has given any indication that the democratic set-up was or could be under any threat. So basically it was a show of muscle that politicians will again gang up if anyone had any overt or covert ambitions.

Nevertheless, some high profile political and non-political intermediaries have been working overtime for a rapprochement so that things do not spin out of control. One of these intermediaries, in a long talk, discussed the options the opposing sides have if things do not quickly settle down for better.

First, the military options; all concede that General Raheel Sharif has been embarrassed before his boys as he had taken upon himself to solve the matter. A military strategist and a political busybody told me identical stories separately in two cities. The script for Musharraf’s exit had been carefully written by trusted people, to the last dot. It was for his safe flight on a special private jet that had arrived at Islamabad. But hawks prevailed and the government side had second thoughts at the fag end of the deal, after Musharraf and his side had honoured their word — Musharraf had left the ICU, drove to the court, was indicted, challenged his indictment and said a few political words and the court, as expected, left it to the executive to let him go by removing his name from the ECL. That is where the government side went off the designated track.

The same night, almost in anger, Musharraf was switched from the AFIC to his home in Chak Shahzad, without even the knowledge of the civil authorities. He had been taken into protective custody by his boys.

This deadlock was not taken lightly by the Pindi boys. So what are General Raheel’s options, the informed intermediary went on. “Three options are obvious. One that he tells his commanders that he had failed and was quitting, so that someone else should pick up the thread. Obviously, if he resigns, one of those under him would have to be named as the new chief. A crisis would develop.

“The second option was that the boys be asked to suggest what the chief should do and Gen Raheel would then act accordingly. No one is ready to predict what the collective decision could be but those who know the boys don’t expect candies and cookies coming to Islamabad from Pindi.

“The third possibility was that the standoff may be allowed to continue but Musharraf could be whisked out in some manner that gives everyone a face-saving solution. He could take off from Islamabad for Karachi and then the plane develops ‘a fault’ or the weather ‘goes wrong’ or the control tower of Karachi develops a ‘malfunction’ and his flight lands in Dubai.”

Once he is out, the establishment then applies some sort of a go-slow on a few fronts where the political government needs them most. The talks with the Taliban get broken and when they retaliate, the security around key places is somehow found to be slack or something similar happens to bring the government under pressure.

The report by our Lahore correspondent Amir Mir that a warning has already been sent to the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani Group to pick up one side — TTP or the state of Pakistan — could mean strategists are already working overtime to fix potential loopholes.

The message would be: “Without taking over or disturbing the democratic set-up, the military has enough aces up its sleeve.”The options for politicians are tricky. If the government sticks to the hard line, does not reprimand big talkers like Khawaja Asif and Saad Rafique and the Musharraf trial gets underway on a fast track, as indicated by the special court, matters could get much worse.

Politicians are grouping together and will come closer if they feel the heat of a growing threat. But if a new army chief has to be appointed, an Oct 12, 1999-like situation may develop. Mian Nawaz Sharif and Asif Zardari must have discussed these options in their one-on-one whispers. But both Sindh and Punjab would be divided, the MQM going with Pindi as it needs badly needed oxygen in London and Punjab politicians behaving like they always do, go with the stronger party.

Balochistan and KP would not matter much but Imran Khan has said repeatedly that he would not support any out-of-the-constitutional box solution, yet Imran’s old and time-tested top leadership has always been cozy with the Pindi boys, barring a few oldies. So will Imran also face a split? May be, say insiders.

The media would be a big player but already splits are visible on the lines being seen in the political spectrum. The West and the US would be confused at best and indifferent at worst because they have their vested interests in coming weeks and months. They would like a strong government in Islamabad that can deliver.

When I had asked a top US diplomat in Islamabad last week whether he favoured a “Track-2” between Pindi and Islamabad, his response was a big laugh, with a crisp comment: “It is badly needed.” But he shrugged off a suggestion to play any role.

The bottomline is that someone, somewhere who can inject some sense, must intervene now and try to get utopian, frivolous issues off the plate, as both the military and the government have plenty of real issues to tackle.

“We don’t need another five-year fight to restore democracy again, and for whom, the politicians, who are themselves proving that the type of democracy they are practising cannot handle the dirty fish in their ranks, it cannot envisage real enemies and true friends and cannot time its moves properly. It has to offer real solutions to real problems,” said a Karachiite, known to be well-informed.

Nawaz, Zardari vow to counter illegal steps

 

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and former president Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday expressed their commitment to fight tooth and nail against all unconstitutional steps and support each other to strengthen democracy.
Both the leaders vowed to respect and strengthen all the institutions in order to address the multifarious challenges facing Pakistan for the better future of the nation.They joined hands and showed unity to combat any aggression against the democratic dispensation.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif accorded a warm welcome to former president Asif Ali Zardari at the Prime Minister House and the two leaders jointly reviewed the overall situation in the country and expressed satisfaction over the progress of political institutions.

Prior to the one-on-one meeting, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and former president Asif Ali Zardari held delegation-level talks. Minister for Finance Senator Ishaq Dar, Minister for Science and Technology Zahid Hamid and PPP leaders — opposition leader in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah, PPP parliamentary leader in the Senate Mian Raza Rabbani and Sindh minister Murad Ali Shah — were also present in the meeting.

During the meeting, both the leaders showed a strong resolve to work for the prosperity and economic development of Pakistan.The decision to respect the mandate of the people in different provinces was appreciated and continued cooperation between federation and the provinces was also lauded.

The prime minister apprised the ex-president and his team about his development vision and the strategy with reference to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and assured them that the projects in the province of Sindh had been given high priority.

A number of projects in the energy and infrastructure sectors in Sindh had been included for execution on a priority basis during the first three years.The prime minister urged that the implementation mechanism in Sindh should be upgraded. Issues regarding various legislations, including the Protection of Pakistan Ordinance, amendments in the Anti-Terrorism Act and the future legislative agenda, were also discussed.

It was agreed that all the political forces should develop a consensus on legislation for their effective implementation and Zahid Hamid was asked by the prime minister to carry out another consultative process with all political parties to address their reservations, if any.

They decided that the people of Pakistan had huge expectations from their elected representatives and it was now imperative that the elected representatives lived up to their expectations with priority giving to the needs of the common man which included employment, health, education and shelter.

The prime minister expressed his desire to work with all political forces for achieving these objectives.The present law and order situation in the country, with particular reference to ongoing Karachi operation, was also discussed.

According to reports, the two leaders said they were committed to follow the Charter of Democracy (CoD) according to its true spirit and the sacrifices of Benazir Bhutto for democracy in the country would not be allowed to go to waste.

For his part, Mr Zardari assured that the PPP would extend full support to the PML-N government in the interest of the country.Sources said during the talks, which were held in a very cordial atmosphere, former President Zardari asked Nawaz Sharif to take a principled stand on issues, a reference to the trial of Pervez Musharraf, saying it was an opportune time for the democratic institutions to assert their supremacy. He assured that the PPP would support the government within and out of parliament.

They said that former president Musharraf’s case was in the court and whatever its verdict it would be accepted by them.The sources added that Sindh Minister Murad Ali Shah referred to financial difficulties being faced by the provincial government at which the finance minister assured that the dues of the provincial government would be cleared as soon as possible.

Zardari thanked the prime minister for his assistance to the Thar drought affected people.Both sides agreed to continue the operation in Karachi to cleanse the megacity of all sorts of crimes.

Later, the prime minister hosted a sumptuous lunch for former president Zardari and his team members. Zardari also extended an invitation to Nawaz Sharif for a dinner at Bilawal House, Karachi.

Earlier, the former president arrived at the Noor Khan Airbase via a special aircraft and then flew to the Prime Minister House on a helicopter where Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif accorded him a very warm welcome.

Talking to newsmen outside the Prime Minister House after the meeting, Parliamentary leader of the PPP Parliamentarians Senator Raza Rabbani said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had assured a review of the Pakistan Protection Ordinance (PPO) and directed Zahid Hamid to consult the opposition. “The reservations of the PPP and other opposition parties were conveyed to Prime Minister Nazwaz Sharif,” he said.

He said all the democratic forces would have to move forward together. “If a bad time arises, they will support the democratic forces,” he said.

When asked by a reporter if the meeting discussed a ‘Billa,’ Rabbani replied that all matters, including Musharraf, were discussed and the prime minister said the tension with the Pakistan Army was not that serious an issue.

Rabbani further told the reporters that talks with the Taliban, the problems of Sindh, provincial sovereignty, the NFC award and the Karachi operation were also discussed.To a question about government-Taliban talks, Senator Raza Rabbani said the PPP had no difference of opinion but being an opposition party they would continue to identify loopholes.

Nawaz, Zardari to meet today

ISLAMABAD: The scheduled meeting between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Co-Chairman Asif Zardari here on Wednesday has a conspicuous significance in the backdrop of developments taking place on the horizon of national politics and events requiring keen attention, including the ties between the civil and military leadership.

The composition of the delegations of the two sides indicates that financial issues and constitutional affairs would be on top of the list in the course of deliberations. Prime Minister Nawaz will be assisted by Federal Minister for Finance Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar and Science and Technology Minister Zahid Hamid while Asif Zardari will have with him Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Ahmad Shah, PPP Parliamentary Leader in the Senate Mian Raza Rabbani and Sindh Minister for Finance Syed Murad Ali Shah. The meeting will be held in the Prime Minister's House on Wednesday afternoon and will be followed by lunch. Nawaz and Asif will also have one-on-one meeting after the delegation level talks. It would be the first meeting between the two leaders since the incumbent government assumed office last year.

High-level sources in the Prime Minister's House told The News that the request for the meeting came from former president Zardari and it was conveyed to the prime minister late last month. Interestingly, those were the days when the prime minister visited the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Imran Khan at his Banni Gala house in the suburbs of the federal capital. It would be pertinent to mention here that Asif Zardari publicly advised Nawaz Sharif not to let former president Pervez Musharraf off the hook. He used derogatory language about Musharraf when he was offering a piece of advice to the government. It is almost certain that the two will discuss the fate of the case of former military ruler, security affairs and the ongoing process of dialogue with the Taliban. The PPP was on board with regard to the decision for undertaking talks with the Taliban. The PPP strongly supported the decision taken on September 9th in the all-party conference (APC) held in Islamabad last year where the government was mandated to have talks with the Taliban. Other political issues will also come up for discussion, the sources said.

The sources reminded that the government was pursuing the Pakistan Protection Ordinance (PPO) with all seriousness. The National Assembly has passed it and it may hardly sail through the Senate where the PPP is the largest party and commands the opposition in that house.

Inclusion of Federal Minister Zahid Hamid, who is piloting the legislation in the two houses of parliament, in the prime minister's delegation and leaders of the opposition in the two houses of parliament with visiting former president indicates that adoption of PPO would be yet another subject of discussion.

Senator Mian Raza Rabbani has already hinted at reconciling with the PPO provided the government agrees to certain amendments in the piece of legislation. Syed Khursheed Ahmad Shah has also been following a soft path regarding the legislation in question, the sources said.

It is understood that other opposition parties, especially the MQM, would be uncomfortable with an agreement between the two parties on the PPO since it has been opposing it tooth and nail. The MQM is alleging that its workers are being nabbed under the PPO which is already enforced as a presidential ordinance. The meeting will also deliberate on fiscal issues as the budget season is approaching and the Sindh government has been asking the federal government for generous fiscal assistance for its development projects.

The sources said that Wednesday's meeting would be monitored by the TIP since it has been alleging throughout that Nawaz and Zardari are one and the same. They are running their politics under clandestine compromises. The meeting will have a considerable impact on national politics as the prime minister is mulling to have similar meetings with some other political leaders.

Nawaz, Zardari to meet today

 

ISLAMABAD: The scheduled meeting between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-Chairman Asif Zardari here on Wednesday has a conspicuous significance in the backdrop of developments taking place on the horizon of national politics and events requiring keen attention, including the ties between the civil and military leadership.
The composition of the delegations of the two sides indicates that financial issues and constitutional affairs would be on top of the list in the course of deliberations. Prime Minister Nawaz will be assisted by Federal Minister for Finance Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar and Science and Technology Minister Zahid Hamid while Asif Zardari will have with him Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Ahmad Shah, PPP Parliamentary Leader in the Senate Mian Raza Rabbani and Sindh Minister for Finance Syed Murad Ali Shah. The meeting will be held in the Prime Minister’s House on Wednesday afternoon and will be followed by lunch. Nawaz and Asif will also have one-on-one meeting after the delegation level talks. It would be the first meeting between the two leaders since the incumbent government assumed office last year.

High-level sources in the Prime Minister’s House told The News that the request for the meeting came from former president Zardari and it was conveyed to the prime minister late last month. Interestingly, those were the days when the prime minister visited the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Imran Khan at his Banni Gala house in the suburbs of the federal capital. It would be pertinent to mention here that Asif Zardari publicly advised Nawaz Sharif not to let former president Pervez Musharraf off the hook. He used derogatory language about Musharraf when he was offering a piece of advice to the government. It is almost certain that the two will discuss the fate of the case of former military ruler, security affairs and the ongoing process of dialogue with the Taliban. The PPP was on board with regard to the decision for undertaking talks with the Taliban. The PPP strongly supported the decision taken on September 9th in the all-party conference (APC) held in Islamabad last year where the government was mandated to have talks with the Taliban. Other political issues will also come up for discussion, the sources said.

The sources reminded that the government was pursuing the Pakistan Protection Ordinance (PPO) with all seriousness. The National Assembly has passed it and it may hardly sail through the Senate where the PPP is the largest party and commands the opposition in that house.

Inclusion of Federal Minister Zahid Hamid, who is piloting the legislation in the two houses of parliament, in the prime minister’s delegation and leaders of the opposition in the two houses of parliament with visiting former president indicates that adoption of PPO would be yet another subject of discussion.

Senator Mian Raza Rabbani has already hinted at reconciling with the PPO provided the government agrees to certain amendments in the piece of legislation. Syed Khursheed Ahmad Shah has also been following a soft path regarding the legislation in question, the sources said.

It is understood that other opposition parties, especially the MQM, would be uncomfortable with an agreement between the two parties on the PPO since it has been opposing it tooth and nail. The MQM is alleging that its workers are being nabbed under the PPO which is already enforced as a presidential ordinance. The meeting will also deliberate on fiscal issues as the budget season is approaching and the Sindh government has been asking the federal government for generous fiscal assistance for its development projects.

The sources said that Wednesday’s meeting would be monitored by the TIP since it has been alleging throughout that Nawaz and Zardari are one and the same. They are running their politics under clandestine compromises. The meeting will have a considerable impact on national politics as the prime minister is mulling to have similar meetings with some other political leaders.

Zardari, Bilawal sing different tunes

ISLAMABAD: The politically experienced papa and novice son sang different tunes about the Nawaz Sharif government on the death anniversary of the heroic founder of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Zulfikar Ali Bhutto (ZAB), which may be confusing its rank and file.

Asif Ali Zardari was soft, accommodating and cooperative and wanted to see the government living its full five-year term till 2018. He did not find fault with any of its policy. During his opposition days, Nawaz Sharif repeatedly provided solid props to Zardari to have his full tenure in government.

Aggressive Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was worried watching “the Punjab being held hostage by terrorists,” and deplored its privatisation policy, believing that the nation’s house was being auctioned without taking it into confidence. “If the government cannot run the country, does this mean we should sell it?”

However, Zardari approved the son’s attack saying that he was free to formulate the PPP policies but stated that Bilawal too would never allow derailing of democracy. Although he calls the tune in the PPP, he declared the young boy’s defiant line as something independent.

Conversely, in the past Nawaz Sharif, at times, publicly disapproved the frequent harsh attack of his brother Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Zardari when the latter was president and the PML-N was in opposition. Bilawal is indeed convinced in the heart of hearts that Taliban must be dealt with severely and the government must abandon the peace talks with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). But he doesn’t realise that as the dialogue process is in full swing, his harangue is highly damaging the prospects of the release of the sons each one of his former prime minister and slain Punjab governor. He has the right to criticise the government the way he likes, but may have mercy on the kidnapped boys for a while. He has ample time at his disposal to project his policy vis-à-vis Taliban.

However, the PPP patron-in-chief forgets that it was the very government of his own party during whose rule talks were held with different militant groups including those in Swat. Had he presented the pearls of wisdom the way he has been doing for some time now, his government might have come out with somewhat better performance, and the PPP would have been saved from what it faced in the last general elections.

“Sighted persons are asking the blind to lead them in the name of talks; our party would not bow down to savages or tolerate their dictatorship,” he said at the death anniversary congregation. “The Taliban are deceiving everyone in the name of talks. Terrorists want to take away our identity and existence. People are asking for a way out from the blind alley. What did we do that the history is not willing to forgive us?”

Unfortunately, Bilawal talked about the $1.5 billion Saudi grant in an immature manner, but by doing so, he followed his party line that has often been propounded by leader of opposition Khursheed Shah despite explanations given by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar. Friends, which come to Pakistan’s rescue at difficult times, need to be treated differently rather than being taunted.

Zardari stated that the PPP did not want any damage to democracy as some forces have remained keen to ensure a clash among politicians. The practice of making attempts to use others through deception has always been employed, but he said he never got infuriated whenever anyone tried to provoke him.

About the Taliban, he said both talks and war would continue simultaneously. “But a time will come when we will have to go for an all-out war.”

Zardari wants BB’s jewelry seized in Switzerland back

ISLAMABAD: Former president Asif Ali Zardari wants jewelry of his late wife Benazir Bhutto seized by Swiss authorities back.

The PPP leader has applied for the return of the jewelry worth over 300,000 dollars through an offshore company.

The government of Pakistan has been informed by its lawyer in Switzerland about the latest move by Zardari.

The ornaments were seized in 1997 during the course of investigation of SGS and Cotecna scandal. The case files were closed after promulgation of National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) in 2008 but the fate of the jewelry was yet to be decided.

The lawyer has sought guidance of the government so that he could submit reply with the Swiss attorney who sought Islamabad’s response within ten days

Barrister Munawar Akhtar, a lawyer from a Pakistani law firm, told Geo News that Pakistan government should oppose this application by the former president within 48 hours as it could be deprived from the ornaments this time around.

When contacted Federal Law Secretary Raza Khan told Geo News that he had no information about the letter since he was on a foreign tour.

Bilawal visits Thar but where is Mr Asif Ali Zardari?

Bilawal visits Tharparker but where is PPP’s top leader and former President Asif Ali Zardari when dozens of innocent children have died because of lack of food and medical care caused by the callous indifference of his party’s government in the province?

Apparently the former president has vanished during these testing times for the people of Thar as not even a single statement has been issued by Asif Ali Zardari, who is said to be in Dubai which is just over an hour long flight from Karachi.

Silence on part of the PPP’s topmost leader on this crisis situation of national importance and global embarrassment is badly felt by all and sundry when already Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has toured the affected areas and the Supreme Court had taken suo moto notice of the situation.

Neither the PPP media cell nor Zardari spokesperson of any of his partymen has even bothered to issue a statement on his behalf. Such press statements on different issues on Asif Ali Zardari’s behalf has been issued even in the recent past but on Thar’s killing of dozens of children not a word of sympathy or condemnation has been issued by the former president.

The last press statement of Zardari was dated March 8. Issued on the eve of international women’s day, former President Zardari had called upon the government to remove the impediments in the way of smooth functioning of the National Commission on the Status of Women to enable it function freely and effectively for the purposes for which it was set up to protect the social, economic, political and legal rights of women.

On March 5 the former president paid rich tributes to young lawyer Fizza Malik who was martyred by the terrorists in an attack in Islamabad court.On these dates March 5 and March 8 the issue of Thar had already come into focus of the media but still it did not catch the eyes of Zardari, who has been often using Sindh card during his party’s rule at the centre.

The reported death of over hundred children in Thar because of non-provision of food by the PPP government in Sindh, has jolted the whole of Pakistan. As soon the media focused on this crisis, which speaks volumes of the incompetence and apathy of the provincial government, the prime minister, the chief justice of Pakistan, the chief justice of Sindh High Court and others immediately took serious notice of this act of human catastrophe.

The media pressure made the otherwise “inactive” and “sleeping” Chief Minister Sindh Qaim Ali Shah to visit the area. Even Bilawal Zardari Bhutto reached Thar on Monday when the prime minister was to tour the area. However, still Asif Ali Zardari remains off the scene. Probably Mr Zardari has adopted the strategy to make his son active.

Although apparently Syed Qaim Ali Shah rules the province, it is generally believed and said that the actual ruler of the province is Asif Ali Zardari.Zardari’s choice men are occupying all the key positions in the province whether those occupied by the politicians or by the serving or retried bureaucrats.