Who can be the possible abettors in Musharraf’s crime?

 

ISLAMABAD: Four retired federal secretaries and many others can be involved in the Musharraf high treason case by the defence team for implementing the dictator’s November 3, 2007 unconstitutional order and are therefore vulnerable.
The FIA inquiry report into the matter did not find any abettor but talked of “implementers”.As Musharraf’s trial finally takes off after his indictment, which removed many hurdles and hiccups, Musharraf’s defence team will now focus on who did what on November 3, 2007 to complicate the case.

According to sources, though the FIA inquiry report into General Pervez Musharraf’s case under Article 6 of the Constitution did not find any abettor or corroborator on the civilian side, it did say that the then secretary to the president, cabinet secretary, interior secretary, law secretary and others were among the implementers of the unconstitutional order.

Regarding the military side, the FIA team investigating the matter was never allowed to enter the GHQ. The report established one fact that nothing was found from the Presidency, the Prime Minister’s Office, cabinet secretariat, the law ministry and other government offices to establish that they were involved in the preparation of the November 3 order, which was the basis for the abrogation of the Constitution and the unconstitutional and illegal removal of dozens of judges.

On the civilian side, all government officials interviewed as yet by the FIA team have revealed that they were not involved in the preparation of the order but had received it for implementation. The unconstitutional PCO was notified by the secretary cabinet, who was conveyed the said order through the-then secretary to the prime minister.

The-then secretary law and the-then interior secretary got the PCO implemented through the official machinery. Musharraf’s defence team is expected to get the “implementers” involved. However, it is yet to be seen if the VVIP accused would allow his legal team to get the record of the GHQ scanned with the hope that it might help to save his skin.

In his unconstitutional Proclamation of Emergency Order, Musharraf had stated that the situation had been reviewed in meetings with the prime minister, governors of all the four provinces, and with chairman joint chiefs of staff committee, chiefs of the armed forces, vice chief of the army staff and corps commanders of the Pakistan Army, and emergency was proclaimed in pursuance of the deliberations and decisions of the said meetings.....”

Musharraf’s claim about his “consultation” with the civilian government has not been proved from any official record with the civilians. The FIA team wanted to see who in the GHQ and from amongst the-then military commanders had been consulted in preparation of the said order but it could not be done.

The Supreme Court, in its July 31, 2009 judgment, had found Musharraf making a wrong statement in his Proclamation of Emergency Order. The SC had ruled, “The statement made in Proclamation of Emergency that the situation had been reviewed in meetings with the prime minister, governors of all the four provinces, and with chairman, joint chiefs of staff committee, chiefs of the armed forces, vice chief of army staff and corps commanders of the Pakistan Army, and emergency was proclaimed in pursuance of the deliberations and decisions of the said meetings, was incorrect. The Proclamation of Emergency emanated from his person, which was apparent from the words ‘I, General Pervez Musharraf......’ used in it.”

According to the SC ruling, the actions of General Parvez Musharraf dated November 3, 2007 were the result of his apprehensions regarding the decision of Wajihuddin Ahmed’s case and his resultant disqualification to contest the election of president. Therefore, it could not be said that the said actions were taken for the welfare of the people. Clearly, the same were taken by him in his own interest and for illegal and unlawful personal gain of manoeuvring another term in office of president, therefore, the same were mala fide as well.

Govt ready to bring Musharraf’s mother back: NA told

 

ISLAMABAD: All political parties in the National Assembly, except the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, on Monday backed the special court for indicting the former dictator General (retd) Pervez Musharraf in the high treason case and rejecting his plea to go abroad for treatment. They described it as a golden day in the democratic history of the country and proof of the supremacy of law.
Seasoned parliamentarian Mehmood Khan Achackzai was more vocal in hailing the decision of the special court saying symbolic punishment would suffice even if Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif personally forgives him. “If anyone wants to pardon him, then punishment should come first,” he said while speaking on a point of order.

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif assured the National Assembly that the government would fully implement the decision of the judiciary in this regard.But, at the same time, he offered that the government was ready to bring Pervez Musharraf’s ailing mother to Pakistan from the UAE. “We can bring Musharraf’s mother back to Pakistan by an air ambulance. We will have to pay a heavy price if we start showing leniency to criminals,” he said.

Khawaja Asif said this was a defining moment in the history of the country as the judiciary had given a historic decision by charging a person who had abrogated the Constitution. “It has been proved that there will only be the supremacy of law in the country,” he said and added that after today’s decision, they had achieved another milestone in democracy.

The defence minister was of the opinion that those who voted in favour of the emergency rule would also be taken to task. “The judiciary has turned our dream into a reality on the rule of law,” he added.

He said that there was no pressure on the government in this matter.He said Pervez Musharraf dragged the country into a war that cost the lives of 50,000 Pakistanis. He also handed over his countrymen to the United States and surrendered the sovereignty of the country. “Now we have taken initiatives to end that war, which is costing us billions of dollars every year.”

The minister claimed the government and the military were on the same page in respect of all national issues and all institutions would forge ahead in unison for progress and peace in the country.

He endorsed Mahmood Khan Achakzai’s view that if the Constitution was abrogated again, the country would suffer an irreparable loss.Khawaja Asif said equality before the law was the basic ingredient of the rule of law and nobody could be treated discriminately before the law.

He said it was unfortunate that even those people managed to get elected to parliament who had supported the dictators. “But, today there is an independent judiciary in the country, peaceful transfer of power from one government to the other has taken place and the provinces have been given autonomy through the 18th Amendment.”

He said over the past decade, the thinking of the army had also changed and it had not intervened in politics.Khawaja Asif said today citizens of the country were mature and they would not tolerate any hindrance in the path of democracy and those who had abrogated the Constitution would be held accountable.

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Pervez Rashid said the government had followed the path of supremacy of the Constitution, democracy, free media and an independent judiciary. He said the government was ready to provide all facilities for the treatment of Pervez Musharraf’s mother and was ready to provide an air ambulance to bring her to Pakistan for treatment.

He said the chief minister Punjab had constituted a committee headed by Inspector General Police, Punjab, to investigate the issue of threat to chairman Pakistan People’s Party, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

About the attack on journalist Raza Roomi in Lahore, the minister said that the government was taking all-out measures for the protection of journalists and those involved in this attack will not be spared at any cost.

Earlier, speaking on the issue, seasoned parliamentarian Mehmood Khan Achakzai said that the decision of the court should be backed by parliament and even if the prime minister wanted to pardon anyone, then the punishment should come first. “The time has come that every organ of the state must submit before parliament.”

He said the Pakistan Army was our own army and everyone loved it. He urged some TV anchors to avoid making a joke of parliament and politicians.Later, PPP parliamentarian Abdul Sattar Bachani proposed that the there should be an amendment in the Constitution according to which anyone who supports a dictator should be disqualified forever.

Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafiq said it was a golden day in the history of Pakistan. He accused some anchors and parties of supporting Musharraf who had thrown out an elected government, dissolved parliament, subverted the Constitution twice, assassinated Bugti and pushed the country into war.

He said Turkey had experienced such a day when the generals were made accountable and now Pakistan had adopted the same path.Speaking on the issue, MQM legislator Asif Hussaini said the trial should be started from 1971 and all those who had subverted the Constitution should also be tried for treason.Parliamentary Leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami Shaibzada Tariqullah also welcomed Musharraf’s indictment in the treason case.

Musharraf indicted, pleads not guilty

 

ISLAMABAD: The Special Court on Monday indicted the former military dictator, General Pervez Musharraf, on five counts of high treason, a charge that potentially carries death penalty. The development marks the first time that an acting or former army chief has been indicted for treason.
Paramilitary Rangers and the police took up positions inside the courtroom to ensure foolproof security for the judges and the accused.A three-member bench of the court, led by Justice Faisal Arab, resumed the hearing of the high treason case. The two other judges were Justice Tahira Safdar and Justice Yawar Ali.

The court summoned Musharraf to the rostrum where Justice Tahira Safdar read out the charge-sheet.The first charge was that Musharraf abrogated the Constitution by slapping emergency on November, 3, 2007 and trampled fundamental human rights. The accused denied the charge and pleaded not guilty.

Justice Tahira Safdar read out the second charge: “You introduced illegal amendments to the Constitution between November 20, 2007 and December 14, 2007 which was an unconstitutional act.” Musharraf denied the charge, standing straight as a ramrod.

The third charge was that he issued the PCO illegally, forced the superior court judges to take oath under it and removed those who did not take oath. The accused refused to accept the charge.

The fourth charge was that the accused removed those judges who did not take oath under the PCO and put them under house arrest. The fifth charge related to the imposition of the November 3, 2007 emergency and holding the Constitution in abeyance.

Musharraf repeated his remarks: “I plead not guilty.” After having been charge-sheeted, Musharraf said he wanted to explain who was a traitor. Justice Faisal Arab asked him who was a traitor in his eyes.

“I honour this court and the prosecution. I strongly believe in the law; I don’t have ego problems. I have appeared in the court 16 times this year in Karachi, Islamabad and Rawalpindi,” said the 70-year-old former president.

“I am being called a traitor. I have been chief of army staff for nine years and I have served this army for 45 years. I have fought two wars. Is that ‘treason’?“I am not a traitor. For me traitors are those who loot public money and empty the treasury,” he added, in a veiled reference to civilian politicians long accused of feathering their own nests while in power.

The former president said in his view a traitor sells the secrets of his country, puts the country’s defence at stake and lays down arms before the enemy.“I took no such step and I defended the country in the three different wars of 1965, 1971 and Kargil. I never took bribes nor did anyone dare to offer bribes to me. Seventeen billion dollars were left in the national exchequer when I left the government but I don’t know how this amount plunged to three or four billion dollars.

“During my stint, foreign loans stood at 37 billion dollars but now they have swollen to above 70 billion dollars. The national kitty was plundered badly.“I put the country on the 70 billion dollars. The national kitty was plundered badly.”

“I put the country on the path of progress after 1999 when the country was being called a failed and a defaulted state. Is this the way to reward someone for being loyal to the country and for loving the country?”

He further said: “I gave all to the country and took nothing. I contained inflation. The national economy was fortified. During my tenure the rate of development remained higher in Balochistan than in other provinces.”

Akram Sheikh said: “I pray for the recovery of Pervez Musharraf’ health. No one has called him a traitor nor has anyone leveled charges of corruption or looting of national exchequer against him. The case of abrogation of the Constitution stands against him. However, it is up to Pervez Musharraf to provide evidence against the persons who have been named by him with reference to November 3, 2007 step. We will bring them on record and include them in investigation if evidences are provided, but as per official documents no evidence has been found against anyone except Pervez Musharraf. There is only one point before the court and that is the abrogation of the Constitution.”

Opposing the petition filed by Musharraf seeking his removal form the ECL, Akram Sheikh said the SC had ruled in its previous decision that they will have to approach the court under whose orders his name had been placed on the ECL. This court is not entitled to delete the name of Musharraf from the ECL; therefore, this petition be struck down.”

Justice Faisal Arab inquired if the federal government had no authority to put Musharraf’s name off the ECL. Akram Sheikh replied that he will have to give an application directly to the government or the Ministry of Interior.

Sheikh said Musharraf’s main defence rested on the claim that he acted on the advice of the then Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and the cabinet to suspend the Constitution.

“He has taken the defence that he did not take these steps independently. On this I have submitted before the court that it is now for him to prove that he has done this on the advice of the prime minister and the cabinet,” ,” Sheikh added.

After the proceedings were over, Sheikh who has often been part of testy exchanges between the prosecution and defense, walked up to Musharraf, greeted him warmly and the two chatted briefly as dozens of security personnel, lawyers and journalists looked on.

Farogh Nasim said the courts had disposed of the previous matter pertaining to the ECL and now the SC wields power to give orders for the removal of his client’s name from the ECL.

Barrister Farogh Naseem requested the court to let Musharraf go to the US for treatment. He also requested the court to allow the accused to visit his ailing mother abroad.

“His mother is dying, for God´s sake,” said Naseem. “He will come back. He wants to face the trial. He wants his name to be cleared.”

Meanwhile, Musharraf’s legal team has decided to boycott the court proceedings and refused to recognise the court arguing that the court stood dissolved after Justice Faisal Arab’s refusal to further hear the case during the previous hearing.

The legal counsel said Justice Faisal Arab had decided to dissociate himself from the hearing but later in a written order he decided not to disassociate himself from the bench. They said Justice Faisal Arab’s remarks against Anwar Mansoor were unnecessary and against the facts.

Musharraf’s lawyer Ahmad Raza Kasuri told the media that defence lawyers would not appear in court as the case was of political nature.

The court exempted Musharraf from personal appearance, saying that it could not restrict one’s free movement until the accused was arrested. Later, the court adjourned the hearing till April 4.

Barrister Farogh Naseem submitted his power of attorney to represent Musharraf in the case.Tight security: Three different routes were set up by the capital police before Musharraf’s departure from the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology (AFIC).

A police squad and commandos had reached the AFIC early in the morning. Three thousand police and Rangers personnel were deployed on the routes. The police squad was headed by Superintendent Police Islamabad Mustanser Feroz.

Entry to Red Zone of the federal capital was closed from all directions. However, reports said the judges who were coming to the Special Court reached the court 10-15 minutes late due to restrictions. On receipt of information, senior officials of Islamabad police removed the hurdles.

Meanwhile, about one dozen supporters of the former president who managed to reach near the venue of the hearing raised slogans in support of their leader and against the government. Police and rangers however persuaded them to leave the area.

Tom Cruise to return in ‘Top Gun’ sequel?

 

Tom Cruise will reportedly star in the sequel to the hit movie 'Top Gun' in which he had played the lead.

Hollywood star Tom Cruise will reportedly star in the sequel to the hit movie ‘Top Gun’ in which he had played the lead.

The producer of the original film, Jerry Bruckheimer has said that he is working on a sequel to the classic 1986 fighter pilot movie and Cruise, 51, will reprise his role as Maverick, reported Huffington Post.

“We’ve been trying to get that movie made for 30 years, and I think we’re getting closer and closer. Don Simpson and I tried to develop something, we didn’t succeed. Tom Cruise took over, and he tried to develop something, and he didn’t succeed. Now we’re back at it,” Jerry said.

Jerry, 70, also said that it was the director of the original movie, Tony Scott, who came up with the storyline of the sequel before he passed away in 2012.

“The concept is, basically, are the pilots obsolete because of drones. Cruise is going to show them that they’re not obsolete. They’re here to stay,” he added.

Amitabh Bachchan, Katrina Kaif invited for cultural conference in Lahore

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Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan and actress Katrina Kaif have been invited for the annual Literary and Cultural Conference to be held in Lahore, organisers said.

According to a report in Dawn newspaper, Amitabh Bachchan, 71, and Katrina Kaif are among the many foreign dignitaries, who may attend the event organised by the Lahore Arts Council.

The organisers are hopeful that both Bachchan and Kaif will attend the proceedings in Lahore.

“We have sent invitations to 12 personalities from India, mostly writers, including two prominent faces from Bollywood-Amitabh Bachchan and Katrina Kaif. Hopefully they will attend the conference,” Zulfiqar Ali Zulfi, Programmes Deputy Director, said.

Other personalities who have been sent invitations include Gulzar, Javed Akhtar, Shabana Azmi and Shamim Hanfi.

This year, the conference is themed around nostalgia, and the title is ‘Beetay Huway Din Yaad Atay Hain’.

Renowned people from all fields have been invited to speak at the conference, which will be held from May 24-26 at the Alhamra Art Centre, The Mall.

Abhishek Sinha wins ‘Boogie Woogie’

 

 

Amitabh Bachchan gave away the trophy to Abhishek Sinha.

Eleven-year-old Abhishek Sinha won the dance reality show ‘Boogie Woogie’ here today.

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan, who had come to promote his upcoming film ‘Bhootnath Returns’ gave away the trophy to Abhishek Sinha.

Abhishek, who is from Jamshedpur, was awarded with the prize money of Rs 10 lakh and in addition to this he got Rs one lakh sponsored by Horlicks.

The show had started in early December last year with 16 children from across the country. Apart from Abhishek, Aryan Patra, Sachin Sharma, Priyanka Tapaddar and Mohd Mumtaz were the finalists.

The top five contestants paid a tribute to Big B by performing a medley of his hit songs. Later, even Bachchan joined them on stage and performed his signature steps.

Actors Varun Dhawan, Ileana D’Cruz, Nargis Fakhri, Jaccky Bhagnani, Shreyas Talpade, along with Anu Malik, too came for the finale.

Aishwarya Rai, Big B, Kajol at Rajinikanth’s ‘Kochadiiyaan’ first look launch

Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan launched the first look of Tamil superstar and friend Rajinikanth’s much awaited film ‘Kochadaiiyaan’ in Mumbai on Sunday (March 30).

In Pics: Aishwarya Rai, Amitabh Bachchan launch Rajinikanth’s ‘Kochadaiiyaan’

Amitabh Bachchan was joined by his wife Jaya Bachchan and daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. Aishwarya, who has worked with Rajinikanth in blockbuster ‘Robot’, was also seen with her mother Brinda Rai at the event. However, film’s lead actress Deepika Padukone did a no show at the event.

Big B has earlier tweeted, “Launching first look of dear family friend, colleague and admirer of Rajnikanth, tonight, of his film Kochdiiyaan’.

Bollywood actress Kajol, actors Anupam Kher and Kunnal Roy Kapur along with filmmaker Subhash Ghai were among the attendees.

Earlier, Shah Rukh Khan had launched the music for the film in Chennai, where he was accompanied by the film’s lead actress Deepika Padukone and other celebs.

The film’s director and Rajinikanth’s daughter Soundarya initially wanted Amitabh Bachchan to the launch the film’s music however due to other commitments Big B could not make it.

  

Meanwhile, Amitabh Bachchan is busy promoting his upcoming film ‘Bhoothnath Returns’ and is also shooting for the television serial.

Romee Khan to perform in India

HOUSTON: Texan of Pakistani dissent and local musical talent Romee Khan will be performing at numbers of music concerts in India.

The first concert is planned to be on 7th of June in Ahmaabad after which several cities will host Romee Khan for his magical performance.

Romee Khan started his music career at a young age of nine years.

His music album recently released with a song "Tou yeh janey na" has attained special fame after which the famous music promoter Kirishina Singh contacted him and invited him to perform in India.

They signed contract for the series of performance in India. Talking to Jang/ Geo representative, Romee Khan expressed his gratitude for the honor bestowed in him and the opportunity to perform in front of Indian audience.

He said that you can see the modernism and eastern color very dominant in his music and this is why his music is getting so popular in youth. He said that his father Mr. Sharif Uddin and his mother will go along with him to India for his first concert in Ahmadabad.

Karzai phones Kerry, levels allegations against Pakistan

KABUL: In a phone call with US Secretary of State John Kerry, Hamid Karzai accused Pakistan of being behind a recent series of attacks and of blocking his government from striking a peace deal with the Taliban, the Afghan president's office said Sunday.

Karzai routinely makes such accusations against Islamabad, but his tone in recent days has been particularly pointed and direct. They come after three attacks in five days in the capital Kabul, the latest coming on Saturday when assailants fired machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades at the country's electoral commission ahead of next week's general election.

Karzai leveled allegation that the attacks were complex in nature and stage-managed by "foreign intelligence agencies," a reference to Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence.

US officials confirmed the phone call took place but declined to comment on the conversation.

 

Test accurately rules out heart attacks in the ER

 

WASHINGTON: A simple test appears very good at ruling out heart attacks in people who go to emergency rooms with chest pain, a big public health issue and a huge worry for patients.

A large study in Sweden found that the blood test plus the usual electrocardiogram of the heartbeat were 99 percent accurate at showing which patients could safely be sent home rather than be admitted for observation and more diagnostics.

Of nearly 9,000 patients judged low risk by the blood test and with normal electrocardiograms, only 15 went on to suffer a heart attack in the next month, and not a single one died.

"We believe that with this strategy, 20 to 25 percent of admissions to hospitals for chest pain may be avoided," said Dr. Nadia Bandstein of the Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm.

She helped lead the study, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology and presented Sunday at the cardiology college's annual conference in Washington.

Chest pain sends more than 15 million people to emergency rooms in the United States and Europe each year, and it usually turns out to be due to anxiety, indigestion or other less-serious things than a heart attack. Yet doctors don't want to miss one - about 2 percent of patients having heart attacks are mistakenly sent home.

People may feel reassured by being admitted to a hospital so doctors can keep an eye on them, but that raises the risk of picking up an infection and having expensive care they'll have to pay a share of, plus unnecessary tests.

The study included nearly 15,000 people who went to the Karolinska University hospital with chest pains over two years. About 8,900 had low scores on a faster, more sensitive blood test for troponin, a substance that's a sign of heart damage. The test has been available in Europe, Asia and Canada for about three years, but it is not yet available in the United States.

The patients were 47 years old on average and 4 percent had a previous heart attack. About 21 percent of them wound up being admitted.

Researchers later looked back to see how the blood test and electrocardiogram would have predicted how they fared over the next month.

They figured that in order to find one heart attack in patients like this, 594 would have to be admitted - a huge waste of resources.

A test like this would be "enormously useful," and the study's results are "almost too good to be true," said Dr. Judd Hollander, an emergency medicine specialist at the University of Pennsylvania.

He believes the test should be available in the U.S. and that the amount of evidence that regulators are requiring to approve it is too high.

Dr. Allan Jaffe, a cardiologist at the Mayo Clinic, said the problem is not what the test rules out, but what it might falsely rule in. It's so sensitive that it can pick up troponin from heart failure and other problems and cause unnecessary tests for that.

"I think the strategy long-term will be proven," but more studies underway now in the U.S. are needed to show that, he said.