ISLAMABAD — The latest twist....
Analysts said Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf’s dismissal would be unlikely to topple President Asif Ali Zardari’s government, which enjoys a majority in Parliament, but would trigger fresh political turmoil that might move up elections, which are to take place by June 2013.
The court wants the government to write to the Swiss authorities, prompting them to reopen a long-dormant investigation into Zardari’s finances dating to the 1990s. Officials from the governing party maintain that Zardari, as head of state, enjoys immunity from prosecution.
At the heart of the argument is a bitter three-year rivalry between Zardari and Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry. There is little sign of either side backing down....
Senior lawyers said the court was likely to put Ashraf on trial soon, and to reach a decision far more rapidly than it did with the previous prime minister, Yousuf Raza Gilani, whose fate hung in the balance for several months.
Also see: Pushing Through a Pakistan Post
Raja, the lawyer, said the government could try to stall, but ‘‘short of writing to the Swiss officials, as has been directed by the court, such tactics will just play out in a week or two.’’
Government supporters accuse the court of engaging in a partisan witch hunt driven by the rivalry between Chaudhry and Zardari. Such criticism has found greater resonance in recent weeks, even among formerly staunch supporters of the court’s authority.
In an interview with the BBC broadcast Tuesday, Aitzaz Ahsan, one of the country’s most prominent lawyers, said the court had become ‘‘too powerful.’’
‘‘It has at times overstepped its limits,’’ he said, adding later that ‘‘the activism of the court is one-sided and is not evenhanded.’’
Shamila N. Chaudhary of the Eurasia Group, a consulting firm, said while Ashraf’s ouster would not bring down the government, ‘‘it would still leave Zardari vulnerable to other Supreme Court actions such as the creation of an ‘independent’ commission that could write the Swiss letter itself.’’
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Related:
Pakistani court rejects law shielding prime minister
Pakistani court delays charges against Prime Minister
Pakistan relents in battle over leader’s corruption charges
"The Swiss corruption case at the heart of the matter. President Asif Ali Zardari stands accused of taking $12 million in kickbacks from a customs contract awarded to a Swiss company when his wife, Benazir Bhutto, was prime minister in the mid-1990s. Swiss lawyers say that even if the letter were written, it is highly unlikely the corruption case could be restarted, because of Zardari’s presidential immunity and a 15-year statute of limitations, which expires this year."
Also see: Pushing Through a Pakistan Post
Raja, the lawyer, said the government could try to stall, but ‘‘short of writing to the Swiss officials, as has been directed by the court, such tactics will just play out in a week or two.’’
Government supporters accuse the court of engaging in a partisan witch hunt driven by the rivalry between Chaudhry and Zardari. Such criticism has found greater resonance in recent weeks, even among formerly staunch supporters of the court’s authority.
In an interview with the BBC broadcast Tuesday, Aitzaz Ahsan, one of the country’s most prominent lawyers, said the court had become ‘‘too powerful.’’
‘‘It has at times overstepped its limits,’’ he said, adding later that ‘‘the activism of the court is one-sided and is not evenhanded.’’
Shamila N. Chaudhary of the Eurasia Group, a consulting firm, said while Ashraf’s ouster would not bring down the government, ‘‘it would still leave Zardari vulnerable to other Supreme Court actions such as the creation of an ‘independent’ commission that could write the Swiss letter itself.’’
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Related:
Pakistani court rejects law shielding prime minister
Pakistani court delays charges against Prime Minister
Pakistan relents in battle over leader’s corruption charges
"The Swiss corruption case at the heart of the matter. President Asif Ali Zardari stands accused of taking $12 million in kickbacks from a customs contract awarded to a Swiss company when his wife, Benazir Bhutto, was prime minister in the mid-1990s. Swiss lawyers say that even if the letter were written, it is highly unlikely the corruption case could be restarted, because of Zardari’s presidential immunity and a 15-year statute of limitations, which expires this year."
Letter must have got lost in the mail.
"Pakistan army chief warns lawmakers, judges on encroachment" by Sebastian Abbot | Associated Press, November 06, 2012
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — The country’s army chief warned against efforts to undermine the military in a rare public statement Monday that analysts interpreted as a response to unprecedented pressure from the government, media, and judiciary.
General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani’s cryptic message triggered some concern within Pakistan because of the army’s history of seizing power in military coups. But analysts saw the statement as less of a threat and more of a sign of the shifting power balance in Pakistani politics....
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Related: Pakistan plans to hold national elections in May
Most Pakistani lawmakers failed to file tax return
Also see: Pakistan Cricket Chirps
They don't all sound the same.
"In Pakistan, Bhutto’s son begins political career" by Munir Ahmed and Sebastian Abbot | Associated Press, December 28, 2012
ISLAMABAD — The 24-year-old son of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto launched his political career on Thursday with a fiery speech before thousands of cheering supporters observing the fifth anniversary of his mother’s assassination.
Related: Bhutto Brief
Also see: Throwing More Dirt on Bhutto's Grave
It's called a cover-up.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s speech comes several months before national elections are expected to be held. He is too young to participate in the elections himself — the minimum age is 25 — but probably will be a key asset for the ruling Pakistan People’s Party. The party’s popularity has plummeted since it took power nearly five years ago as the country has struggled with a weak economy and bloody Taliban insurgency....
Zardari was made chairman of the Pakistan People’s Party after his mother’s death but has mainly played a background role until now while he completed his studies at Oxford University in Britain.
‘‘I want to tell you that thanks to God he has completed his studies, but now is the time of his training,’’ his father, President Asif Ali Zardari, told the crowd of supporters Thursday in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh village in southern Sindh province, site of the Bhutto family mausoleum. ‘‘He has to study Pakistan, he has to learn from you, and he has to work according to your thinking,’’
The Bhutto family has played a prominent role in Pakistani politics for much of the country’s 65-year history. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s grandfather, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, founded the Pakistan People’s Party and served as both the country’s president and prime minister in the 1970s. He was eventually hanged in 1979 after General Zia ul-Haq seized power in a military coup.
Benazir Bhutto twice served as prime minister in the 1980s and 1990s but never completed a full term. Her governments were dismissed both times under the cloud of corruption allegations by presidents who were close to the country’s powerful army. She was killed in a gun and suicide bomb attack on Dec. 27, 2007, shortly after returning from self-imposed exile to participate in national elections.
After she was encouraged to return home by Musharraf and the U.S.
After her death, the Pakistan People’s Party rode a wave of public sympathy to garner the most seats in the 2008 elections, and Asif Ali Zardari was elected president.
Who benefitted?
But the popularity of both the party and the president has fallen significantly since then as the government has failed to address pressing problems, such as Pakistan’s shortage of electricity and stuttering economy. The government has also struggled in its fight against the Pakistani Taliban, who have killed thousands of people in attacks throughout the country.
I wonder which Taliban that is. The newspaper calls them Tehrik-e-Taliban when they happen to mention them.
Related: Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan is a Zionist terrorist fifth column
Role of Tehrik-e-Taliban-Pakistan and Afghan Taliban
Unraveling the Myth of Al Qaida
Oh, so TTP is "Al-CIA-Duh's" Taliban, 'eh?
And who benefits from keeping Pakistan destabilized?
Rasul Bakhsh Rais, a political science professor at Lahore University of Management Sciences, said it was not a surprise that the Pakistan People’s Party unveiled Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in an attempt to boost its fortunes in the upcoming elections, which are expected by June at the latest.
‘‘This is Pakistan and dynastic politics is the norm,’’ said Rais. ‘‘Bilawal is perhaps the only card left in the chest of the Pakistan People’s Party.’’
Both Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and his father sought to whip up the emotions of the crowd Thursday by shouting ‘‘Long live Bhutto’’ and ‘‘Bhutto is alive.’’ Many of the supporters waved the red, black, and green flag of the Pakistan People’s Party and held pictures of Benazir Bhutto and her father.
‘‘If you kill one Bhutto, one thousand more Bhuttos will emerge,’’ said Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.
He took a swipe at the judiciary, which has clashed with the current government, by asking why people arrested for suspected involvement in his mother’s murder have yet to be convicted.
Because they are part of the government.
The president at the time of her death, General Pervez Musharraf, blamed the Pakistani Taliban for the attack, and five suspected militants are facing trial for alleged involvement in the killing. The Pakistani Taliban have denied targeting Bhutto.
A UN investigation into the assassination said it could have been prevented and blamed all levels of government for failing to provide adequate security.
But they didn't name names?
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"Spurred by returned cleric, Pakistanis swarm into city; Crowd blames government for lack of services" by Sebastian Abbot | Associated Press, January 15, 2013
ISLAMABAD — About 25,000 Pakistanis angry at a government they say is corrupt and indifferent to the plight of common citizens descended on the capital Monday, responding to the call of a charismatic cleric who has quickly become a powerful but mysterious political force.
Oh, no, not another controlled opposition protest.
The dramatic entry into Pakistani politics of Tahir-ul-Qadri, a preacher who until recently lived in Canada, has sparked concern from some that he is seeking to derail elections expected this spring. Undercutting the elections could set the stage for the country’s powerful army to take power....
He's a western agent?
Rampant energy shortages....
Not much attention seems to be paid to that in my pos paper.
‘‘There is no electricity and no gas, and the government has done nothing,’’ said Faizan Baig, 23, a pharmaceutical company worker who traveled to Islamabad from the northwest town of Abbottabad. ‘‘Qadri feels pain for the people, while the government feels no pain for the people.’’
They are pretty much the same the world over.
Baig was among those who streamed into the capital throughout the day and camped out on the main avenue running through the city. Male protesters gathered on one side of the road, while women and children were on the other....
The government set up dozens of shipping containers in the capital to prevent protesters from reaching key areas. Thousands of paramilitary forces and police in riot gear were also deployed throughout the city.
Qadri returned to Pakistan in December after years in Canada, where he’s also a citizen. He heads a religious network in Lahore and gained some international prominence by writing a 2010 fatwa, or religious opinion, condemning terrorism.
But he was never a national political figure until this winter, when his calls for reforms ahead of elections galvanized many Pakistanis disenchanted by the existing parties. The cleric’s vaguely worded demands include vetting of political candidates to make sure they are honest and taking steps to even out the playing field so more people can participate in the political process.
Qadri has pledged that he and his supporters will remain in Islamabad until their demands are met. That could set up a clash with the government.
Some of Qadri’s comments have prompted critics to question whether he is a front for the Pakistani military to disrupt the democratic process just as it prepares for a transfer of power from one civilian government to another.
Related:
[The generals never do anything directly, if they can help it. They only make lateral moves in their political games, meaning that they always move to the side, or at a tangent away from anything that works its way into the press, using proxies or "cut-outs" to take the heat for them. It is better for them if it is the Supreme Court that is seen decapitating the Pakistani government, by arresting Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf. Conveniently. Then, we have the sudden, simultaneous appearance in a bulletproof/bomb proof trailer, of controversial Canadian/Pakistani "Islamist" leader, Tahirul Qadri, who left Pakistan and moved to Canada under a gray cloud, leaving behind him some sort of legal problems. In the past, he has been accused of being extra friendly with Iran and preaching some sort of anti-Deobandi/anti-Ahmadi doctrine. In his early years in Pakistan, he was instrumental in making the legal arguments for Pakistan's anti-blasphemy laws, focusing upon the anti-Ahmadi prohibitions against calling Ahmadi "Muslims," or their temples as "mosques." To have him suddenly leading a march of thousands to Islamabad, calling for the resignation of the civilian government and the PM getting arrested the same day, is one coincidence too many. The situation is Kashmir (also arising suddenly) is an indication that the Army leadership has decided to set its own priorities, regardless of apparent responsibilities to deal with militancy in the Tribal Region. Also coincidentally, all of Pakistan's militant leaders suddenly turn their attention towards ending the Pakistani/Indian dialogue by blowing-up Kashmir. It is more than likely, that the Pak Army is pulling a second Coup.]" -- The Slow Second Coup d’tat By Pakistani Generals
I'm sure my newspaper would tell me if that were the case.
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"Pakistan Supreme Court orders leader’s arrest; Prime minister to be held in corruption case" by Declan Walsh | New York Times, January 16, 2013
ISLAMABAD — Pakistan’s Supreme Court ordered the arrest of Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf in a corruption case Tuesday, in a drastic intensification of hostilities between the country’s embattled government and its opponents.
The court order came as an enigmatic preacher turned politician, Tahir-ul-Qadri, addressed thousands of supporters outside Parliament and repeated calls for the government’s ouster. In earlier speeches, he said a caretaker administration led by technocrats should take its place.
The confluence of the two events stoked growing speculation that Pakistan’s powerful military was quietly supporting moves that would delay general elections that are due to take place this spring, most likely through the imposition of a military-backed caretaker administration.
“Victory, victory, victory. By the grace of God,’’ said Qadri at the conclusion of a speech to his supporters, who have vowed not to leave a public square outside Parliament until their demands are satisfied.
It was not certain that the events were linked.
Some analysts said that in ordering the prime minister’s arrest, the court, which is led by the independent-minded Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, was simply taking advantage of antigovernment sentiment generated by Qadri to pursue its longstanding campaign against President Asif Ali Zardari.
Whatever its motivations, the court’s actions added to the chaos in Pakistan, a country whose nuclear arsenal and strategic interests in next-door Afghanistan has made it a nexus of intrigue in Asia....
The case relates to longstanding accusations that Ashraf took millions of dollars in kickbacks as part of a deal to build two electricity plants while serving as minister for water and power between March 2008 and February 2011....
The case has particular political resonance because Pakistan’s energy crisis, which has seen severe electricity rationing across the country, is the source of some of the main complaints against the government....
Ashraf’s ouster would not necessarily collapse the government, as he could be replaced with another candidate, and the court order could simply be the latest salvo in a long-running conflict between Zardari and the court....
Whether there was a link between the court and Qadri’s march on Islamabad — billed by the preacher as a ‘‘million man march’’ but in reality far smaller — was the subject of rampant public speculation.
Qadri stormed onto the political scene in Pakistan after returning from a seven-year stint in Canada, where he also holds citizenship, armed with considerable financing that he has used for an intensive television advertising campaign and large rallies.
See: ‘Evidence secured over Qadri’s source of funding’
Where did he get that money?
In his speech Tuesday, which was peppered with emotional Islamic references, he demanded the immediate resignation of the government and painted the country’s elected politicians as ‘‘criminals’’ who deserved to be prosecuted for corruption.
He has his own legal problems, doesn't he?
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"Pakistani cleric ends rally after government deal" by Zarar Khan and Munir Ahmed | Associated Press, January 18, 2013
ISLAMABAD — Pakistani officials struck a deal with a fiery Muslim cleric on Thursday to end four days of antigovernment protests by thousands of his supporters that largely paralyzed the capital and put intense pressure on the government.
The demonstration came at a time when the government is facing challenges on several fronts, including from the country’s top court. The Supreme Court ordered the arrest of the prime minister earlier in the week in a corruption case, but the government’s anticorruption chief refused to act on Thursday, citing a lack of evidence.
Tahir-ul-Qadri, the 61-year-old cleric who led the protests in Islamabad, galvanized many Pakistanis with his message alleging that the nation’s politicians are corrupt thieves who care more about lining their pockets than dealing with the country’s pressing problems, such as electricity shortages, high unemployment, and deadly attacks by Islamist militants. He demanded electoral reform to prevent corrupt politicians from standing for elections.
I know how they feel.
But his demand that the government be dissolved and replaced by a military-backed caretaker administration raised concerns that he was being used by the nation’s powerful army to try to delay parliamentary elections this spring. Qadri has denied any connection to the army, which has a history of toppling civilian governments in military coups and has done little to hide its disdain for the country’s politicians.
Qadri returned late last year from Canada and became a significant political force almost overnight, leveraging support from a large cadre of religious followers in Pakistan and abroad. Tens of thousands of people responded to his call for a protest in Islamabad and camped out in the main avenue running across the city, huddling beneath blankets at night.
But Qadri was left politically isolated Wednesday when a large group of opposition parties collectively announced they would not support the protest and opposed any movement that threatened democracy.
Then the guy was either brought in or sent in.
Their response and suggestions by the country’s interior minister that the government would use force to disperse the protesters might have factored into the cleric’s decision to make a deal, which appeared to fall short of his demands.
The government agreed to meet with Qadri after he announced that Thursday would be the last day of the protest while warning that he would let the protesters decide how to respond if the government failed to meet his demands.
The agreement was reached after hours of negotiation inside a bulletproof container the religious leader was using at the demonstration site. The bizarre scene was broadcast on TV as cameras filmed the group’s meeting through the container’s window. Thousands of protesters danced and cheered when Qadri said that he and the government had hammered out a deal and they could now end their protest....
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Also see: Pakistan’s uncertain portals
