The Daily PakistanPolitics Feb1-13, 2013

• Feb13-2013--former CDA chairman tells lal masjid commission that the interior ministry asked them to remove eighty illegal mosques in islamabad...musharaf's cabinet members say that teh commission should call chaudhry shujaat to explain as teh cabinet was not informed about anything...one former ISI chief says there were other problems apart from teh occupation and burning of the childrens libarary..the courts have refused to look into the terrorism orientation of teh mosques mullahs and has concentrated on teh administrations bad handling...some point to the television depiction by musharaf that he would kill them all...?many have pointed to the terrorism orientation of teh PPP regime which mullah abdullah aziz says he is completely satisfied with...!Others have pointed to teh militancy of mullah ghazi who had talked openly on television of their preperations to fight...
• Feb13-2013--another eight killed in tirah while three are killed in shootings at shops in gulbahar, karachi which dawn says is teh new center of sectarianism..!
• Feb13-2013--KP's assembly deemed most corrupt as it pays Rs6000 per head for food at assembly functions...?
• Feb13-2013--The PMLn's Nawaz Sharif urges teh PPP to desist from further fragmenting democracy and initiate the process of selecting a caretaker...surprisingly he sends a strong delegation to teh ANP's APC on combating terrorism...The PPP on teh other hand is raising if's and buts on dealing with teh TTP which has battered teh army almost into submission with the two timing rehman malik asking them to declare a ceasefire which would be ineffective if it is not a mutual process
• Feb13-2013--The SC questions Dr Tahir ul Qadris credentials and whether his oath to a foreign queen is a bar on his seeking teh reconstitution of the ECP...many suggest that since tahir ul qadri does not seek tobe elected he cannot be an aggrieved person...while others suggest that teh SC should not go into the morality of the questioner and simply adjudicate on teh legality of teh ECP...
• Feb11-2013--Dollar jumps acros the Rs100 barrier on government uying...high remmittances have no effect on dollar rates
• Feb11-2013--US starts moving out of afghanistan as numerous containers cross into pakistan
• Feb12-2013--pakistan test fires a small tactical 60 km multiple barrel launched nuclear weapon to challenge india's cold start doctrine which aims to quickly invade and capture territory in unguarded areas along teh border
• Feb12-2013--another fourteen shot dead in karachi
• Feb12-2013--for muslims of kashmir teh indians are a nasty and mean natured people who donot even handover bodies of muslims they hang to their relatives nor do they allow them to meet them a last time...such acts are common courtesies in most countries...
• Feb12-2013--The SC questions whether tahir ul qadri being a dual citizen has any rights under pakistani law
• Feb11-2013--Imran alleges massive new corruption in the Asif Zardari building of a 120 canal home in lahores upscale bahria town...!he says that he is reffered to as 'taleban khan' as well as a 'terrorist without a beard' for being pro taleban...!he said he would fight decadent practices in politics such as vote buying, voting for biradris and ancestral politics...he also alleges that shabaz sharif spent 80 billion on teh MBS while thrashing protesting young doctors who are more interested in higher salaries rather than running hospitals efficiently, repairing medical machinery such as MRI's,CT-scans, ventilators and xray machines and rather than treating patients...
• Feb11-2013--rockets fired on quetta...nine shot dead in karachi...opposition parties says PPP has been disloyal to sindh and has handed over half of sindh to the mqm...The PPP has been unable to even appoint its governor in sindh despite teh mqm's almost constant troublemaking
• Feb11-2013--The governments law minister says that Asif Zardari was just a beneficiary of corruption in teh country and not the main accused...one does not know how somebody who ran off with all teh corruption proceeds can just be a beneficiary(involved in SGS-cotechna and augusta submarine deals)...As the swiss route closed teh SC will have to either hear the cases itself or declare the end of the bhutto cases...the money obviously can now not be recovered however teh court could hear teh cases and decide on other ways to recover it...Asif Zardari who does not seem to have any known sources of income/ie. billions is still many say living of teh bhutto wealth...
• Feb11-2013--The sharifs have a habit of doing odd things..the motorway was one which generally benefited the rich...it also cost a lot and has still not been completed...now they have completed teh Rs29.8 billion mass transit dedicated bus corridor in lahore...with a huge proportion of teh population owning cars and preferring tobe on the roads the punjab cities have a torrid time alongwith the deterioration in teh environment...a copy of an istanbul bus corridor it is still state owned...one corridor in brazil has private buses running with official ticketing...attempts in other cities to have a lane for heavy traffic have not succeeded...The 27 kilometer MBS runs along teh ferozepur roads localities with a 8.6km overhead and is tobe run by a turkish company on chinese made red volvo buses and could be beneficial to women, children and those who occasionally travel along its route...regular travellers now usually have their own transport..an earlier attempt at stopping wagons and suzukis along ferozepur road eventually turned into the MBS...which can be regarded as a sort of mass transit system...The PMLn have made the rest of punjab uneasy with their spending of billions in lahore...to be a real mass transit it would have tobe connected to the airport and other main areas and sort of ending up as a triangle around lahore
• Feb10-2013--Citibank closes most of its branches in pakistan barring three..It is now literally a US embassy bank...The tottering Askari Bank taken over by Fauji Foundation
• Feb10-2013--two shot dead in karachi
• Feb10-2013--one dies in a quetta bomb explosion as police defuse a car bomb
• Feb10-2013--The taleban offer of talks is still making some waves as Maulana Fazlur Rehman has added his support and has flown to Qatar to meet teh afghan taleban negotiators..?Rehman malik although says the taleban are not serious as he refuses to talk to adnan rashid probably involved in a bannu jailbreak who escaped from jail...Many say the PPP is only interested in fighting which hardly generates any sympathy amongst pakistanis...The PPP has been accused of playing both sides while seeking extremist votes from teh AWSJ/MWM and keeping the pot boiling with teh taleban...The Dawn suggests that the TTP has signed around 16 agreements which have all failed...however they point out that hakimullah mehsud has survived and he probably does not make all teh decisions with their being many factions...however both sides have suffered a lot and a start should be made towards a solution even if they talk on till 2014...while not being a state teh taleban have become a known terrorist organization with a definite capability of fighting the pakistan army in hit and run as well as suicide attacks/IED's/car bombs etc. off and on even though drone attacks also keep pegging away from teh government side apart from military operations and airforce bombings of tribal militant areas and helicopter gunship attacks...
• Feb10-2013--In a move that could assuage the feelings of the wary PMLn the government replaced KP governor Masood Kausar with Shaukatullah a state minister and bajaur mna...the government has now replaced teh governors of punjab and the KP with border line supporters both controversial as one seems to be a bahawalpuri province supporter turned seraiki nationalist and teh other from the rebellious tribal region...Masood Kausar many say has been unable to handle the taleban...
• Feb10-2013--In other news teh indians (probably at the behest of rahul gandhi) hanged a kashmir rehriwala afzal guru for the 2001 attack on parliament by five gunmen who were killed...initially it was claimed that the five were pakistanis and afzal supplied teh arms...however since the guy was obviously a fall guy with no direct involvment death sentence seems unfair...occupied kashmiris claim martyrdom...indian hindu extremists attacked teh protesting few in delhi...the indians also hanged ajmal kasab who also cooperated with the indians and told them a tale about the bombay attacks...many feel since this directly concerns teh kashmiris another event could take place
• Feb10-2013--In what has turned out tobe teh biggest coverup in history the swiss refused to reopen teh Zardari-Bhutto corruption cases...others point to teh fact that the money probably has been relocated by teh Zardari's and many point to Bilawal as the person who has made the money disappear...coincident is the new found sudden love for punjab by teh zardari duo after their nefarious attempts to divide punjab...they apparently have discovered another Benazir built Bilawal house...this time in lahore...where teh two aim to live for a long time...!The Zardaris have shunned lahore for the past five years...also in a related move NAB says the Bahria town chief is not corrupt in acquiring by crooked means 1400 canals of public utility land in the rawat area...
• Feb9-2013--The sindh high court not known for its activism orders the sindh government to appoint an opposition leader within ten days on the plaint of teh PMLf
• Feb9-2013--two FC men killed in rocket attack in Kech, balochistan...A iranian tribal elder and his guard killed in taftan by assailants who fled back into iran
• Feb9-2013--A Herald survey suggests that apart from the over 70 group teh PPP leads in most age groups...in teh over 70 group 46% support the PMLn while the generally held belief that the PTI leads in teh youth group is also not borne out...however teh PTI comes across as teh third largest party with a huge support amongst pukhtuns and hindko people...in teh voter % the PPP leads with 29% followed by teh PMLn and PTI...The PPP leads the pack in the proportion of supporters in the under under Rs.10000 earning group with 44% to the PMln's 37% and the PTI's 26%... despite PPP's price hike philosophy and bad image..PMLq's supporters are also mostly in the lower income groups...In the mid income group teh PTI leads with 59% to the PMln's 55% and PPP's 53 %..The mqm/Ji/pmlq/PTI lead in the 45000-100000 rupee earning group...rich people vote less than the poor and middle income group...The PPP could benefit the most if it went into elections in a coalition...however PTI and the PMLn have their own support group or coalition plans...Inspite of teh survey the PPP is said to have around 15% of teh countries support apart from amongst sindhis where it leads by about 55%...many feel that if the elections see a disastrous result or loss of support to the PPP teh ANP and mqm could quickly turn independent...Many also feel that the election could turn into a two way race between teh PMLn and the PTI if the best candidates are brought forward by the PTI...With a loss almost forecast for the PPP in teh punjab the PPP could be the third largest party after teh elections and could join any other coalition..The PMLq also expected to lose heavily while the mqm could possibly pick up a few seats in sindh and the federal capital..if the PPP forms a real coalition in KP they could defeat the ANP otherwise a comeback of teh PMln-JUIf-JI and the emergence of the PTI in KP is one of teh possibilities...The Herald is generally regarded as pro PPP and anti PMln
• Feb9-2013--lawyer shot dead in peshawar sectarian attack
• Feb9-2013--eight militants killed in another drone strike in Fata
• Feb9-2013--Asif Zardari seems to have teh wrong concept about law and order...he seems to think that the law does not apply to him of he is in bahria town...LHC continues tobe hoodwinked by teh government and its lawyers about the meaning of teh word presidency and being presidential
• Feb9-2013--Bomb blast in orakzai bazaar kills ten while military planes continued to bomb various areas
• Feb8-2013--The CEC says that the election commission has been properly appointed and that they are not politically affiliated...Tahirul qadri has initiated a case suggesting that the members were not selected by a parliamentary commission which is only needed if teh opposition leader does not agree...
• Feb8-2013--a karachi police van was bombed in Orangi town killing one police official...another fifteen people were also shot dead in karachi...The karachi police has taken to using small suzuki vehicles and these obviously cannot survive a blast...many suggest that police vehicles in problem areas be tougher or bomb proof...
• Feb8-2013--Nawaz Sharif urges the irresponsible PPP to immediately start negotiations with the taleban...although one does not know what the taleban mean by guarantor one supposes that it means that specific negotiators can freely move around and that the army will not interfere in teh process...uptil now teh army has been handling all aspects of the FATA war...many suggest that a team of a top general, politician, fata expert and a foreign office official with experience of negotiations be announced to talk to teh taleban...mostly teh taleban seem to have problems with the military, ISI, liberal politicians and teh shiite sect...to move towards a problem both sides must announce a ceasefire as a first step so that at least elections can be held peacefully...
• Feb8-2013--I-11/4 katchi abadi knocks out CDA's attempt to get land vacated...mostly pukhtun landgrabbers most of whom seem to belong to one family...In islamabad and surrounding areas most land grabbers are usually christian, pukhtun and from the southern areas like cholistan and sindh...
• Feb7-2013-AWSJ man an a shiite amongst three shot dead in karachi
• Feb7-2013--US drone kills three in north waziristan as another ten were killed as jet fighters bombed orakzai
• Feb7-2013--An interesting case in the LHC on the PPP's seraiki attempts to divide punjab for political purposes...The litigants argue that teh PPP has no mandate on teh issue and it is not mentioned in their manifesto...the seraiki province has only previously been advocated by a one member taj langah party and most observers suggest that it is jealousy against development in lahore that is teh base cause...otherwise development is similar apart from a cricket stadium in bahawalpur, DG khan and chakwal...The constitution only allows changes in provincial borders...The SC has suggested that no major changes to the constitution can be allowed...without either a referendum or teh formation of a constituent assembly...The PPP has literally strangled the center and changed teh constitution into a provincial one from a federal one...many suggest that those for reform should urge the election of a constitutional reform 100 member elected assembly...to rewrite a new constitution which is clear and implementable..many have pointed to teh clause where the government has to provide security of life which is unimplementable under current conditions...measures to form new provinces and end issues of provincial ethnic fighting and tribal rebellions can than be considered..provincial autonomy obviously does not solve problems in KP,fata, balochistan and karachi...
• Feb7-2013--The ECP stops government from hiring employees at this juncture...the railways and sindh government were attempting to hire people for political purposes...ECP allows non political forces like the army and judiciary to continue hiring..The ECp should also study teh governnment announcing new policies at this juncture and distributing of solar UPS's by shahbaz sharif..he is to distribute 17000 UPS's to matric students in rawalpindi...
• Feb7-2013--The Government says that asif zardari will no longer use teh presidency for political purposes and will do it from other places...teh government suggests that teh PPP is not in power and is just a family platform with teh PPP(parliamentarians) ruling teh country...the PPP(parliamentarians) was last mentioned in teh last elections...The ECP should not allow teh use of teh name PPP as it is not a registered political party...The LHC should many say disqualify all members of teh PPP from participating in politics...!..for hoodwinking the populace...for practical purposes both have teh same members
• Feb7-2013--Imran Khan's PTI who is seen by many as teh behind the scenes force of the Pat attempts to form an anti ECP coalition with Qadri but refuses overt support to his six city revolutionary marches...There seems tobe nobody else opposing teh ECP barring the military coup component of teh PPP ie PMLq...the generally PMLn opponents have supported the Qadri platform which is generally unconstitutional in an attempt to divert attention from the surging PMLn
• Feb6-2013--Aslam Raisani has apparently sent his resignation to the JUIf and BNMa so that they can urge teh government at the center to reconvene teh balochistan assembly and end governor rule...
• Feb6-2013--The PTI given its new status as a major political party starts looking for allies apart from those in government...they are looking at smaller parties, tahir ul qadri and teh JI...they feel that tahir ul qadri has a following which many still think remains tobe tested...they are also looking at the MWM a shiite party with a small but vocal following...the party itself has several prominent shiite leaders...Imran suggests that his apparent support of teh taleban is due to their agressive anti americanism and his opposition to drones...however he opposes suicide bombings but has a high regard for the taleban's militancy...their party elections have thrownup three groups with Ijaz chaudhry emerging as a possible punjab strongman...
• Feb6-2013--three days of rain and snow increases teh cold and river flows with record snowfalls in malam jabba of 10feet
• Feb5-2013--In a another turnaround teh PPP which had been studying ten retired generals for the caretaker position fell back on a retired judge Chaudhry Arif and Salahuddin Abbasi for the punjab CM position while teh JI reccommended a retired judge Mian Allah Nawaz and Dr. Safdar Mahmood...The PMLn has also recommended two well known judges for primeminister...in this situation the PMLn and PPP could take one caretaker slot each in punjab and teh center which are more important politically...a more neutral person would be needed in nwfp while PPP can browbeat teh MQM in sindh and teh magsi's will probably select someone in balochistan
• Feb4-2013--The PPP seemingly supporting teh violence prone lal masjid mullah who has been acquitted in 26 out of 27 cases..one wonders who was managing the mosque and women seminary when all teh violence took place...if radical elements go scot free due to bad governance or questionable military decisions than such things will happen again many suggest...and pakistan will literally have to import Hollandes frenchmen to control Karachi and Fata...since our fauj and politicians cant handle these things effectively or quickly...might be the terrorists(ethnic or religious) understand french better than the governments lingo...
• Feb4-2013--five shot dead in karachi..many feel teh killings are a reflection of a frightened ethnic mindset that will not tolerate any opposition to its area power and control...
• Feb4-2013--NAB attempts a gol mol on the suspicious death ofits investigator(attributed to PPP killers)and the rental power fiasco
• Feb4-2013--Raja Ashraf takes over from wattoo as punjab PPP president...wattoo/faryal had started picking up possibly stronger candidates from teh opposition as the PPP is being referred to as a breed of dying nineteen-seventy era policy-less politicos and have riled teh PMlq by suggesting that they should become a subordinate power...PPP at best trying to play area politics of biradris/groups which is a muslim league strongpoint having no policies/candidates left to attract the populace...many say that Faryal Talpur can play the aggrieved/apologist in one party sindh but in the multi party punjab she runs straight into a wall..given PPP's anti punjabi mechanisms and attitudes
• Feb4-2013--The TTP effectively the pro terrorism anarchic taleban wants to talk to teh PPP government inits dying days and asks for PMLn, JUIf and JI tobe guarantors...The PPP too has been announcing policies inits last few days which should have been made in the first few weeks ofits government...many feel that the taleban should wait for the next government and start off with a positive mindset...the taleban will have to end violent activities and become peaceful tribals as a quid pro quo...The PPP has developed a beaurocratic mindset and lacks teh energy, intellect and willpower to make good decisions...militant groups continue fightouts in the tirah region
• Feb4-2013--JUI-f makes fun of the PPP attitude in balochistan suggesting that they can select a new chief minister for them...the balochistan assembly can have a good opposition and government which could make it work in a normal manner...former chief minister raisani had inducted 64 of teh 65 members of the assembly into the government thus making a mockery of democracy...The PPP has been pushed only by a judiciary literally working as a strong opposition to teh PPP's attempts at making a mockery of decision making,avoiding handling teh countries problems, misguided concepts of democracy, bad appointments and haphazard governance...
• Feb3-2013--taleban suicide bombers attack a sarai naurang military camp in lakki marwat...11 civilians die, 13 soldiers and twelve militants...taleban say there were only four attackers...another soldier doies in orakzai explosion
• Feb2-2013--partial strike in balochistan organized by JUIf against governor rule
• Feb2-2013--26 die in a suicide blast by a bomber from orakzai outside a shiite mosque in hangu...18 shiites and the rest sunnis killed as they had a mosque nearby
• Feb1-2013--killers captured on video as they shoot and kill two jamia binoria teachers(a famous karachi seminary) and their driver and casually escape on a motorcycle...twelve others also shot dead
• Feb1-2013--SC issues contempt notice to NAB chief for contemptous letter which seems to have been written by somebody else in the PPP regime...!!
• Feb1-2013--The IHC showed its lack of maturity by not considering the illegality of General Kianis's three year extension...The army chief can only be appointed for three years with usually no extensions...a standard procedure followed since ZAB's times apart from the martial law durations in which army chiefs also refused to go home...many ponder the rumours that GHQ had literally threatened teh PPP regime to get Kiani's extension...The appointment is a political governmental order and does not fall under teh army act...
• Feb1-2013--The Supreme Courts Chief Justice gets a whopping Rs.784000 as salary apart from the arsalan iftikhar earnings...?
• Feb1-2013--two polio workers killed in Kurram agency when their motorcycle hit a roadside bomb
• Feb1-2013--In kalat FC kills six militants in destroying a liberation organizations terror camp
• Feb1-2013--The PPP which many see as being too bullet riddled tobe of any use in government has recently taken to issuing "democracy is in peril" proclamations which are hardly of any interest in this country where teh Supreme Court and even one writer of the constitution have declared even army chief rule as constitutional...!!
• Feb1-2013--In tirah five lashkar militants die in a mortar blast
• Feb1-2013--The government seems to have no shortage of money it seems as it approves Rs.66000 per month as gas monetisation for the 185 grade20 teachers in islamabad
• Feb1-2013--The Lal masjid commission orders the appearance of shaukat aziz and musharaf n...many say teh rawalpindi corp commander and the head of commandos should should also be asked to appear