Ayesha Sidiqa accuses Pak Army

[Saddle Bronc 124]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6709583.stm

Pakistan author accuses military

A respected Pakistani author has accused the government of blocking the launch of her book about the military's grip on the economy.

Ayesha Siddiqa says her reservation at a government-managed club was cancelled at the last minute, forcing her to find an alternative venue for the launch.

The book deals with the sensitive issue of the military's huge business empire.

The state-run Associated Press of Pakistan labelled the book "a plethora of misleading and concocted stories".

It said that the aim was to give a "bad name to one of the country's most prestigious and honourable organisations". ¹

No government official was available to comment.

'No transparency'

The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says it is the first time the army's penetration of Pakistan's economy has been documented with such detail.

Ayesha Siddiqa says it owns hundreds of businesses and millions of acres of land.

The military's empire is worth billions of dollars, she writes, but it is run with virtually no transparency or accountability. ²

The book was scheduled to be launched at a government-managed club on Thursday but the reservation was cancelled at the last minute, and the author said she could not find another suitable venue.

She claimed the Interior Ministry told hotels in Islamabad not to give her a room, although government officials deny this.

The launch finally went ahead at a small private office. Ms Siddiqa said it is clear the army does not want a debate about its corporate interests.

"It is part of their political power," she said. "It's the most intransparent part of the economy.

"It's about the interest of senior generals, they don't want any discussion on the subject."

The book's publication comes at a sensitive time for the military-led government.

A campaign to restore full democracy and civilian rule has been gathering pace since President Musharraf, who is also the army chief, suspended the chief justice over allegations of misconduct.

Notes:

1. If you ask most Banglas, they certainly will not consider the Pakistani military "prestigious and honourable", but crude and brutal. This opinion is also shared by Ghulam Jatoi who had claimed that during Zia's time (1977-1988), "worse atrocities than Bangladesh" were committed by Pak Army in Sindh
   
2. Nontransparency is hardly a revelation--as this was known as early as 1957 (roughly when Ayub Khan siezed power); as it controlled the budget (or, as "kingmaker", demanded the lion's-share), hardly encouraging of transparency
   

Edited May 31, 2007 by CherryXS

[almaty 19]

i always liked her

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Some more "pot-calls-kettle-black" by Musharraf

Pakistan's army warns opposition

Pakistan's top army commanders say there is a "malicious campaign" against institutions of the state by a small minority of vested interests.

The army warning comes amid a growing challenge to President Musharraf's decision to suspend the chief justice of the Supreme Court.

The move has galvanised opposition to the rule of Gen Musharraf, who is the head of the army.

Meanwhile, two TV channels have had their live broadcasts suspended.

The stations are among those that have given considerable coverage to the issues around the suspension of the chief justice, Iftikhar Chaudhry.

Obstructionist forces

The top army commanders issued their warning at a meeting of corps commanders in Rawalpindi.

Nobody will be allowed to bring instability in the country

Corps commanders' statement

The meeting was held ahead of schedule and correspondents say it is highly unusual for the army to issue press statements after such meetings.

But Friday's press statement said the army's top commanders "took serious note of the malicious campaign against Institutions of State, launched by vested interests and opportunists who were acting as obstructionist forces to serve their personal interests and agenda even at the cost of flouting the rule of law".

The statement also had the following warning: "Any attempt by a small minority to obstruct the aspirations of vast majority would only derail the nation from its path of progress and prosperity."

It concluded by saying that President Musharraf "appreciated unstinted support of the participants".

Moreover, Gen Musharraf assured the commanders that "nobody will be allowed to bring instability in the country".

President Musharraf seized power in a coup in 1999.

He is currently facing an unprecedented challenge to his rule by a combination of opposition secular and religious parties, as well as most of Pakistan's legal community.

'No criticism'

Lawyers began the campaign after Gen Musharraf suspended Chief Justice Chaudhry on 9 March.

Many of the protests have resulted in bloodshed. In mid-May, violence between pro and anti-government supporters left 41 people dead in Karachi.

News organisations, particularly Pakistan's growing TV news networks, have come under government pressure to tone down their coverage of the protests.

Two private TV channels have now been prevented from live broadcasting after making alleged criticisms of the army and judiciary.

Aaj and ARY One World rely on cable operators who have said that the country's broadcasting regulator has ordered them to cut the feeds for the two channels.

On Thursday Pakistan's information minister warned that the government would strictly enforce media laws forbidding criticism of the army and the judiciary.

President Musharraf has blamed the broadcast media for stoking the crisis triggered by the suspension of the chief justice.

The BBC's Shoaib Hasan in Islamabad says that new independent TV channels have given blanket coverage to what has turned into a campaign against military rule.

Gen Musharraf suspended the chief justice because he said he was abusing his office.

Critics say he is trying to stifle the independence of the judiciary in an election year.

Observers have said Mr Chaudhry is offering an alternative to Pakistan's military rule, with an independent judiciary and a return to civilian government.

Note: Pakistan army has a history of destabilising the nation

• obvious example of "Operation Searchlight" in 1971, when then mil-ruler Yahya Khan refused to accept the people's verdict and step down giving reins to Mujib
  
• early 1977, anti-Bhutto protests spurred by Zia so he would have excuse to do coup
  
• much more seeded during Zia's reign so he could justify keeping martial law (meaning "soldiers can do as they please, you better not stand in their way")
  
• seems to be duplicated now by Musharraf with his dismissal of Ikhtifar Chaudry, etc
  

[AnaAndDaniel 0]

them chopf#cks!

Daniel

:energetic:

[almaty 19]

i agree daniel-san..1st class certified chopf##ks

[AnaAndDaniel 0]

i agree daniel-san..1st class certified chopf##ks

nad-hanging class if you ask me.

Daniel

:energetic:

[almaty 19]

from the highest trees in pakistan

[AnaAndDaniel 0]

from the highest trees in pakistan

on a very windy day.

Daniel

:energetic:

[almaty 19]

ont he tree..ivy covered with thorns and angry wasps

[AnaAndDaniel 0]

with sand particles flying through the air.

Daniel

:energetic:

Edited June 1, 2007 by AnaAndDaniel

[almaty 19]

with sand particles flying through the air.

Daniel

:energetic:

yeap... and in the hottest part of the day...with a soaked piece of rawhide tied around the 'big guy'

[Saddle Bronc 124]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6719757.stm

New controls on media in Pakistan

President Pervez Musharraf has signed into immediate effect measures to increase control over the media.

Current regulations related to television have been extended to the internet and mobile phones.

Some regulations that have only applied to the national media have been extended to cover "any foreign non-governmental organisation".

Gen Musharraf has been highly critical of the media in recent weeks over its coverage of opposition protests.

Note: not at all news that chopfrack Musharraf cannot take criticism--and it only confirms the other "open secret" that he isn't planning on ever holding an election.

Of course, he cannot dismiss all the 500,000 or so potential "Beg emulators" (ie: all the soldiers and officers in the army; Beg was the one who arranged for the mango-basket bomb to be delivered to Zia on the C-130 in 1988--and, eliminating several rivals, became next ACOS though he was smart enough to do "power behind throne" and retire "peacefully").

Edited June 4, 2007 by CherryXS

[almaty 19]

that chopf##K...