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India-Pakistan

Hashmi sees a weak PTI govt that will be ‘unable to deliver’

2018-08-01

[DAWN] MULTAN: Veteran politician Javed Hashmi has said the government to be formed by the Pakistain Tehrik-e-Insaf ...a political party in Pakistan. PTI was founded by former Pakistani cricket captain and philanthropist Imran Khan. The party's slogan is Justice, Humanity and Self Esteem, each of which is open to widely divergent interpretations.... will be too weak to deliver and other parties will have to help its chairman Imran Khan ... aka Taliban Khan, who ain't the sharpest bulb on the national tree... to save the democracy in the country. "The PTI is not in a position to rule due its internal differences. All the other political parties should help Imran Khan. We have to fight another war to protect the democracy. This (PTI’s) government will complete hardly one year and the next face (of government) will not be a democratic one," he said talking to the media here on Sunday. Mr Hashmi said he had already predicted that a hung parliament was going to be formed after the election. He regretted the country was faced with a political crisis after the general election and the Pakistain Tehrik-e-Insaf was busy in horse trading. "Every tactic is being used for (winning) the number game as many of the winning independent parliamentarians (-elect) have said that money is being offered to them," he said. He said no party had a majority in the Center and there was total dependence on independent parliamentarians to form the government. He said the election results had created a difficult situation for Imran Khan because his party could not get sufficient mandate to form the government. Mr Hashmi said the next government would be very weak and won’t be able to resolve the issues of the masses.

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India-Pakistan

Nawaz named PML-N’s Quaid for life

2018-02-28

[DAWN] In the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision striking down a controversial amendment to the Elections Act 2017 that allowed ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif ... served two non-consecutive terms as prime minister, heads the Pakistain Moslem League (Nawaz). Noted for his spectacular corruption, the 1998 Pak nuclear test, border war with India, and for being tossed by General Musharraf, then by the courts... to resume party leadership after being disqualified in the Panama Papers case, the Central Working Committee of the ruling Pakistain Moslem League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Tuesday elected Punjab 1.) Little Orphan Annie's bodyguard 2.) A province of Pakistain ruled by one of the Sharif brothers 3.) A province of India. It is majority (60 percent) Sikh and Hindoo (37 percent), which means it has relatively few Moslem riots.... Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif ...Pak dynastic politician, brother of PM Nawaz Sharif, chief minister of Punjab... its interim president and the former its Quaid (supreme leader) for life. While the Sharifs had made almost a similar arrangement by making Javed Hashmi the party president and Nawaz Sharif, who was then in exile, the Quaid during the military rule of Gen Pervez Perv Musharraf ... former dictator of Pakistain, who was less dictatorial and corrupt than any Pak civilian government to date ... , questions are being raised whether or not the fresh move allowing the elder Sharif to become the party’s supreme leader this time was in violation of the SC verdict. To elect both brothers to their new offices, CWC members including Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Azad Jammu and Kashmire Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider, National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq and Senator Pervaiz Rashid attended the meeting at the Sharif family’s Model Town residence, where maverick Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan ...Former Interior Minister of Pakistain under Nawaz Sharif. He is the senior leader of the Pak Moslem League (N) and a close aide to Uncle Fester Sharif. He is noted for his vocal anti-American railing in the National Assembly. However (comma) Khan told the U.S. ambassador that he was in fact pro-American but he and the PML-N would have to be critical of US actions in order to remain publicly credible. Khan cited his wife and children's US citizenship as proof, which means he's lying to one side or the other and probably both. He wears a wig, but you probably guessed that, since hair doesn't grow naturally in that shape or texture... was conspicuous by his absence.

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India-Pakistan

15th prime minister fails to complete tenure

2017-07-30

[DAWN] History was repeated on Friday morning. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif ... served two non-consecutive terms as prime minister, heads the Pakistain Moslem League (Nawaz). Noted for his spectacular corruption, the 1998 Pak nuclear test, border war with India, and for being tossed by General Musharraf... was sent home after the Supreme Court disqualified him under the Constitution’s Article 62(1)(f) for misdeclaring his assets when he was just 10 months away from completing his five-year tenure in office. He became the 15th prime minister of the country who got sacked without completing the term. He also became the first prime minister who was elected thrice but couldn’t complete even a single term. The PML-N leader was first booted out of the office by his close ally in the presidency, Ghulam Ishaq Khan, in 1993. Although the apex court reinstated him, he agreed to quit along with the president under pressure from the military command. His second term was terminated prematurely when Gen Pervez Perv Musharraf ... former dictator of Pakistain, who was less dictatorial and corrupt than any Pak civilian government to date ... and generals close to him ousted him in a bloodless coup in 1999. This time the burden of sending him packing was borne by the country’s top court, which used the infamous Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution, which, political leader Makhdoom Javed Hashmi recently said, were inserted by dictator Gen Zia ul Haq ...the creepy-looking former dictator of Pakistain. Zia was an Islamic nutball who imposed his nutballery on the rest of the country with the enthusiastic assistance of the nation's religious parties, which are populated by other nutballs. He was appointed Chief of Army Staff in 1976 by Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, whom he hanged when he seized power. His time in office was a period of repression, with hundreds of thousands of political rivals, minorities, and journalists executed or tortured, including senior general officers convicted in coup-d'état plots, who would normally be above the law. As part of his alliance with the religious parties, his government helped run the war against the Soviets in Afghanistan, providing safe havens, American equipiment, Saudi money, and Pak handlers to selected mujaheddin. Zia died along with several of his top generals and admirals and the then United States Ambassador to Pakistain Arnold Lewis Raphel when he was assassinated in a suspicious air crash near Bahawalpur in 1988... to use them as a stick against politicians. The PPP’s Yousuf Raza Gilani ... Pakistain's former prime minister, whose occasional feats of mental gymnastics could be awe-inspiring ... was the first premier to vacate the Prime Minister House on the court’s orders. He was also the first chief executive of the country to have been disqualified in 2012 under the Article 63(f)(1) after the judges found him ’guilty’ of having committed contempt of court because he did not write to the Swiss authorities to reopen corruption cases against then president Asif Ali Zardari under their order.

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India-Pakistan

'Where is the accountability for judges, army?' asks Javed Hashmi

2017-07-13

[DAWN] Political stalwart and former Pakistain Tehrik-e-Insaf ...a political party in Pakistan. PTI was founded by former Pakistani cricket captain and philanthropist Imran Khan. The party's slogan is Justice, Humanity and Self Esteem, each of which is open to widely divergent interpretations.... (PTI) leader Javed Hashmi questioned accountability for judges and the military at an unexpected presser in Multan on Wednesday. Hashmi, who has also been a member of the PML-N, believes the Panama Papers probe appears to be a ploy which seeks to oust Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif ... served two non-consecutive terms as prime minister, heads the Pakistain Moslem League (Nawaz). Noted for his spectacular corruption, the 1998 Pak nuclear test, border war with India, and for being tossed by General Musharraf... from power, rather than a way to hold him accountable. "I believe that Nawaz Sharif should be held accountable. I am the first person to say that accountability should exist. But why just Nawaz Sharif?" Hashmi asked. Claiming a plot was afoot to take down Nawaz Sharif's government, Hashmi alleged PTI Chairman Imran Khan ... aka Taliban Khan, who is the lightweight's lightweight... had said that after former CJP Tasadduq Hussain Jilani's tenure would end, the incoming CJP would "break the government and Parliament". "I told Imran this would be martial law, but he claimed that it wouldn't be martial law because the Supreme Court judges would be doing it," Hashmi alleged. "Rigging was the issue earlier, but now it is Panamagate since Imran had to create some form of ruckus. He wanted to topple the government in three months. I told him you cannot do this," Hashmi claimed, adding that "someone else" had saved Nawaz Sharif's government from toppling. "Has any judge been punished? Why are judges not caught for their wrongdoings?" he asked. "Is this justice?"

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India-Pakistan

Over 1,900 accused acquitted since NAB's inception

2015-12-20

[DAWN] ISLAMABAD: A total of 1,915 accused and their accomplices, including prominent politicians, prosecuted by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), have been acquitted by courts since the inception of the bureau in 1999. According to documents of the Ministry of Law and Justice, of the 1,915 accused, 1,240 have been acquitted in Sindh, 314 in Punjab, 218 in Balochistan ...the Pak province bordering Kandahar and Uruzgun provinces in Afghanistan and Sistan Baluchistan in Iran. Its native Baloch propulation is being displaced by Pashtuns and Punjabis and they aren't happy about it... and 143 in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa ... formerly NWFP, still Terrorism Central... (KP). The list contains the names of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif ... served two non-consecutive terms as prime minister, heads the Pakistain Moslem League (Nawaz). Noted for his spectacular corruption, the 1998 Pak nuclear test, border war with India, and for being tossed by General Musharraf... , his daughter Mariam Safdar, Punjab 1.) Little Orphan Annie's bodyguard 2.) A province of Pakistain ruled by one of the Sharif brothers 3.) A province of India. It is majority (60 percent) Sikh and Hindoo (37 percent), which means it has relatively few Moslem riots.... Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif ...Pak dynastic politician, brother of PM Nawaz Sharif, chief minister of Punjab... , former prime minister Benazir Bhutto ... 11th Prime Minister of Pakistain in two non-consecutive terms from 1988 until 1990 and 1993 until 1996. She was the daughter of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, founder of the Pakistain People's Party, who was murdered at the instigation of General Ayub Khan. She was murdered in her turn by person or persons unknown while campaigning in late 2007. Suspects include, to note just a few, Baitullah Mehsud, General Pervez Musharraf, the ISI, al-Qaeda in Pakistain, and her husband, Asif Ali Zardari, who shows remarkably little curiosity about who done her in... , PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari and his father Hakim Zardari, besides more than 30 politicians, including former chief ministers, federal and provincial ministers and politicians. The document mentions the name of Finance Minister Ishaq Dar as an `approver' in the Hudaibia Paper Mills scam, in which all members of the Sharif family were acquitted. Prominent politicians acquitted in different cases by accountability or high courts over the past 16 years are PML-N Senator Chaudhry Tanveer, Punjab PPP president Manzoor Wattoo, Minister for Defence Production Rana Tanveer Hussain, former Punjab minister Basharat Raja, Yousuf Talpur, Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar, Jahangir Badar, Siraj Durrani and Islamuddin Sheikh of PPP and Khalid Kharal, Javed Hashmi, Riaz Fatiana, Liaquat Jatoi, Jam Mashooq Ali, Nawaz Khokhar and Anwar Saifullah Khan. In July, NAB informed the Supreme Court that it was pursuing more than 150 major scams, involving about Rs568 billion acquired through financial and land allotment irregularities and abuse of power. The list of pending cases also contains the names of big guns as respondents, including Prime Minister Sharif and his predecessors Yousuf Raza Gilani ... Pakistain's former prime minister, whose occasional feats of mental gymnastics could be awe-inspiring ... and Raja Pervez Ashraf, PML-Q leader Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Asif Ali Zardari, former federal and provincial ministers, senior government officials and individuals from banking and finance sectors. When contacted, a NAB official said that he could not provide the number of convicted people but he could say that the conviction rate of those prosecuted by the bureau was good.

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India-Pakistan

Why the story is not yet over for PTI

2015-07-25

[DAWN] After the PTI failed to score a landslide victory in the 2013 polls, it somehow got into its leadership's head that it was robbed of its rightful mandate. No amount of explaining would allay the PTI's reservations, and when words were not enough, a protest movement was launched to dislodge the current political setup. The movement, too, did not yield a favourable result, but Imran Khan ... aka Taliban Khan, who ain't the sharpest bulb on the national tree... just would not let go of the issue. His party was adamant that they had documentary evidence to support his allegations. The PTI was also insistent that the evidence would only be presented to a judicial commission, since it could trust no other state institution with such sensitive information. But now, as the realisation from the verdict sets in, it will become painfully apparent to PTI's supporters, young and old, that there wasn't any truth to most of the allegations thrown around at the sit-in. Javed Hashmi is right in that the verdict has cast dark clouds over Imran Khan's political future, but in some ways, this verdict might just be the best thing that has happened to PTI since 2013.

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India-Pakistan

PTI's Democratic Myth

2015-06-18

[NATION.PK] It seems Wajihuddin Ahmed is fast becoming the new Javed Hashmi for Pakistain Tehrik-e-Insaaf; a respected veteran that is being ostracised for trying to make the party a democratic and accountable institution. From being the party's candidate for the presidential election of 2013 to being labelled "mentally unstable" by party ranks; Justice Wajihuddin's story -- just like Javed Hashmi's -- is a stark reminder of the fate that is to befall anyone who challenges the edicts of Imran Khan ... aka Taliban Khan, who who convinced himself that playing cricket qualified him to lead a nuclear-armed nation with severe personality problems... . On Tuesday, an intra-party tribunal headed by Wajihuddin Ahmed, the retired Chief Justice of the Sindh High Court, set up to investigate rigging in PTI's intra-party polls ordered the expulsion of big shots Jehangir Tareen and Nadir Khan Leghari from the party for manipulating the polls that were held before the 2013 general election. Also in the line of fire were Pervaiz Khattak, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa ... formerly NWFP, still Terrorism Central... chief minister, and ex-Lahore party chief Aleem Khan, both of whom were ordered to be stripped from office and barred from re-entry into the party. To this PTI contends that the tribunal was disbanded by party chairman, Imran Khan in the month of April, and thus the order holds no weight, and they are right. According to the standards of the PTI's "democratic" party charter -- in which the chairman holds unfettered and unlimited power to override and reverse any decision -- the contention is correct; PTI members are not bound by the decision, and Wajihuddin can be safely considered a rouge judge. But according to the democratic pretensions of the party and by the notions of accountability and due process that Imran Khan has so often advocated; the whole saga sinks the myth of PTI's democratic nature and shows Imran Khan to be the antithesis of what he purports to be -- an autocratic dictator. Wajihuddin's tribunal was not disbanded when he concluded his judgement and ordered immediate re-elections -- since massive irregularities were unearthed in the intra-party polls -- his tribunal was disbanded when it summoned Imran Khan to answer why new elections haven't taken place yet. Not only does this show the fact that Imran Khan wilfully chooses to ignore corruption in party ranks, it also shows how he reacts to dissent; effectively silencing it. What legitimacy remains in his pursuit of a favourable Judicial Commission verdict? In one go he has demolished the whole narrative he painstakingly built during the dharna -- with the talk of stolen mandates and accountability -- shooting his already shaky credibility in the foot. With his own house in disarray, what legitimacy does he have to preach reform to others? More shameful is the reaction of the PTI's social media contagion, which spent no time in demonising Wajihuddin and accusing him of conspiring with the PML-N; who, incidentally, only a few months ago was a paragon of integrity and living proof of PTI's honest foundations. Day by day, PTI is being joined by opportunistic electables, while politicians of merit are being chased out for daring to disagree with the mighty Khan.

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India-Pakistan

Imran Khan is showing signs of desperation

2014-11-15

[DAWN] I became personally aware of the way intelligence agencies dabbled in elections during the 2002 polls. A very close friend was contesting a Lahore constituency on a PPP ticket, and I stayed with him for part of his campaign. Another friend who happened to be a key adviser to Musharraf in those days asked me to pass on a message to my host: run from some other constituency as his opponent, Tahirul Qadri ...Pak politician, and would-be dictator, founder and head of Tehreek-e-Minhajul Quran and Pakistain Awami Tehrik. He usually resides in Canada, but returns to Pakistain periodically to foam at the mouth and lead demonstrations. Depending on which way the wind's blowing, Qadri claims to be the author of Pak's blasphemy law. Other times he says it wasn't him... , was going to win. He wouldn't go into any reasons except to say it "had been decided". In the event, my friend was declared the winner in the unofficial first count; soon afterwards, the result was reversed, with Qadri emerging as the ultimate winner. In the same elections, I heard of candidates being pressurised by spooks to switch sides, or sit the polls out. They were threatened with exposure of false tax returns and other shenanigans. Ever since Khan's political star came into the ascendant, there have been rumours about covert backing from the army. According to Javed Hashmi, PTI's ex-president, a 'third force' was behind Imran Khan ... aka Taliban Khan, who ain't the sharpest bulb on the national tree... 's destabilising drive. And certainly, Nawaz Sharif ... served two non-consecutive terms as prime minister, heads the Pakistain Moslem League (Nawaz). Noted for his spectacular corruption, the 1998 Pak nuclear test, border war with India, and for being tossed by General Musharraf... 's government has been greatly weakened as a result of the PTI campaign, an outcome that could not have displeased the army's top brass. Khan's grasp of international relations was displayed with his campaign to block NATO ...the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. A cautionary tale of cost-benefit analysis.... containers transiting through Pakistain to Afghanistan. These supplies were being moved under an agreement between Pakistain and NATO, and their blockage embarrassed the government. Unruly PTI goons roughed up drivers and damaged trucks. The result? Since January, there have been 10 US drone strikes in Fata without a squeak from the fire-breathing Khan. In a further display of diplomatic finesse, the PTI dharna and general lawlessness in Islamabad blocked the visits of the presidents of China and Sri Lanka, both important friends of Pakistain. And of course we have followed Imran Khan's defence of the Taliban with growing bemusement and dismay. He delayed military action against the holy warriors using North Wazoo as a sanctuary. By cosying up to groups such as the fundamentalist Jamaat-e-Islami ...The Islamic Society, founded in 1941 in Lahore by Maulana Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi, aka The Great Apostosizer. The Jamaat opposed the independence of Bangladesh but has operated an independent branch there since 1975. It maintains close ties with international Mohammedan groups such as the Moslem Brotherhood. the Taliban, and al-Qaeda. The Jamaat's objectives are the establishment of a pure Islamic state, governed by Sharia law. It is distinguished by its xenophobia, and its opposition to Westernization, capitalism, socialism, secularism, and liberalist social mores... , he has aided and abetted growing radicalisation in Pakistain. What we were unaware of is Khan's standing as an educationist. Here's an email I received recently: "As a teacher, I am alarmed by Imran Khan's announcement that once in power PTI will have one education system in the country by 'combining the syllabus of the madressahs, Urdu medium schools and English medium schools'. Teachers in Pakistain have to stop him before he completely destroys an already compromised education system... "[With the money being spent on his sons' education in England] he can open a model school on his Bani Gala estate to experiment with his ideas before thrusting them down our throats." Already completely isolated, Khan is showing signs of desperation as his exhausted, disillusioned followers return to their homes. While his campaign has shown that there is a huge appetite for reform among large sections of Pak society, people won't be taken for an unending ride by charlatans chanting slogans for change. This is especially true when the messiah chooses to surround himself with dubious political hacks who have profited from the very system he wants to overthrow. This is Pakistan, so of course they will. Over and over and over again. Ever since he was captain of Pakistain's cricket team, Khan has been known for his stubborn, uncompromising streak. While this was mostly an asset on the cricket field, it is a major flaw in a politician. The art of compromise and give-and-take is an essential component of politics. Without it, the system goes into gridlock. So while I support Khan's demand for electoral reform, there's not much else I can agree with him about.

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India-Pakistan

PTI-backed Dogar triumphs as Hashmi concedes NA-149 by-poll

2014-10-17

[DAWN] Independent candidate Malik Amir Dogar, backed by Pakistain Tehrik-e-Insaf ...a political party in Pakistan. PTI was founded by former Pakistani cricket captain and philanthropist Imran Khan. The party's slogan is Justice, Humanity and Self Esteem, each of which is open to widely divergent interpretations.... (PTI), defeated senior politician Makhdoom Javed Hashmi on Thursday in the much anticipated by-election for NA-149 (Multan), which fell vacant after the latter's resignation from the seat on August 18. According to unofficial and unconfirmed results of all 286 polling stations, Dogar defeated Hashmi by a margin of more than 10,000 votes. Dogar bagged 57,972 votes while the former PTI president managed to secure 47,500 votes in the NA-149 by-poll.

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India-Pakistan

Bilawal is still a child: Sheikh Rasheed

2014-10-09

[NATION.PK] Awami Moslem League (AML) president Sheikh Rasheed said today that Chairperson of Pakistain People's Party (PPP) Bilawal Baby Bhutto Zardari ...Pak dynastic politician, son of Benazir Bhutto and grandon of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. As far as is known, Bilawal has no particular talents other than being pretty and being able to memorize political slogans, but he had the good luck to be born into the right family and he hasn't been assassinated yet... was still a child and his statements must not be taken seriously. Talking to journalists, Rasheed said that the combination of Nawaz Sharif ... served two non-consecutive terms as prime minister, heads the Pakistain Moslem League (Nawaz). Noted for his spectacular corruption, the 1998 Pak nuclear test, border war with India, and for being tossed by General Musharraf... and Asif Ali Zardari is not good for the country as both only loot the nation. He came here to support PTI leader Shah Mehmood Wormtongue Qureshi who is contesting polls against Javed Hashmi.

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India-Pakistan

Javed Hashmi announces resignation from PTI

2014-10-02

[DAWN] Suspended by his party following allegations against Imran Khan ... aka Taliban Khan, who ain't the sharpest bulb on the national tree... , the estranged elected president of Pakistain Tehrik-e-Insaf ...a political party in Pakistan. PTI was founded by former Pakistani cricket captain and philanthropist Imran Khan. The party's slogan is Justice, Humanity and Self Esteem, each of which is open to widely divergent interpretations.... (PTI) Javed Hashmi announced on Wednesday his resignation from the party presidency and its membership.

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India-Pakistan

PTI suspends Javed Hashmi's membership

2014-09-23

[DAWN] Suspending membership of renegade President of Pakistain Tehrik-e-Insaf ...a political party in Pakistan. PTI was founded by former Pakistani cricket captain and philanthropist Imran Khan. The party's slogan is Justice, Humanity and Self Esteem, each of which is open to widely divergent interpretations.... (PTI) Makhdoom Javed Hashmi, the party on Monday summoned him to the party secretariat to explain his case on September 29, DawnNews reported. PTI Chairman Imran Khan

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