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India-Pakistan
Ex-ISI chief being investigated for corruption: Sanaullah
2023-03-09
[Dawn] Former spy chief retired Lt-Gen Faiz Hamid is being investigated for alleged corruption, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah revealed, while his party leader Maryam Nawaz Sharif
...served two three 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...
called for the retired general’s court martial over his alleged role in bringing down her father’s government and implicating both her and Nawaz Sharif in NAB cases.

Meanwhile,
...back at the barn, Bossy's udder had begun to ache...
Gen Hamid also seemed to break his silence over the fresh wave of allegations being levelled against him — by the PML-N in general and Ms Sharif in particular — when he told a journalist that it is the army chief who calls the shots in the military.

In a presser on Wednesday, the interior minister said that a probe was underway against the ex-Inter-Services Intelligence
...the Pak military intelligence agency that controls the military -- heads of ISI typically get promoted into the Chief of Army Staff position. It serves as a general command center for favored turban groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad, tries to influence the politix of neighboring countries, and carries out a (usually) low-level war against India in Kashmir...
(ISI) boss and his brother over alleged corruption and accumulating assets beyond means. However,
you can observe a lot just by watching...
he said it would be premature to say anything further at this stage.

When it was pointed out that any probe into assets beyond means would fall in the domain of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), the law minister said an investigation was already under way.

"When something surfaces, you will be informed," he told the questioner.

Separately, in an interview with a newly-launched digital news outlet, Ms Sharif demanded strong action against the former ISI DG for his role in getting her and her father convicted in NAB corruption references in 2017.

Unlike her arch-rival Imran Khan
...aka The Great Khan, who is the lightweight's lightweight...
, who is demanding the court martial of the previous army chief, Ms Sharif stopped short of seeking any major punitive action against retired Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, saying that as of now, she wanted to make an example of Gen Hamid.

"I had spoken against Gen Hamid in court when he was the sitting ISI chief for his alleged involvement in getting me and Nawaz Sharif punished. I had evidence against him," she said, referring to former Islamabad High Court judge Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui’s claims that the spy agency tried to prevail on him to issue a verdict of their liking.

When asked to comment on the PML-N leader’s demand for Gen Hamid’s court martial for his alleged unconstitutional acts, Rana Sanaullah said that this was a matter for GHQ to decide.

"Politicians make demands and express their viewpoint," he said, explaining that a court martial of a former military officer does not fall within the jurisdiction of civil authorities.

Later, senior journalist Kamran Khan claimed in a tweet that the former ISI chief had reached out to him and provided a response to the allegations being levelled by Ms Sharif.

According to the journalist, Gen Hamid argued that in 2017-18, he was simply a major general in the army and asked whether, under military discipline, a lone officer could topple the government.

He was also quoted by Mr Khan as saying that it is the chief of army staff who has the final say, and that all the major decisions — seemingly a reference to Nawaz Sharif’s disqualification and subsequent imprisonment — were taken by the courts.

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India-Pakistan
Cycle of borrowing
2019-05-24
[DAWN] THE PTI government is caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. When they procrastinated on signing up with the International Monetary Fund, there was unanimous condemnation, and their star finance minister was sent home. Now that they have signed up to the programme, there is widespread condemnation of having sold out to the IMF that has also been dubbed by some as the ’new East India Company’.

Politics in this country, assisted by the media, seems to have become a game of pulling everyone and everything down, without putting forward any solution. There is unabated government bashing, which is likely to culminate in the demand to send the current set of rulers packing. The replacements for the post of finance minister, the State Bank governor, and the chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue are all being presented as demons and agents of the West and the IMF.

Why is it escaping the critics that this is not the first time that we are begging from the IMF? In fact, it is reportedly the 21st time. Why is it escaping them that this is not the first time that we have imported finance ministers and governors of the State Bank? Going to the IMF and having Shaukat Aziz, Moeen Qureshi, Shamshad Akhtar and their ilk is quite routine. Prime Minister Imran Khan
... aka Taliban Khan, who isn't your heaviest-duty thinker, maybe not even among the top five...
was trying to be different by having a ’local’ finance minister and getting help from friends such as Soddy Arabia
...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face...
, the UAE and China to avoid going to the IMF. But he was hounded several times a day for eight months, until he finally succumbed.

With all this howling going on, no one wants to point out the elephant in the room: the fact that we as a nation and as individuals are living beyond our means. If you have been to a government office in Pakistain (including the offices of military officials), is it in any way less opulent than a government office in the West? At the top level, while the chancellor of Germany will herself get her visiting counterpart a cup of coffee, liveried waiters will do that for our visitors in Islamabad.

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India-Pakistan
Arrest warrants issued for Shaukat Aziz
2019-03-24
[DAWN] The accountability court on Friday issued perpetual warrants of arrest for ex-prime minister Shaukat Aziz and his accomplice Arif Alauddin in a reference.

He was accused of misusing authority and causing loss to the national exchequer.

Accountability Court Judge Arshad Malik issued the arrest warrants against the accused due to his continuous absence from proceedings in a corruption scam.

The court expressed displeasure over the absence of the accused and also issued arrest warrants against the other accused, Arif Alauddin.

The former prime minister is accused of illegally appointing Basharat Hasan Bashir as consultant for Alternative Energy Board on an MP-II scale salary package. The appointment was in violation of MP scale policy guidelines and the board’s regulations.

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India-Pakistan
In Senate, opposition parties criticise government for not being forceful enough in dealing with TLP
2018-11-07
[DAWN] The Senate convened on Tuesday under the chairmanship of Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani to debate the law and order situation after the Supreme Court's acquittal of Aasia Bibi in the blasphemy case against her.

Before the debate formally began, Minister of IT Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui filed a motion to withdraw proposed amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act on behalf of the government, which was approved by the house.

The minister argued that the bill had been authored on the directives of deposed Islamabad High Court judge Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui and it was therefore proper that the government re-examine it.

Right after, the opposition pushed for a debate on Tehrik-e-Labbaik Pakistain's (TLP) nationwide protests.

"We do not want the state and Constitution to be sullied like this," the PPP's Parliamentary Leader, Senator Sherry Rehman said.

"The entire nation was at a standstill for three days. If we start to examine [what happened], they [the government] will say 'This was also done before; the state entered a similar agreement last year as well," she continued.

"[But] what happened this time is a grave tragedy. We are not here to taunt and challenge the government ‐ enough of that was done on the streets for [those] three days.

"[But] Our army chief was called out by name. The judiciary, the state and the army were dragged [into the mess]: what kind of message is being sent with these actions?" she asked.

"The government was all talk and no action. This was the first time we've heard the state challenged like this. How can this challenge be ignored?"

Link


India-Pakistan
Key bill seeking strict punishments for false blasphemy accusations withdrawn from Senate on PTI request
2018-10-14
[DAWN] The Senate Secretariat on Saturday returned the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Bill 2018 on a request of the ruling 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 of the House in the Senate Syed Shibli Faraz had on Friday submitted a request to the secretariat for the withdrawal of the bill.

The bill had been moved on the directions of the Islamabad High Court after (then) Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui had ordered last year that those who make false accusations of blasphemy should be given the same punishment as those convicted of blasphemy under the law.

However,
Switzerland makes more than cheese...
in a statement yesterday, Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Pir Noorul Haq Qadri said that the government was determined to restore the bill to its "original soul" under Section 295-C of the Pakistain Penal Code (PPC).

Section 295-C was introduced in 1986 mandating the death penalty
for "use of derogatory remarks in respect of the Holy Prophet (PTUI!)".

Qadri also said that PTI members in the National Assembly and the Senate would strongly oppose any amendments to Section 295-C.

Link


India-Pakistan
Senator announces to boycott in camera meetings to discuss blasphemy law
2018-10-12
[DAWN] Jamaat Ulema-e-Islam
...Assembly of Islamic Clergy, or JUI, is a Pak Deobandi (Hanafi) political party. There are two main branches, one led by Maulana Fazlur Rahman, and one led by Maulana Samiul Haq. Fazl is active in Pak politix and Sami spends more time running his madrassah. Both branches sponsor branches of the Taliban, though with plausible deniability...
Fazal (JUI-F) Senator Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri
...Central Secretary General of JUI-F, member of the Pak senate, formerly provincial minister of Balochistan. He has a master's degree in Islam and runs a madrassah...
on Wednesday announced that he will boycott meetings of the Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology if in camera meetings are held to discuss a proposed law seeking equal punishments for those convicted of blasphemy and those who make false accusations of blasphemy.

The Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Bill 2018 was moved on the directions of Islamabad High Court after Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui ordered last year during a case that those who make false accusations of blasphemy should be given the same punishment as those convicted of blasphemy.

The bill was later prepared by the government and was referred by the upper house to the committee for discussion.

Chaired by Senator Rubina Khalid, the committee decided not to discuss the bill in the absence of Information Technology Minister Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, who tabled the bill in Senate but Senator Haideri still started discussing the issue.

"The matter is being discussed in the religious circles and we are of the view that such kinds of bills should not be passed. Many people register baseless cases of theft, robberies and other crimes and people are killed in the main markets but the aggrieved families cannot prove murder because witnesses refuse to record their statements in the court," Mr Haideri said.

Link


India-Pakistan
Justice Shaukat Siddiqui removed as Islamabad High Court judge
2018-10-12
[DAWN] President Arif Alvi has removed Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui as a judge of the Islamabad High Court (IHC), a notification issued by the law ministry said on Thursday.

The president took the decision after the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) recommended his removal, the statement added.

A letter written by the SJC had emerged earlier in the day, in which the council, comprising five Supreme Court judges, had said it found Justice Siddiqui guilty of misconduct over a speech he delivered in July earlier this year before the Rawalpindi District Bar Association.

"The council is unanimously of the opinion that in the matter of making his speech before the District Bar Association, Rawalpindi on [July 21] Mr. Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui [...] had displayed conduct unbecoming of a judge of a high court and was, thus, guilty of misconduct and he is, therefore, liable to be removed from his office under Article 209(6) of the Constitution," the communication read.

The SJC is a constitutional forum that examines the conduct of superior court judges and then recommends their removal from the top post.

While addressing an audience at the Rawalpindi bar, Justice Siddiqui had claimed that personnel of the Inter-Services Intelligence
...the Pak military intelligence agency that controls the military -- heads of ISI typically get promoted into the Chief of Army Staff position. It serves as a general command center for favored turban groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad, tries to influence the politix of neighboring countries, and carries out a (usually) low-level war against India in Kashmir...
(ISI) were manipulating judicial proceedings.

He had further claimed that the spy agency had approached IHC Chief Justice Muhammad Anwar Khan Kasi and said: "'We do not want to let 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...
and his daughter come out [of the prison] until elections, do not include Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui on the bench [hearing Sharifs' appeals]'."

Justice Siddiqui had offered no evidence to support the claims he made.

The IHC judge was facing a reference over his controversial speech, the third reference filed against him.

Link


India-Pakistan
Rawalpindi district bar distances itself from Justice Siddiqui's allegations, Supreme Court wants answers
2018-07-24
[DAWN] The District Bar Association of Rawalpindi on Monday distanced itself from Islamabad High Court (IHC) judge Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui's speech in which he accused a security agency of meddling in judicial affairs.

Separately, the Office of the Chief Justice of Pakistain sought answers from the IHC chief justice on the allegations raised by Justice Siddiqui, and directed him to collect all evidence available for review.

While addressing the Rawalpindi bar on Saturday, the IHC judge had claimed that personnel of the Inter-Services Intelligence
...the Pak military intelligence agency that controls the military -- heads of ISI typically get promoted into the Chief of Army Staff position. It serves as a general command center for favored turban groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad, tries to influence the politix of neighboring countries, and carries out a (usually) low-level war against India in Kashmir...
(ISI) were manipulating judicial proceedings.

Amidst chants of "shame!" from members of the bar and other attendees, he had claimed that the spy agency had approached IHC Chief Justice Muhammad Anwar Khan Kasi and said: "'We do not want to let 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...
and his daughter come out [of the prison] until elections; do not include Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui on the bench [hearing the Sharifs' appeals]'."

Link


India-Pakistan
Pakistan army calls for probe into claims against spy agency
2018-07-23
[PRESSTV] The Mighty Pak Army has called for the Supreme Court to launch an investigation into claims made by a high court judge pertaining to the country's spy agency interfering in judiciary affairs.

On Sunday, the Pak military released a statement calling for the initiation of appropriate process to ascertain the authenticity of the allegations leveled by Justice Islamabad High Court judge Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui at the Inter-Services Intelligence
...the Pak military intelligence agency that controls the military -- heads of ISI typically get promoted into the Chief of Army Staff position. It serves as a general command center for favored turban groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad, tries to influence the politix of neighboring countries, and carries out a (usually) low-level war against India in Kashmir...
(ISI).

"In order to safeguard the sanctity and credibility of the state institutions, Honorable Supreme Court of Pakistain has been requested to initiate appropriate process to ascertain the veracity of the allegations and take actions accordingly," added the ISI's public relations.

Chief Justice Saqib Nisar responded to Siddiqui's remarks by calling on the Pakistain Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) to present the complete record of his remarks.

On Saturday, Siddiqui said that the ISI had manipulated judicial proceedings in several cases, such as the ouster of premier 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...
He also claimed that the ISI had asked him to provide assurance that Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law would remain in jail until July 25 which coincides with the country's elections

Sharif and his daughter Maryam were nabbed
Yez got nuttin' on me, coppers! Nuttin'!
upon arrival in Pakistain on July 13.

Siddiqui also claimed that the ISI had offered him the position of chief justice of the Islamabad High Court.

On Wednesday, Siddiqui chided the ISI and police over alleged forced abductions, accusing the security apparatus of breaking the law.
Link


India-Pakistan
Pakistan's spy agency scolded over forced disappearances
2018-07-19
[PRESSTV] A Pak high court judge has chided the country's powerful spy agency and police over alleged forced abductions, accusing the security apparatus of breaking the law.

Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui of the Islamabad High Court on Wednesday publicly called on the military's top brass to rein in the country's powerful Inter-Services Intelligence
...the Pak military intelligence agency that controls the military -- heads of ISI typically get promoted into the Chief of Army Staff position. It serves as a general command center for favored turban groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad, tries to influence the politix of neighboring countries, and carries out a (usually) low-level war against India in Kashmir...
(ISI) to protect both its reputation and that of the country.

He said the group was "involved in corrupt practices including providing aid in the commission of offences and receiving their share from crime money."

"I am constrained to observe that local police is in league with the mighty agencies who have disrupted the civic fiber of the country," Siddiqui said in a written order concerning a petition about the missing people. Siddiqui was commenting on a case involving a man who was allegedly kidnapped by security officials.

"From the mannerism, body language and complexion, he looks under immense fear and a lot of pressure of dire consequence, therefore his statement does not inspire confidence," the judge said.

Pakistain’s security establishment has been frequently accused of overseeing enforced disappearances to quell criticism from activists and media workers.

In recent years, a growing number of abductions have taken place brazenly in major cities such as Bloody Karachi
...formerly the capital of Pakistain, now merely its most important port and financial center. It is among the largest cities in the world, with a population of 18 million, most of whom hate each other and many of whom are armed and dangerous...
, Lahore and even the capital Islamabad.
Link


India-Pakistan
Every citizen has right to know religious beliefs of civil servants: IHC
2018-07-05
[DAWN] The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday issued a detailed verdict in a case pertaining to controversial amendments made to the Khatm-e-Nabuwwat oath in the Elections Act 2017 last year, observing that a Law Ministry draftsman deliberately changed the affidavit in the oath to benefit the Ahmadi community.

The judgement authored by IHC Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui observed that the Parliament had overlooked the mistake, but later restored the original affidavit.

The detailed order said that the the court, "in the larger interests of the country", is avoiding disclosing the names of many who held high positions in the bureaucracy, judiciary, military, naval, and air forces and other sensitive and important institutions while hiding their real religious identities as part of the Ahmadi community as it would "bring a bad taste", adding that the practice "has to be brought to a halt".

The order went on to say that "Every citizen of the country has [the] right to know that the persons holding the key posts belong to which religious community, the persons scheming syllabus for their children profess what religious beliefs, the persons formulating their policies tend to hold their beloved Prophet (PTUI!) in what esteem, the persons believed to be the ambassadors and representatives of their Islamic ideology... last but not the least, the defenders in whose hands the defence of Islamic Theocratic Republic of Pakistain rests belongs to which religion? This was the responsibility of the State, and the Federal Government in particular, but it has badly failed to discharge it."

Regarding the change in the affidavit related to the Khatm-e-Nabuwwat oath, the court noted that it appears that a deliberate and motivated effort was made by the draftsmen of the bill to bring the Ahmadi community into the loop of majority in order to "diminish their separate identity as non-Moslems".
Link


India-Pakistan
Pakistan High Court judge calls for ‘termination’ of Ahmaddiyas
2018-03-30
[ATimes] The community, already under siege in Pakistan, now fears an increase in violence after 'menacing' verdict by Islamabad judge.

Pakistan’s minority Ahmadiyya community, who are shunned by staunch followers of Islam, face more persecution after a ruling on March 9 by a High Court judge.

A judge at the Islamabad High Court has ordered that applicants for jobs in the public service declare their faith before being considered for any positions. The court urged state institutions to ensure that citizens are “easily identifiable” by faith.

The verdict was handed down by Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui, who last year declared blasphemers “terrorists” and worse than jihadists.

The verdict was delivered after hearings on amendments to the controversial Khatm-e-Nabuwwat, or finality of prophethood, clause in the Election Reforms Act, 2017, which would have eliminated a separate voters’ list for Ahmadis, an Islamic sect declared heretics in Pakistan.

The Second Amendment to the Constitution excommunicated the Ahmadiyya Muslims in 1974, enshrining belief that Khatm-e-Nabuwwat was integral to the Islamic faith.
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