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Chronology of Pakistan
August 2003
Funds traced to Pakistan: FBI: Attacks on US landmarks
Aug 1: A senior official of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation has informed US lawmakers that funding for the Sept 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States was traced to Pakistan. John S. Pistole, deputy assistant director of the FBI's counter-terrorism division, told the Senate governmental affairs committee, that investigators had "traced the origin of the funding of the 9/11 attacks back to financial accounts in Pakistan." He said high-ranking and well-known Al Qaeda operatives in Pakistan "played a major role in moving the money forward, eventually into the hands of the hijackers located in the United States." Mr Pistole did not specify in his testimony how those accounts in Pakistan were funded.
Noor back home with praise, well wishes
Aug 1: Two-and-a-half-year-old Noor Fatima, who has come to symbolize a new thaw between Pakistan and India since she traveled on the first bus service revived after 18 months to Bangalore for a complex cardiac surgery, returned home along with her parents after a successful treatment. "We are very happy that our child has been cured. In India, we were given a tremendous reception. It was a great experience. Initially, we had some security concerns in our minds, but the way we were greeted by the general public, our fears allayed in no time," Mr Nadeem Sajjad, father of the girl, told reporters on the family's arrival in Lahore by bus.
Pushtunistan issue may be revived, says Gen Beg
Aug 1: The situation along the Afghan border will revive the Pushtunistan issue, warns former army chief Gen Mirza Aslam Beg. Kashmir is more of a problem for India than Pakistan , says the general who also believes that democracy in Pakistan is "hostage to men in khaki". The retired-general-turned politician expressed these views at a seminar at Washington's think-tank, the Brookings Institution, organized by the Pakistan American League.
Lawmakers ask Bush to monitor Pakistan
Aug 1: Sixteen US lawmakers have urged President George W. Bush to force Pakistan to end "cross-border terrorism" in Kashmir before giving any more economic assistance to the country. In a letter distributed among Washington-based South Asian correspondents, the legislators accused Pakistan of moving "terrorist camps from Azad Kashmir to Punjab." Such a move, they said, was not enough. "The camps, and the groups, must be dismantled, the terrorist financial networks must be eliminated and the terrorists must be arrested and prosecuted, not merely put under house arrest or other informal detention."
95 arrested after Parachinar riots
August 1: Authorities in the curfew-bound town of Parachinar have rounded up 95 people since violence erupted following the death of a man in a police shooting four days ago, officials said. A mob of some 2,500 tribesmen in Parachinar, 260 kilometres south-west of Peshawar on July 28 ransacked offices and torched government vehicles after the tribal police shot dead a man who had refused to stop his car at a check-post, officials said.
US has no plans for Kashmir
Aug 2: The United States "has no solution (to) and no plans for resolving" the 56-year-old Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan, said a senior US official. Addressing a seminar at Washington's Brookings Institution earlier this week , a senior State Department official urged India and Pakistan to try to resolve the dispute on their own rather than looking for outside help. "I must say we have no vision of a solution. We don't have plans for how to resolve the Kashmir dispute," Gerry Fierstein, Director South Asia at the US State Department, told the seminar.
MMA stand on LFO intact: Noorani
August 2: President Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal and leader of Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan Maulana Shah Ahmad Noorani has said that the MMA was under no compulsion to allow General Pervez Musharraf in uniform till October 2004, but it was his repeated demand that he be given more time to return to civilian life. Addressing a press conference at the office of MMA Information Secretary Pir Ijaz Hashmi in Lahore, Noorani said that first Musharraf wanted to keep uniform as long he remained president, then he asserted for three years and later for two years but now the period has been reduced to one year, he said.
Will Pak troops enjoy immunity from ICC?
August 2: A question concerning the likely dispatch of Pakistani troops to Iraq being asked in Washington is will they have immunity from the International Criminal Court (ICC) for possible "war crimes" in Iraq? Diplomats and experts point out that the United States had obtained immunity from the ICC before invading Iraq, and has now obtained one year's extension. A United Nations mandate would have provided immunity to any forces included in the "peace-keeping" mission.
Pakistan not informed of US allegations: FO
Ausust 2: A senior official of the Foreign Office said Washington had not informed it of allegations made by a top US counter-terrorism official that funding for the Sept 11 attacks was traced to al-Qaeda accounts in Pakistan. The issue came up last week when John S Pistole, deputy assistant director of the FBI's counter-terrorism division, was testifying before a US Senate committee. Pistole told lawmakers that investigators traced the origin of the funding for the Sept 11 attacks to financial accounts in Pakistan.
Ban on carrying arms to be extended to tribal urban centers
August 2: The government decision to ban carrying of firearms in Miramshah, Mirali and Razmak towns in the North Waziristan tribal agency would be gradually extended to other urban centres in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). The ban on carrying firearms is already in force in the urban centres of Kurram and Bajaur, which are generally considered as the two most developed tribal agencies. With enforcement of the ban in North Waziristan, the tribal agencies where the tribesmen can still carry firearms in urban centres include South Waziristan, Khyber, Orakzai and Mohmand.
Law to acquire 'benami' property in the making
ISLAMABAD: The government is empowering High Courts to declare all illegally held assets and businesses without owner's name as government property with punishment of imprisonment and fines to the holder. The government is introducing Anti-Benami Law to this effect. An intelligence network, organized by professional engagement with local and international financial, forensic and detection systems, will detect such assets and businesses.
Gilgit explosion leaves 45 dead
Aug 2: At least 45 people were killed and over 120 injured when explosives used in road works caught fire and detonated in the remote Darel tehsil of Diamir district, about 250km south of Gilgit, official sources said. Chilas Assistant Commissioner Adam Shah told Dawn that a fire broke out in the house of Waris Khan, a local contractor, at around 9.30pm in Gayal village, and soon engulfed at least 30 nearby houses.
International force may be deployed at LoC
August 3: An international mechanism to check alleged infiltration from across the Line of Control by deputing an international helicopter-borne force is under "active consideration" in European capitals, a defense source in Brussels told The News. The option of monitoring the border was first expounded by British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, known as Straw Formula. European diplomats have told the two nuclear rivals in South Asia that a workable mechanism to monitor the alleged infiltration is essential as Western capitals are increasingly linking their economic and defense relations with India and Pakistan to their respective resolve and efforts to fight terrorism in the region.
US F-16 offer to India resented
Aug 4: Pakistan expressed its angry reaction to Washington's reported offer of F-16 aircraft to India, declaring it as "very, very disturbing" as it would cause "very, very negative impact on the South Asian security situation". Foreign Office spokesman Masud Khan said this when he was asked for a comment at his weekly news conference on a Washington report about the supply of the highly rated combat fighter aircraft by the US to India after Pakistan was refused delivery of several squadrons of the same kind of aircraft by the US administration over a decade ago.
Al Rasheed Trust SHC rules against SBP freeze on accounts
Aug 4: The Sindh High Court struck down a State Bank (SBP) directive to the Habib Bank to freeze the accounts of Al Rasheed Trust for its suspected involvement in terrorist activities, and ordered the latter to encash the account-holder's cheque for Rs400,000 dishonored by it on Sept 25, 2001. Muhammad Suleman, a trustee of Al Rasheed Trust, moved a writ petition in the court when a cheque presented by him to the HBL Forex Branch, Habib Square, Karachi, was dishonored.
Judiciary's fresh oath a 'policy matter': PHC CJ
Aug 4: The issue of superior judiciary's fresh oath under the 1973 Constitution is a "policy matter", Peshawar High Court's Chief Justice Shakirullah Jan told reporters. "We will follow whatever direction come from the Supreme Court," the PHC chief justice explained at an encounter with the national press after he inaugurated an eight-week training course for civil judges.
Swiss judge convicts Benazir, Asif
Aug 5: A Swiss judge has found former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, her husband Asif Ali Zardari and a Swiss lawyer guilty of money laundering and receiving bribes from two Swiss firms nine years ago. Ms Bhutto, Mr Zardari and Jens Schlegelmilch were guilty of arranging an illegal 6 per cent commission or "bribe" worth $12 million for awarding a pre-shipment customs inspection contract to Swiss firms Societe Generale de Surveillance and Cotecna, according to a copy of the judgment obtained by AFP.
He awarded Ms Bhutto and Mr Zardari a suspended six months prison sentence and fined them $50,000 each.
Balochistan governor resigns
Aug 5: Balochistan Governor Lt-Gen (retd) Abdul Quadir resigned. No reason was given for the move.
US welcomes Pakistan help
Aug 5: Gen Richard Myers, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that Pakistan was providing tremendous support to the United States in tracing the Taliban and Al Qaeda remnants. Talking about his recent visit to the region, Gen Myers told a briefing at the Pentagon that in Pakistan he discussed the ongoing operations on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border with his counterparts.
FC man dies in rocket attack
Aug 5: One of the Frontier Constabulary troops was killed while four others injured in an attack on an FC check-post on the Sindh-Balochistan border in the jurisdiction of the Bugti police of Jacobabad district. Unidentified assailants used rockets and hand grenades in the attack as a result one FC sepoy was killed on the spot and four others were injured.
FBI secretly holding Pakistani
Aug 5: The US Federal Bureau of Investigation has secretly arrested a Pakistani national suspected of having close ties to Al Qaeda terror mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed , diplomatic sources told Dawn in Washington. Uzair Paracha, 23, was arrested four months ago in New York City at the office of the shipping company where he worked, the sources said, adding that the Pakistan embassy in Washington was informed of the arrest.
Islamabad, Kabul to bury hatchet
Aug 5: Pakistan has agreed to delete six more items from the negative trade list, besides sending sugar to Afghanistan to sweeten the bitter ties with its southern neighbor. At a joint press conference in Islamabad, Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz and his Afghan counterpart Dr Ashraf Ghani also announced cut in freight charges, provision of electricity to Afghanistan as some of the major decisions taken by the second round of Joint Economic Commission (JEC). Afghanistan was offered a major concession by accepting all three demands.
664 bunkers to be constructed along LoC
Aug 5: The Northern Areas administration has allocated over Rs 41 million for the construction of 664 bunkers along the Line of Control (LoC) in Baltistan and Astore regions, Northern Areas Home and Information Secretary Saeed Ahmed Khan said.
Violent protests erupt in Nawabshah
Aug 5: A sizeable number of protesters ransacked the offices of the Taluka council Nawabash, the Hesco and municipal office and torched the car of an MPA against the improper working of district and Taluka councils, insanitation and closure of power supply. Demonstrators coming from all corners of the city burnt effigies of the district and Nawabshah Taluka councils and also attacked the municipal office.
NA dissolution only after SC approval
Aug 6: The government and the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal smoothed their differences on two key provisions in the Legal Framework Order , and decided that the remaining bone of contention about when President Gen Pervez Musharraf would lay down his uniform would be decided by the president and the MMA leaders. Official sources privy to the government-MMA talks told Dawn that both the parties have struck agreement on the president's discretionary powers under Article 58(2)(B) and the establishment of the National Security Council. The president would enjoy the power to dissolve the National Assembly if a situation arose when the running of the government became impossible, but the order would attain finality only when the Supreme Court approved it. The dissolution order would be referred to the Supreme Court automatically. The National Security Council, which was proposed by President Gen Pervez Musharraf to "formalize the role of the armed forces in politics" would not be a constitutional body. It would be created through an act of parliament. Its position would remain as a "consultative body." It would not be a supra-constitutional institution, as was apprehended by the MMA.
Awais Ghani appointed new Balochistan governor
Aug 6: The government has appointed Sardar Awais Ghani, a former federal minister, as the new governor of Balochistan. The decision about the appointment of Awais Ghani was taken after high-level consultations by the federal government.
Saifullah Piracha detained
Aug 6: Saifullah Piracha, the father of Uzair Piracha, who was held in New York on March 31, has been detained in Karachi by Pakistan authorities. The US government is expected to file charges against Uzair. The Washington Post said, "Authorities believe that Piracha family business may have been used as a cover for attempts to smuggle al-Qaeda operatives or weapons into the United States".
World Bank links lending to reforms
Aug 6: The World Bank lending size for Pakistan is linked with the steadfast implementation of reforms, according to the official sources. New financing commitments of the Bank could go upto $900 million per annum, including $600 million under the concessional IDA facility, and $300 million under IBRD loans, if reform process continues during the next three-years (2003-06). However, in case of hiccups in policy implementation, the financing level would fall to $400 million per annum, and in case of difficulties in executing major structural and institutional reforms, the Bank would only lend $200 million annually.
Commanders back COAS on uniform
Aug. 7: Corps Commanders have unanimously expressed their confidence in the leadership of President Gen Pervez Musharraf, endorsing his point of view that no timeframe could be given for the removal of his military uniform. Sources told Dawn that during the Corps Commanders' meeting, held under the chairmanship of President Musharraf, it was also decided that no dictation should be accepted to shed his military uniform.
'Swiss court had served summons on Benazir, Asif'
Aug 7: The Swiss court had served summons on former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and her husband Asif Ali Zardari in a graft case against them and their lawyers had tried to delay the legal proceedings in Switzerland , head of the International Law Group Jeremy P. Carver said in Geneva. Asif Zardari was served summons in Lahore jail while Benazir Bhutto, too, was delivered summons from the Swiss court, he said, adding that their lawyers were involved throughout the legal process in Switzerland and had filed dozens of appeals to delay the process, Jeremy Carver, who had worked for Government of Pakistan in 1997-98 for pursuing corruption cases against Benazir Bhutto in the UK.
Norway cancels invitation to Benazir
Aug 7: Former Prime Minister and Chairperson Pakistan People's Party Benazir Bhutto, who was slated to be the keynote speaker at a seminar in Norway , has had her invitation cancelled following the Swiss court ruling against her, sources told Dawn.
Quaid's house made cultural centre
Aug 7: The Indian government said a bungalow in Mumbai where the Quaid-i-Azam lived has been converted into a cultural centre. Junior Foreign Minister Digvijay Singh told parliament the bungalow had been renamed the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) Mumbai branch office and would have facilities for cultural activities.
High courts cannot interfere in service matters, says LHC
Aug 7: Justice M Javed Buttar of the Lahore High Court (LHC) held that the Supreme Court of Pakistan had restrained the high courts from making direct interference in matters of service, and transfer and postings. The court observed that earlier, the LHC had persistently been interfering in these matters despite the fact the SC continuously objected, with issuing directives that it was beyond the jurisdiction of the high courts and hence they should not entertain such petitions.
INS procedures create problems for Pakistani students, workers
Aug 7: Pakistanis on valid student (F-1) and high-tech employment (H-1) visas are facing new problems when trying to re-enter the United States, The News reports from Washington. These Pakistanis have lost their admission status and some may lose their jobs on H-1 visas due to prolonged absence and uncertainty about their return at all.
Demo against US, IMF in Islamabad
Aug 7: A protest march was held in Islamabad against the policies of the US, the IMF, the World Bank and multinational companies. The march was jointly organized by the Pakistan Mazdoor Kisan Party, the Inqalabi Jedojahd Party and the Democratic Students Federation. Addressing the gathering, the speakers said Pakistan has become an American colony and "we have been made hostages in the hands of America, IMF, Word Bank, World Trade Organization and rulers of America".
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