Chronology of Pakistan
January 2004 (Continued IV)
Rao Farman Ali passes away
Jan 20: Maj-Gen (retd) Rao Farman Ali, former federal minister and a key player in the East Pakistan crisis, died in Rawalpindi after a brief illness. He was 82. Gen Farman Ali was the military adviser to the governor of East Pakistan in 1971 and was considered to have had complete knowledge of the events leading to the fall of Dhaka.
Bush lauds thaw in Pakistan, India ties
Jan 20: US President George Bush met Indian Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha, praising recent progress towards defusing tensions between India and Pakistan, the White House said. "The president congratulated the foreign minister on the important progress being made in the relationship between Pakistan and India," spokesman Scott McClellan said after the early-morning meeting at the presidential mansion.
Israeli minister not to visit Pakistan: FO
Jan 20: Pakistan denied an Israeli minister’s claim that he would be visiting Islamabad in March to attend a UN meeting on agriculture. "Pakistan does not have diplomatic ties with Israel and thus it is out of question for us to host him or any other Israeli nationals," Foreign Office spokesman Masood Khan said. The UN meeting, which the Israeli minister said he would attend, has already been postponed. The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation’s Rome headquarters had issued invitations for the ministerial-level crop maximisation agriculture conference to all its members including Israel. The conference was to be attended by agriculture ministers of 44 countries.
Punjab backs carryover dam
Jan 20: In a major policy shift, the Punjab supported the idea of building a new reservoir as a carryover dam, agreeing to use it for withdrawing water from season to season and from wet year to dry year, The News said.
PPP moves bill to stop issuance of ordinances
Jan 20: The Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians has submitted 18th constitutional amendment bill in the Senate secretariat for restricting the powers of the president to promulgate ordinances while the Senate is in session.
PML-QA challenges qualification of 85 MMA MPs
Jan 20: The PML-QA has once again locked horns with the provincial government of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal by re-accelerating its movement to disqualify 85 MMA parliamentarians. Most of these members of Senate and national and provincial assemblies belong to the religious alliance that is ruling the NWFP. Moazzam Butt, a leader of the PML-QA, had filed a writ petition in the Peshawar High Court, challenging the qualification of around 85 members of parliament who have been elected on bases of degrees from religious seminaries. After a settlement between the MMA and the central government, some PML-QA leaders had announced to withdraw the writ petition.
Beg denies he carried Iran's message: N-tech transfer issue
Jan 21: Gen (retd) Aslam Beg, former Chief of Army Staff denied he had carried any message from Iranian government to Nawaz Sharif government soliciting transfer of nuclear technology besides expressing shock over the way nuclear scientists were being treated, saying it was beyond his comprehension. Rumours were rife in Islamabad that Gen (retd) Beg had also been 'questioned' in connection with the ongoing inquiry started on the letter of International Atomic Energy Commission. Some reports, which were neither denied nor confirmed by official quarters, suggested that Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan had told investigators that any sharing of nuclear technology with Iran had been sanctioned by Gen Aslam Beg, who served as Pakistan's chief of the army staff between August 1988 and August 1991.
$20m grant lost to bureaucratic snags
Jan 21: Pakistan lost a $20 million grant due to bureaucratic hurdles, the head of an international donor agency said. The United Nations Population Fund failed to disburse the grant for welfare projects because of a sluggish approach of bureaucracy, UNFPA Country Representative Olivier Brasseur said in Islamabad.
Prisoners' issue raised with US
Jan 21: Pakistan is genuinely concerned about conditions of its prisoners held by the United States in the Guantanamo Bay and those in Afghanistan and has raised the issue at all appropriate levels with the American high-ups and the Kabul authorities for their early release. This was stated in the Senate by Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri on Wednesday while speaking on a motion sought to be moved by Senator Prof Khurshid Ahmed of the MMA.
Musharraf taking right steps, says US
Jan 21: US Secretary of State Colin Powell said that the United States was fully supportive of President Pervez Musharraf, saying that "we believe that he is making the right decisions for his nation". At a joint press conference with Indian External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha following his meeting with President Bush, Mr Powell stressed: "We support him (President Musharraf) and will continue to support him, and we hope and are confident that he and his security people will be able to round up those terrorists who don't want to see a better future for Pakistanis."
Lashkar destroys suspect's house
Jan 21: An armed tribal lashkar demolished the house of a man accused of harboring Al Qaeda and Taliban fugitives in Dana, South Waziristan Agency. Officials said the Kakakhel Lashkar dynamited the house of Maulvi Mohammad Abbas after he did not surrender to the administration.
Senators to be given Rs10m uplift funds
Jan 21: Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali has approved an allocation of Rs10 million for development projects identified by each senator during the current financial year , Minister of State for Environment Tahir Iqbal told the Senate. The minister said the amount had been allocated under the Tameer-i-Watan Programme. He said the funds could be spent only on the construction of roads, electrification and gas and water supply schemes.
CPJ flays newsman's detention
Jan 21: The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) says it is deeply concerned about the prolonged detention of freelance journalist Khawar Mehdi Rizvi and has called upon the Pakistan government to confirm which agency is holding Mr Rizvi , to make any charges against him public, or to release him immediately. In a letter to President Pervez Musharraf, the CPJ points out that Mr Rizvi was last seen on Dec 16, 2003, the same day that officers from the Federal Investigation Agency arrested reporter Marc Epstein and photographer Jean-Paul Guilloteau, both from the French weekly L'Express, at their hotel in Karachi.
MPs exempted from visa interviews: Kasuri
Jan 21: The United States and the United Kingdom have exempted parliamentarians from appearing for interview at the embassy, while seeking visa, Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri told Senate.
Search for Shahani extended to Afghanistan
Jan 21: Search for the kidnapped Punjab Sports and Culture Minister Sardar Naeemullah Shahani has been extended to Afghanistan’s border provinces after failure to find him in North Waziristan and its surrounding tribal areas, The News said.
N-scientists' debriefing in national interest: PM
Jan 22: Nuclear scientists are being debriefed in the larger interest of Pakistan and there should be no doubt in this regard, says Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali.
Team visited Iran, Libya to investigate claims: Rashid
Jan 22: Pakistan investigators visited Iran and Libya late last year to investigate allegations that Pakistan scientists sold nuclear secrets to the so-called "rogue states," Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad said in Isalambad. The two separate visits preceded the current probe into 13 top nuclear scientists, engineers and administrators, including Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan. The inquiry visits were prompted by a letter in November from the UN's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Mr Rashid added.
Debriefing - no one above law: Faisal
Jan 22: Interior Minister Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat said that no one was above law and a person from any organization, "of any rank", could be included in the ongoing 'debriefing' sessions if he was found involved in suspected nuclear technology transfer to any foreign country.
Musharraf talks to Peres
Jan 22: President Pervez Musharraf shook hands and conversed warmly with former Israeli prime minister Shimon Peres in Davos, Switzerland. The two met apparently by chance in public outside a VIP lounge at the annual World Economic Forum. "We all look to your leadership," Peres, told the president.
US wants seminaries' curricula broadened
Jan 22: US Secretary of State Colin Powell advised the Arab and other Muslim governments to broaden the curricula of madressahs, avoid teaching hatred, saying they should impart skills besides teaching "science and maths."
Balochistan PA disallows debate: Musharraf's policies
Jan 22: The Balochistan Assembly rejected opposition leader Kachkol Ali's resolution seeking discussion on President Pervez Musharraf's policies and the Legal Framework Order.
PPP activist sets himself on fire
Jan 22: People's Party Parliamentarians activist Dhani Bux Memon who had set himself ablaze four days ago in Shkarpur, demanding release of Asif Zardari and withdrawal of cases against Benazir Bhutto, was shifted from the Civil Hospital, Shikarpur, to the Civil Hospital, Karachi. The second civil judge and judicial magistrate of Garhi Yasin, Ishaque Lakho, allowed the shifting of Memon to the Civil Hospital, Karachi, under police custody. He was booked by police for self-immolation under section 324, 337H2, 148, 149, 109 PPC.
Reports on Hudood laws, women status launched
Jan 22: National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) formally launched its long-awaited report on Hudood Ordinances, 1979. According to an official source, the government has asked NCSW chairperson Justice Majida Rizvi (retired) not to launch this report at this time, as the government has recently reached an agreement with the MMA on the LFO issue. The alliance has outrightly rejected the findings of NCSW regarding Hudood laws. The source said none of the government functionaries, including adviser to the prime minister on women development Nilofar Bakhtiar, had accepted the invitation to preside over the launching ceremony of the report. Therefore, instead of some federal minister, a well-known independence movement worker Begum Zari Sarfaraz was asked to preside over the event.
EP asks Pakistan, Iran not to ‘interfere’ in Afghan affairs
Jan 22: The European Parliament has exhorted Pakistan and Iran to refrain from interference in the internal affairs of Afghanistan. In a report on Afghanistan, European Parliament’s Foreign Relations Committee has demanded that Pakistan and Iran should respect Afghanistan’s territorial sovereignty by refraining from interference in its internal affairs.
Three awarded death penalty in Taxila church attack case
Jan 22: An anti-terrorist Court (ATC) Rawalpindi convicted three accused for attacking a church in Taxila and killing four people and awarded death sentence on four counts each them. According to the prosecution convicts — Saifur Rehman, Muhammad Ayaz and Abu Bakar — attacked the church with grenades on August 9, 2002, in which four worshipers were killed and 20 others injured.
Govt gets LHC notice for ‘writing off’ Rs 20bn loans
Jan 22: The Lahore High Court issued notices to the federal government and the Finance Ministry on a petition that Rs 20 billion loans had been written off at the behest of President Pervez Musharraf. The petitioner, Sultan Ali of Shakargarh, through Waqar Ahmad said that on the one hand such huge loans were being written off, on the other farmers and small landowners were being ‘harassed’ for return of comparatively small amounts.
Senate prorogued amid controversy
Jan 23: While being abroad, President Pervez Musharraf prorogued the Senate, sparking a new controversy over powers of the acting president and adding a new element to the mystery surrounding the assumption of charge by Mohammadmian Soomro four days ago. "This is totally unconstitutional, this is illegal," PPP parliamentary leader Raza Rabbani told reporters about the prorogation order, which he said should have been signed by the acting president rather than General Musharraf, now in the Swiss city of Davos attending the World Economic Forum.
No change in policy on Israel: FO
Jan 23: Pakistan said that President Gen Pervez Musharraf's 'chance' meeting with former Israeli prime minister Shimon Peres at Davos should not be seen as a change in the country's policy towards Israel. "It was a chance encounter and the conversation lasted for a few minutes," said Foreign Office spokesman Masood Khan when contacted by Dawn.
Cracks emerge in Sukkur barrage
Jan 23: Cracks have developed in the structure of Sukkur barrage, the largest system of irrigation in the world and the backbone of the country's agriculture.
Over Rs326m spent by CE office, Senate told
Jan 23: The Senate was informed that over Rs326 million was spent by the then chief executive secretariat under various heads during the period from October 12, 1999 to December 31, 2002.
'3 ministers facing corruption cases'
Jan 23: Corruption cases against three cabinet members are in various trial stages in different accountability courts, the minister in-charge of the prime minister's secretariat told the Senate. In a written reply to a question tabled by Senator Prof Ghafoor Ahmed of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, the minister said the NAB had prepared a total of 11 references against Interior Minister Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat, Federal Minister for Water and Power Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao and Adviser to the Prime Minister Rana Nazir Ahmed after Oct 12, 1999.
'Fata reforms will be enforced in phases'
Jan 23: NWFP Governor Iftikhar Hussain Shah has said that reforms package for the Federally-Administered Tribal Area (Fata) will be implemented in phases. Talking to reporters at Parachinar, Kurram Agency, the governor pointed out that the reforms package of Fata would encompass four different aspects including administrative, judicial, financial and law enforcement organizations.
Hudood laws badly drafted: Majida
Jan 23: Hudood laws are full of lacunae and have been badly drafted, the chairperson of National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW), Justice Majida Rizvi (retired), said. Personal opinions of the committee members on Hudood laws have been included in the report launched on Thursday. Justice Majida Rizvi (retired) said in her opinion these laws did not reflect the correct principles of Islamic criminal law and were not in accordance with Islamic injunctions. These have caused great misery to women and ought to be repealed and the original laws be restored.
Dr Qadeer’s fate hangs in balance
Jan 23: Investigators probing the nuclear imbroglio have determined that at least two scientists acted inappropriately and exchanged information with Iran beyond the limit authorized to them by the government in late 1980s, The News quoted senior officials as saying. Officials said in 1987 former military ruler General Zia-ul-Haq had approved a longstanding request from the Iranian government for an unpublicized cooperation in peaceful nuclear program. But Zia had specifically limited Pak-Iran nuclear technology to non-military spheres. "Just before his death in 1988 when I told Zia about Iran’s growing interest in non-peaceful nuclear matters, he asked me to play around but not to yield anything substantial at any cost," said a top retired nuclear scientist, who asked not to be identified.
Guilty scientists to face stern action, says Musharraf
Jan 23: President Pervez Musharraf told CNN in Davos, Switzerland, it appeared Pakistani scientists had sold nuclear secrets abroad, but reiterated Islamabad’s position that there had been no official involvement.
LHC bars handover of scientists to foreign agencies
Jan 23: Rawalpindi branch of the Lahore High Court, hearing appeals against the detention of nuclear scientists suspected of selling technology to Iran and Libya, barred the government from handing them over to foreign agencies. "The judge ordered the government that while appeals by their families are pending in the court, the detainees must not be handed over to a foreign agency or to another state," lawyer Shah Khawar stated adding the judge directed the government to respond to petitions from the relatives of nuclear scientists about their whereabouts.
Lawyers, MMA demand release of N-scientists
Jan 23: Lawyers and Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal brought out rallies to protest the detention of nuclear scientists, and demanded their immediate release. Pakistan Bar Council Vice Chairman Qazi Muhammad Anwar had given the protest call. Representatives of the Supreme Court Bar Association, Lahore High Court Bar Association, Rawalpindi Bench, Islamabad District Bar Association and Rawalpindi District Bar Association along with the families of the detained nuclear scientists held a protest demonstration outside the Supreme Court building and demanded an end to harassment of the national heroes.
Europe's breaches passing in silence: Musharraf's complaint on nuclear issue
Jan 24: President Pervez Musharraf complained that possible breaches by European countries in respect of nuclear proliferation were passing in silence. At a breakfast meeting sponsored by the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Gen Musharraf acknowledged Pakistan had pursued a secret nuclear weapons program for 30 years that had no strict controls against leaks of technology. "The possibility of individuals being involved is there... they are going against national policy," he said, vowing to pursue a thorough inquiry into the matter. But he bemoaned that while Pakistan had been put in the world spotlight, "there are European countries involved" since the technology involved advanced metallurgy found largely in Europe.
Foreign accounts having proceeds from N-technology transfer found
Jan 24: Foreign accounts used to deposit the proceeds from the transfer of some nuclear technology to Iran have been traced back to at least two senior nuclear scientists, high-level government sources have revealed, The News said. These accounts were being operated through a Dubai-based bank, which has already provided the required information to Pakistani authorities, sources said.
Dr Qadeer confined to Islamabad
Jan 24: Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan has been confined to the capital as investigators probe whether the scientists gave away weapons technology, The News said. A government official said on condition of anonymity that "security restrictions may have been increased" on Dr Qadeer, but added that the scientist had "chosen to stay in Islamabad" while "debriefings" of laboratory employees take place.
Motion against debriefing of N-scientists disallowed
Jan 24: Pandemonium marred the proceedings of the Balochistan Assembly session over the admissibility of an adjournment motion moved by the opposition leader against the debriefing of nuclear scientists. After voting on the adjournment motion, the speaker rejected it.
Musharraf, Cheney discuss issues
Jan 24: US Vice-President Dick Cheney, who met President Gen Pervez Musharraf in Davos, Switzerland, expressed satisfaction over the steps taken by Pakistan for nuclear non-proliferation. Talking to APP after meeting, the president said he was happy that the US understood that Pakistan government was not involved in any proliferation.
'IAEA working with Pakistan'
Jan 24: The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Mohamed ElBaradei, said in Davos, Switzerland, that the agency was working with Pakistan to trace and cripple a sophisticated underworld thought to be helping countries with clandestine nuclear weapons program.
ARD leader indicted for 'defaming' army
Jan 24: The Islamabad district and sessions judge indicted Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy President MNA Makhdoom Javed Hashmi for defaming the army, inciting mutiny and forging documents, lawyers said. The trial was held in the Adiyala Jail.
Ex-Taliban governor held
Jan 24: Law enforcement agencies arrested Mullah Abdul Manan Khawajazai, a former Taliban commander and governor of Afghanistan's Sera-i-Pul province, at Chaman.
Pakistan, India not to jail straying civilians
Jan 24: Indian and Pakistani frontier guards agreed that civilians accidentally crossing into each other’s territory would not be jailed but handed over. "It was unanimously decided that if any civilian mistakenly crosses into each other’s territory he would be handed over to the respective country during flag meetings," Hemant Purohit, Deputy Inspector General of India’s Border Security Force (BSF), told reporters in the northern Indian city of Amritsar.
Jirga rejects ultimatum
Jan 25: A jirga of the Bakakhel Wazir rejected government ultimatum to produce missing Punjab Minister Naeemullah Shahani. The jirga, which met at Mandi Bakakhel, held the North Waziristan Agency's administrator responsible for the mysterious disappearance of the minister.
Newsman booked for'anti-state' activity
Jan 25: Police confirmed that a reporter arrested in December while working with two French journalists had been charged with 'anti-state' activity. "Three people have been arrested, including Khawar Mehdi Rizvi, for anti-state activity," Balochistan police chief Shoaib Suddle told AFP. Mr Suddle identified the other two detained in Quetta as Allah Noor and Abdullah Shakir. Mr Rizvi was engaged by the French journalists and "he in collaboration with Noor and Shakir arranged a fake video on Taliban training in Pakistan and tried to defame the country," the police chief said.