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Chronology of Pakistan
January 2004
Musharraf wins vote of confidence
Jan 1: President Pervez Musharraf secured vote of confidence from parliament and the four provincial assemblies amid MMA abstention and opposition boycott. According to official results announced by the Chief Election Commissioner, 658 members of the Senate, the National Assembly and the four provincial assemblies voted in favour of the president. Only one vote was polled against the president and that was by MMA leader Prof Sajid Mir. In all 175 members abstained from taking part in voting and 336 remained absent from the proceedings. In purely vote-count technical terms, the president secured 374 votes, with one opposing him, 112 abstained and 215 counted as absent from the proceedings. The president secured 56.23 per cent votes from a total of 1,170 members of parliament and the four assemblies. In the Sen 56 voted in favour of Musharraf, one opposed and 42 remained absent in the 100-member House. Late Maulana Noorani’s seat is still vacant. In the National Assembly 191 members supported the president, 58 abstained and 92 remained absent from the proceedings in the 342-member House. One seat is still vacant following the murder of Maulana Azam Tariq.
99 Sindh MPAs vote for Musharraf
Jan 1: The Sindh Assembly reposed confidence in President Pervez Musharraf with 99 out of 168 member House voted for the resolution, seeking vote of confidence for the president. Two opposition MPAs, PPPP’s Dr Sohrab Sarki and Bano Saghir were among those sided with the PML-QA, the PML-F, the National Alliance and the PPPP Patriots and voted for President Musharraf. The MMA abstained from the voting, the PPPP boycotted, while the jailed MPA of Mohajir Qaumi Movement Younus Khan was not produced in the House. No vote was cast against the resolution.
28 votes for Musharraf in Balochistan PA
Jan 1: With conspicuous absence of 18 members of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), the Balochistan Assembly’s 28 out of 65 members reposed confidence in President Pervez Musharraf in the special assembly session. Twenty-nine members attended the session. They included PPPP’s Shafiq Ahmed Khan, who abstained from the voting. Besides MMA, one of the major coalition partners of Jam Yousuf government, 18 more MPAs of the combined opposition also boycotted the session.
30 NWFP MPAs repose confidence in Musharraf
Jan 1: Thirty members in NWFP Assembly including PPP-S, PML-QA, independents and one from the MMA cast trust vote for President Musharraf, 27 were absent while 67 members of the ruling alliance present on the occasion abstained from voting.
President’s consent needed to change certain laws
Jan 1: The law, barring two-time prime ministers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif to hold the same office for the third term, which was indemnified under the 17th constitutional amendment, cannot be changed without the president’s sanction to be accorded after consultation with the prime minister. Similarly, the NAB Ordinance cannot be amended without the presidential sanction. The two laws are included in the 35 ordinances and orders, issued by Musharraf, which have been mentioned in the 6th Schedule that got constitutional protection through the 17th amendment. Clause 2 of Article 268 says the laws specified in the 6th Schedule shall not be altered, repealed or amended (expressly or impliedly) without the previous sanction of the president after consultation with the prime minister. Thus, the exiled Nawaz and Benazir could not contest for the office of the premier for the 3rd time unless the Qualification to hold Public Office Order (Chief Executive Order No 19 of 2002) is amended.
India seeks permanent ceasefire, says Sinha
Jan 1: Indian Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha said in Islamabad that the peace process with Pakistan was on course and "things will happen" as it moves forward. "Both countries have taken a number of steps in recent months to bring the relationship back to normalcy and that process is continuing," Sinha said on arrival.
Aga Khan Fund gets Habib Bank Ltd
Jan 1: The Cabinet Committee on Privatisation (CCOP) approved the recommendations of Privatization Commission Board for approval of the highest bid of Rs 22.409 billion offered by the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED) and declared the party as successful bidder for acquiring 51 per cent stake in Habib Bank Limited (HBL).
Poverty in Pakistan at alarming level: Dr Karti
Jan 1: The poverty situation in Pakistan is one of the lowest amongst other developing countries of the region and even the indicators like justice, law and order, human rights etc are not at all encouraging. This was maintained by Dr Arjun Kumar Karti, coordinator of South Asian Alliance for Poverty Eradication, Kathmandu, while talking to The News in Islamabad.
Pakistan, India resume air link
Jan 1: The air link between Pakistan and India has resumed after formal opening of air space from January 1, 2004, with the first PIA flight, PK-270, leaving for Delhi from Lahore.
Pakistan, India exchange N-lists
Jan 1: Pakistan and India exchanged their annual lists of nuclear facilities, part of an agreement prohibiting attacks on the installations, an Indian spokesman said in New Delhi.
The two countries have been exchanging the details every January 1 since 1992, one year after they signed an agreement not to attack each other’s nuclear facilities, said an Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesman.
Bush says Pakistan nukes are "secure"
Jan 1: US President George W. Bush that Pakistan's nuclear arsenal was "secure" following two failed assassination attempts on President Pervez Musharraf in the last three weeks. Bush also said he emerged from a recent telephone conversation with Musharraf convinced that the "friend of the United States" and ally in the global war on terrorism had the situation under control.
Demo Against Pakistani Nuclear Scientists 'Debriefing'
Jan 1: The Lahore High Court Bar Association held a rally in Lahore to denounce interrogation of Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan and other nuclear scientists of Pakistan allegedly by the national and international agencies. The demonstrators carrying banners and placards chanted slogans against the alleged persecution and disgrace of the national scientists by the American FBI [U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation] and Pakistan's national agencies.
Parliament to complete tenure: Musharraf addresses nation
Jan 2: President Gen Pervez Musharraf said that Parliament will complete its five-year term despite his constitutional powers to dissolve the assemblies. "I want to assure all members of Parliament that despite the restoration of Article 58(2)b, this will be the first parliament to complete its tenure of five years," the president said in an address to the nation.
16 new ministers take oath in Balochistan
Jan 2: Sixteen new ministers were inducted into the provincial cabinet in the second phase, raising the strength of ministers to 30 including the chief minister. This cabinet expansion is the largest in the history of Balochistan, with women and members of the minority also granted representation.
SHC moved against 17th Amendment
Jan 2: A constitutional petition was filed in the Sindh High Court by Sohail Hameed advocate in which he prayed court to restrain the government from acting upon 17th Amendment in the Constitution as what he called it without lawful authority and void.
Warm welcome accorded
Jan 3: Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee arrived in Islamabad to a very warm welcome. The airport building was decorated with the flags of the seven Saarc countries, and welcome slogans for the distinguished guests.
Single currency move blocked
Jan 3: Pakistan blocked India's attempt to bring its proposal for a single South Asian currency on to the agenda of the upcoming regional summit, a Pakistani official said. The Indian proposal was taken up by foreign ministers as they began a two-day meeting to pave the way for the 12th summit of the seven-nation South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc). Pakistan, which considers the single currency idea as positive but premature, had the item deleted from the final report of the foreign ministers' meeting, the official told AFP.
US increases steps to protect Musharraf
Jan 3: After two recent assassination attempts that bear the markings of Al Qaeda, the US government is stepping up efforts to protect Pakistani President Gen Pervez Musharraf , The Washington Post reported. The United States had sent electronic jamming devices that helped foil the first attempt on Gen Musharraf by interfering with the detonation of explosives, officials were quoted as saying.
Fire destroys 4,000 files in health dept offices
Jan 3: Between 3,000 and 4,000 files were lost in a fire which broke out on the sixth floor of the new Sindh Secretariat building in Karachi, Dawn said. Several offices were gutted in the fire. The files destroyed belonged to the department's budget, women medical officers, commission-I officers and specialist doctors sections. The annual confidential reports of the staff were among the files which were lost.
Six held for attack on Musharraf
Jan 3: The security forces arrested six persons in connection with last month’s twin suicide bombing attacks aimed at President Pervez Musharraf, intelligence officials said in Lahore. The men belonged to Jaish-e-Muhammad, a banned outfit.
Pakistan for Saarc membership of Iran, China
Jan 3: Islamabad welcomed the idea of Iran’s membership in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) so that the enlargement might bring more opportunities to the organization. "We support participation of the neighbouring countries including Iran and China as well as Japan in the Saarc," Foreign Office Spokesman Masood Ahmed Khan told IRNA on the sidelines of the regional ministerial conference in Islamabad.
Saarc leaders want peace to boost economy
Jan 4: The 12th summit of the seven-nation South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) opened in Islamabad with emphatic calls for collective action for peace and vitalizing the regional body to tap its tremendous economic potential. All Saarc leaders welcomed the thaw in Pakistan-India relations, saying they were encouraged by the recent developments in the region. They voiced their optimism that the peace initiatives taken by both countries would augur well for the region and give Saarc a fresh impetus. The South Asian leaders underlined that mutual trust and political will were fundamental to sustainable regional cooperation that was necessary for achieving the Saarc objectives of peace, progress and prosperity. The Saarc leaders attending the three-day summit were: Prime Minister Khaleda Zia (Bangladesh), Prime Minister Jigmi Thinley (Bhutan), Premier Atal Behari Vajpayee (India), President Maummon Abdul Gayoom (the Maldives), Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa (Nepal) and President Chandrika Bandranike (Sri Lanka).
President pleads for end to rifts: Reception for Saarc leaders
Jan 4: President Gen Pervez Musharraf underlined the need to establish peace through the resolution of political disputes for the economic uplift of South Asia. Speaking at the banquet he hosted for the Saarc leaders at the Aiwan-i-Sadr, the president also referred to the need for expanding the charter of Saarc to discuss bilateral issues at the regional level.
Social charter signed
Jan 4: Saarc countries signed a social charter to reaffirm the principle goal of the seven-nation association to promote welfare of the people of South Asia in all fields. The charter aims to improve quality of life, accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development and to provide all individuals an opportunity to live with dignity and realize their full potential. To achieve its goals, the charter urges all the Saarc member states to attach high importance to social development and economic growth. It also stresses that legislative, executive and administrative frameworks should be provided for the progressive realization of social and economic goals.
House of Dr Israr's relative raided
Jan 4: The law enforcement agencies have raided the house of the son-in-law of a noted religious scholar, Dr Israr Ahmed, in Model Town in Lahore on suspicion of links with the militant organizations. Dr Israr's son-in-law, Dr Khalid Zaigham, told Dawn that personnel of police and elite force had raided his house when he was out of the city. He said the law enforcement agencies had taken one of their family friends Dr Inamullah into custody from Attock on suspicion of links with Al Qaeda.
Saarc leaders condemn attempts on Musharraf’s life
Jan 4: Two assassination attempts on President General Pervez Musharraf last month were profoundly condemned by some top South Asian leaders at the inaugural session of the 12th Saarc summit. As per Pakistan’s protocol, Musharraf did not attend the conference though all these South Asian leaders have either called on him separately or will meet him. The condemnation of December 14 and 25 assassination bids came in his absence from the summit.
Of India’s backout from inking Siachen treaty
Jan 4: New Delhi and Islamabad came very close to settling the two-decade-old mini war over the twenty-thousand-foot-high Siachen glacier in northern Kashmir, but the then Indian Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao decided not to sign an agreement fearing it would trigger criticism by opposition in India, The News said. Chairmen’s report of an Independent Task Force on New Priorities in South Asia assessing the strengths and weaknesses of India and Pakistan have told the US policy makers and have made recommendations to the Bush administration. It says that India and Pakistan should try once again to end their two decade old mini war over the 20,000 feet high Siachen glacier in northern Kashmir.
US has full confidence in Musharraf, says Powell
Jan 4: US Secretary of State Colin Powell has said President Pervez Musharraf enjoys "broad support within the country", and the United States has confidence in him, "and we’re standing behind him". Powell said this in response to a question in an interview with The Washington Post.
Musharraf, Vajpayee agree to work for peace
Jan 5: President General Pervez Musharraf and Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee held an hour-long meeting on the sidelines of the Saarc summit in Islamabad. The meeting took place after a gap of two and a half years. Last time the two leaders had met in Agra in 2001. Indian Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha, addressing a press conference here, said Prime Minister Vajpayee and President Musharraf have welcomed steps towards normalization of relations between the two countries, and expressed the hope the process will continue.
Vajpayee wants dialogue to continue
Jan 5: Pakistan and India should continue the process of dialogue and mutually look for a way out, said Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. At a stone-laying ceremony at the Indian High Commission in the federal capital, the premier also emphasized the need for "understanding each other’s difficulties." Referring to the current process of talks between the two countries, the Indian premier said: "The weather is changing despite strong winds and storms in the past."
Bomb blast, rocket attacks in Quetta
Jan 5: A powerful bomb went off at around in a dustbin at Almo Chowk on Quetta airport road. It may be noted here that over two dozen bomb blasts and rockets firing incidents have been reported in various parts of Balochistan, including provincial capital Quetta, during last 40 days. The police and law-enforcement agencies are still clueless. Though the "Baloch Liberation Army" through messages to newsmen, has claimed responsibility for the explosions, the Baloch nationalists have ruled out the existence of any such outfit in the province.
Dialogue to start next month: Joint Statement on Musharraf -Vajpayee meeting
Jan 6: Pakistan and India in a major breakthrough agreed to initiate the process of a composite dialogue that broke down in Agra in July 2001. In a Joint Statement, read out by Indian Minister for External Affairs Yashwant Sinha and Pakistani foreign minister Khurshid Kasuri in back-to-back press conferences, it was announced that the process of the composite dialogue will resume in February. However, they did elaborate regarding dates or the level at which the dialogue would proceed. The Joint Statement concluded between the Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and President Pervez Musharraf said: "To carry the process of normalization forward, the President of Pakistan and the Prime Minister of India agreed to commence the process of the composite dialogue in February 2004." "The two leaders are confident that the resumption of the composite dialogue will lead to peaceful settlement of all bilateral issues, including Jammu and Kashmir, to the satisfaction of both sides," the statement said.
Early contacts to focus on trade
Jan 6: India and Pakistan will discuss matters, including trade and people-to-people contact during the next six months before entering into what is referred to as the composite dialogue in the Islamabad declaration, officials told Dawn here. Officials said India has assured Pakistan that it would hold "sustained talks" from February but New Delhi believed that it would take some time to start the composite dialogue, including talks on Kashmir.
Islamabad Declaration adopted
Jan 6: The 12th summit of the seven-nation South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) concluded with the adoption of Islamabad Declaration , Additional Protocol to the Regional Convention on Suppression of Terrorism and the South Asia Free Trade Area (SAFTA) Framework Treaty. The seven-page Islamabad Declaration calls for promoting peace, stability, amity and progress in the region through strict adherence to the principles of the United Nations Charter and Non-Alignment, particularly respect for the principles of sovereign equality, territorial integrity, national independence, non-use of force and non-interference in the internal affairs of the states and peaceful settlement of all disputes.
South Asian Free Trade Area agreement signed
ISLAMABAD, Jan 6: The seven Saarc-member countries signed the landmark agreement on South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) with a pledge to scale down their tariffs in two phases to 0-5 per cent that will come into force on January 1, 2006 , and will be fully implemented by December 31, 2015. The agreement, signed at the start of the concluding session of the three-day Saarc summit, seeks to allow free cross-border movement of goods within the region. The accord will be implemented through the following instruments: Trade liberalization program; rules of origin; institutional arrangements, consultations and dispute settlement procedures, safeguard measures and any other instrument that may be agreed.
Anti-terror protocol signed
Jan 6: The Saarc countries signed a protocol on terrorism agreeing to adopt necessary measures to strengthen cooperation. "The purpose of this Additional Protocol is to strengthen the Saarc Convention on Suppression of Terrorism, particularly by criminalizing the provision, collection or acquisition of funds for the purpose of committing terrorist acts," according to the Additional Protocol on Suppression of Terrorism. The additional protocol supplements the Saarc Regional Convention on Suppression of Terrorism, done at Kathmandu on Nov 4, 1987 (hereinafter referred to as the "1987 Saarc Convention").
Pakistan aided Libya in N-plan: New York Times
Jan 6: Pakistan has been accused in a US report of being the source of centrifuge design technology that helped Libya make big strides in its nuclear program within the past two years. The New York Times quoted US officials in Washington and other Western experts as saying they had no evidence that President Pervez Musharraf's government knew about the episode. But it reported that the "main aid to Libya appears to have come since (Sept 11) attacks, suggesting that Pakistani scientists may have continued their trade even after the explicit warning." Many of the centrifuge parts that Libya imported were manufactured in Malaysia, the paper said, quoting unnamed experts familiar with the investigation.
Shujaat favours new approach on Kashmir issue
Jan 6: Ruling PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Husain says that in view of the flexible attitude shown both by Pakistan and India there is now no harm in finding a solution to the Kashmir dispute through any mechanism other than the one provided in the UN resolutions. In a press statement, he said this was the first time that the two countries had agreed to resolve the dispute to their mutual satisfaction.
Kashmiri leaders express concern: Pakistan-India peace move
Jan 6: Kashmiri leaders have cautiously welcomed the Pakistan-India joint declaration.Welcoming the intended composite dialogue between the two countries, they expressed skepticism about the use of the term terrorism for those waging struggle for the liberation of Kashmir. They said the term terrorism ought to be redefined in such a way as to make it clear that liberation struggles recognized by the United Nations did not fall in the category.
JKLF seeks OIC role on Kashmir issue
Jan 6: Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Chairman Amanullah Khan said it was shocking to learn that Pakistan did not mention the Kashmir issue for the first time in an international event like the Saarc summit. In an interview with The News, he said he was happy over resumption of talks between Pakistan and India. "I fear that the talks are aimed at division of Kashmir and for this purpose the Line of Control would be converted into a permanent border," he added.
US expects Pakistan will live up to N-pledge
Jan 6: The United States said that it expected President Pervez Musharraf to live up to pledges to stop the spread of weapons of mass destruction, after new allegations linked Pakistani know-how to Libya’s nuclear program. White House spokesman Scott McClellan said following the reports in The New York Times that US officials recognized that "rogue" officials acting outside government scrutiny could be hard to stop.
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