Chronology of Pakistan
June 2003 (Continued II)
Pakistani woman claims to be 150
June 8: Pakistani woman, admitted to a hospital in Karachi, claims she is 150 years' old and her great-grandchildren endorse her claim. Having six children, 34 grandchildren and twice as many great-grandchildren, Lalam Jan insists that she was born around 150 years ago in Aman Kot, NWFP, However, she has nothing to prove the same. When told that she really did not look all that old, she replied, "It is God's gift." Oblivious to the likely fame as the world's oldest person, Lalam Jan narrates the tales of British period in Pushto, the only language she knows. She still remembers how her forefathers fought against the Sikhs. If Lalam is to be believed, she has easily surpassed Habib Miyan of Jaipur, India--who claims to be 125 years old and is vying for a place in the Guinness' Book of World records--to become the world's oldest person on the planet.
Lawyers not allowed to enter SC building
June 9: Lawyers who had assembled in Islamabad from all over the country to hold a convention on the LFO were barred by police from entering the premises of the Supreme Court and forced to hold their gathering on the road outside. Lawyers' representatives, led by Hamid Khan, president of the Supreme Court Bar Association, and Mian Abbas, vice-chairman of the Pakistan Bar Council, were not allowed to go beyond the Blue Area on Quaid Avenue, as thousands of policemen, in full anti-riot gear, determinedly blocked them at what is called Parade Chowk.
Democracy: US policy tested in Pakistan
June 9: The opposition-government conflict in Pakistan is viewed in Washington also as a test for the US policy of encouraging democracy in the Muslim world, the Dawn reported. Government officials and policy planners point out that if the situation in Pakistan further deteriorates, the Bush administration will be forced to decide whom to support: a general who came into power by toppling an elected government or a group of elected politicians strongly opposed to US presence in South Asia. At a recent seminar at the Brookings Institution, several speakers pointed out that some of the forces challenging President Musharraf want Pakistan to opt out of the alliance against terror because they see it as directed against their fellow Muslims. They also do not want Pakistan to give any concession to India over the Kashmir dispute, the speakers said.
Opposition boycotts budget session
June 10: The combined opposition parties on Tuesday boycotted budget debate in both the National Assembly and Senate to protest against the Legal Framework Order.
Resignation of 24 Nazims rejected
June 10: Rejecting the resignations of the Frontier's 24 district Nazims, President Pervez Musharraf asked the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal government to restore the Nazim's powers delegated to them under the Local Government Ordinance-2001 in 10 days.
Permit cancelled on CM's written order: AG submits comments in liquor case
June 10: The NWFP government informed the Peshawar High Court that following a judgment of the Supreme Court's Shariat appellate bench liquor could not be sold or purchased by a Muslim or a firm owned by a Muslim. The NWFP Advocate-General, Barrister Jehanzeb Raheem, submitted his written comments on behalf of the provincial government before the high court in a writ petition challenging the cancellation of a liquor permit of a liquor-selling outlet - Greens Hotel Limited.
Musharraf assails NWFP's 'Islamisation'
June 10: President General Pervez Musharraf expressed anger over the policies of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) government in the NWFP and reiterated his stance that the country could not afford the Taliban-style governance, which curtailed civil liberties and sent a wrong signal abroad about Islam and Pakistan. "There is no room for Talibanization in the country. We have to have a balanced foreign policy towards other countries. Pakistan is being portrayed as an intolerant, terrorist and extremist state," the president told audience at the inauguration ceremony of the Kohat Tunnel.
Constitution allows president to be in uniform: LHC
June 10: A division bench of the Lahore High Court observed it had not noted any article in the Constitution, which stopped the president of Pakistan from remaining in uniform, as it did not create any hindrance in the smooth functioning of the government or other institutions. "None of the constitutional provisions is affected if the president remains in uniform. Therefore, president's announcement that he will take off his uniform on the date of his choice, does not impinge upon any constitutional provision," observed the bench, comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Hussain and Justice M Akhtar Shabbir in a detailed judgment, dismissing the petition by Pakistan Lawyers Forum that President Musharraf be tried under the charges of high treason. The court observed that amendments to the Constitution were incorporated under the authority of the Supreme Court, therefore, amending the Constitution did not amount to subversion.
Opposition continues boycott of parliament
June 11: The opposition parties walked out of both houses of the parliament the second consecutive day boycotting the budget debate. The opposition is protesting against the Legal Framework Order and extraordinary presidential powers, which he enjoys holding dual offices, including the office of the chief of the army staff.
Ex-speaker of Sindh Assembly shot dead
June 11: Former speaker of the Sindh assembly and vice-president of the PML(Q)'s Sindh chapter Abdul Raziq Khan and his driver were shot dead by unidentified motorcyclists near the city courts in the Mithadar area of Karachi. Mr Khan previously belonged to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement and had recently joined the PML(Q).
Govt neglecting Pukhtun areas of Baluchistan
June 11: Pukhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PMAP) workers held a protest procession in Quetta condemning the federal government for ignoring the Pukhtun areas of Balochistan in allocation of development funds. The protestors held a public meeting at the taxi stand where the speakers alleged that Punjab with the backing of army was looting the resources of the smaller provinces. The leaders said the federal government had allocated Rs416 billion in the budget for foreign debt servicing and defense but neither foreign loans were spent in Balochistan, Sindh and the NWFP, nor did they have any major representation in the army, so that allocation benefited Punjab.
Agri tube-well tariff cut by 33pc: Wapda chief
June 11: The Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) has reduced agriculture tube-well tariff by 33 per cent in Punjab, Sindh and the NWFP with effect from May 2003.
PM revives Inter-Provincial Coordination Committee
June 11: Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali directed revival of the Inter-Provincial Coordination Committee (IPCC) with a view to promote uniformity of approach in formulation of policies at national level. According to the terms of reference, the committee will facilitate general coordination between the federal government and the provinces in economic, social and administrative fields. It will also promote uniformity of approach in formulation of policies and their implementation by the provinces and the federal government in all fields of common national concern.
NWFP Nazimeen not to quit offices
June 11: Following President Gen Pervez Musharraf's assurance of protecting the local government system, the NWFP Town and Tehsil Nazimeen Association announced not to quit their offices.
SC issues notice to Noorani, APNS: Contempt of court alleged
June 12: The Supreme Court issued notices to Shah Ahmad Noorani, president of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, the All Pakistan Newspapers Society and to an Urdu newspaper for making and publishing a statement about the status of the apex court. Dr Aslam Khaki, a self-proclaimed probono publico, has brought to the notice of the apex court that Maulana Shah Ahmad Noorani, while commenting on the outcome of his constitutional petition in which he challenged the educational qualification of 68 legislators, had said that Pakistan's Supreme Court was not a constitutional court as it had taken oath under the Constitution. Dr Khaki has asked the court to prosecute the MMA president for committing contempt of court.
Ex-IB chief acquitted in corruption case
June 12: Special Judge Central Islamabad acquitted former Intelligence Bureau Chief Maj (retd) Masood Sharif from charges of misuse of power, corruption, misappropriation of IB funds, possessions of illicit arm, liquor, and foreign currencies. Masood Sharif was the first to be detained on dismissal of Benazir Bhutto's government in 1996 and he was incarcerated in jail for many years.
SC issues notices to 65 MMA lawmakers
June 13: The Supreme Court admitted a constitutional petition of of Dr Aslam Khaki, a self-proclaimed probono publico, challenging the educational qualifications of 65 MMA legislators, and issued notices to top leaders of the alliance. Attorney-General Makhdoom Ali Khan supported the filing of the petition directly in the Supreme Court. Out of total 65 MMA legislators facing disqualification, 28 are MNAs, six senators, and 31 members of the NWFP and Balochistan assemblies.
Meraj Khalid passes away
June 13: Malik Meraj Khalid, former caretaker prime minister and one of the country's leading political figure, died in Lahore after a week's hospitalization for chest congestion and high fever. One of the founders of the People's Party, Mr Meraj Khalid was 89. He is survived by a widow and an adopted son. A self-made leader, Malik Meraj Khalid was a versatile person. He had played a role in the Pakistan Movement. After the creation of Pakistan, he set up a committee for the promotion of the Punjabi language and he was always proud of his initiative.
WB withholds $90m aid to NWFP
June 13: Expressing concern over transfers and postings of top officials in various sectors, the World Bank has withheld $ 90 million assistance to the NWFP seriously affecting its budget for 2003- 2004, senior government officials in Peshawar admitted. Officials acknowledged that Rs 5.699 billion assistance given to the NWFP as part of a three-year structural reform program was in jeopardy after the World Bank teams which visited Peshawar last month discovered that the reform actions were not being adhered to in letter and spirit.
Agencies clear prisoners released from Afghan jails
June 13: Investigation agencies cleared all the 65 people, who were recently released from a prison in Afghanistan and deported to Pakistan. An official of the Home and Tribal Affairs Department told Dawn the agencies had completed investigations and declared all the 65 prisoners "white."
No debate on defense budget, says Rashid
June 13: Federal Information Minister Shaikh Rashid Ahmed rejected the opposition's demand for presenting the defense budget in Parliament for discussion, saying there was no question of freezing or rolling back Pakistan's nuclear program. Talking to newsmen at the Parliament House cafeteria, the minister said the defense budget could not be placed before any House of Parliament. "None of the articles of the Constitution say that the defense budget should be brought in Parliament for discussion," he said.
JKLF chief proposes unified independent Kashmir
June 13: Chairman Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front Amanullah Khan unveiled his roadmap for the solution of the Kashmir issue at a news conference in Islamabad. Khan proposed a unified and independent Kashmir, which is unlikely to be accepted by either Pakistan or India. It gives a leading role to the United Nations to form an 'International Kashmir Committee', with members drawn from non-aligned and Islamic countries as well as Germany and Japan. In the first phase of proposed plan, Pakistan and India would be asked to withdraw their armed forces from Kashmir; non-Kashmiri combatants would be disarmed; Kashmiris would be allowed to form their own government; a referendum, under the UN control would be held after 15 years of the formation of such government in which Kashmiris would decide whether to continue as an independent nation or become a part of India or Pakistan. Amanullah Khan held the view that Pakistan and India made Kashmir an issue of their national ego.
Rs 1.39 trillion charged expenditures for 2003-04
June 13: The government tabled Rs 1.39 trillion charged expenditures before the National Assembly for the year 2003-04. The charged expenditures relate to 21 different budgetary heads, including expenditures on the staff, household and allowances of the President, National Assembly, Senate, debt servicing and others. They are simply presented to the House for discussion under Article 82 clause (1) of the Constitution, but are not put to vote. Article 82 clause (1) reads: "So much of the Annual Budget Statement as relates to expenditure charged upon the Federal Consolidated Fund may be discussed in, but shall not be submitted to the vote of, the National Assembly."
LHC bars govt form shifting two detenu out of country
June 13: The Lahore High Court restrained the government from sending Shah Nawaz and Naveed Mujtaba, allegedly arrested by FBI, out of Pakistan.
Speaker rules LFO part of Constitution: Opposition rejects decision
June 14: National Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain ruled that the Legal Framework Order was part of the Constitution. "The amendments made in the Constitution through LFO, 2002 remain within the parameters laid down by the Supreme Court and do not violate any of the salient features identified by the apex court," said the ruling delivered by him just before the lower house's week-long budget session was prorogued. "And I hold that LFO is part of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan 1973," he said.
NA resolution expresses full confidence in General Musharraf
June 14: The National Assembly, while attended only by the ruling coalition members, passed a unanimous resolution to repose full confidence in President Pervez Musharraf ahead of his four-nation Western tour beginning next week. The resolution was not originally on the agenda of the last day of the Assembly's eight-day budget session but was moved by Pakistan Muslim League-Q president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain at the start of the second afternoon sitting. No opposition member was present in the assembly at the time as all opposition parties had walked out of the lower house in the morning as part of their prolonged protest against the LFO. "Expressing full confidence in the leadership of President Gen Pervez Musharraf, the National Assembly notes with satisfaction that it is because of his successful policies that he has been invited to pay a special visit to America, Britain, France and Germany," said the Urdu-language resolution.
National Assembly passes budget
June 14: The National Assembly passed the federal budget for 2003-04 in what was viewed as the shortest budget debate in the assembly's history and absence of the combined opposition parties.
Balochistan govt to table Shariat bill
June 15: Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Mohammad Yousaf said that a committee comprising representatives of the component parties of the coalition government would prepare and table a Shariat bill in the provincial assembly. He said the Shariat should not be opposed by the Muslims and maintained that the committee would study all the pros and cons of the bill before presenting it in the assembly.