Chronology of Pakistan
March 2004 (Continued V)
China offers $12m loan for armed forces
March 23: China announced a 100 million yuan ($12.08 million) interest-free loan for Pakistan's armed forces and plans for training facilities for armed forces personnel during talks between the defense ministers of the two countries. Chinese Defense Minister Gen Cao Gangchuan told his Pakistani counterpart Rao Sikandar Iqbal during a meeting at the defense ministry in Rawalpindi that Beijing wanted to further enhance and strengthen relations with Pakistan "in all areas concerning the three (defense) services," a government statement said.
WB calls for overhauling of 1991 Indus water accord
March 23: The World Bank has asked Pakistan to overhaul and replace the 1991 Indus water apportionment accord and publish a white paper in consultation with the federating units about the water sector problems, needs and irrigation governance problems. A senior government official told Dawn that the bank has also asked the government to introduce an economic water pricing system (Abiana) fully commensurate with operation and maintenance costs of the existing system and funding of the future development projects in the water and irrigation sector.
Politicians blame army, judiciary for crises
March 23: Speakers at a seminar in Lahore were of the opinion that the army and the judiciary were responsible for the present sad state of affairs of the country. Presided over by National Assembly's former speaker, the seminar was organized by the Thinkers and Speakers Forum to mark the Pakistan Day. Makhdoom Khaliquzzaman said Supreme Court judges from the Punjab were to be blamed for giving the doctrine of necessity which was used by army dictators time and again for their vested interest.
Javid Iqbal warns of national disintegration: Changes in curricula
March 23: Former senator Dr Javid Iqbal has taken strong exception to the government's attempts to change the curricula of the educational institutions aimed at expunging any reference to the ideology of Pakistan. He was speaking at a meeting held to observe the Pakistan Day under the auspices of the Nazaria-i-Pakistan Foundation and the Pakistan Movement Workers Trust at its auditorium in Lahore. Dr Javid said that a document 'The subtle subversion - the state of curricula and textbooks in Pakistan,' written by A.H. Munir and Ahmad Saleem and submitted to the Ministry of Education, had criticized the present curricula of the educational institutions and textbooks for containing references to the Islamic ideology of Pakistan and Quranic concepts of jihad. He said that the existence of nations was based on their respective ideologies without which they lose not only their identity but also their very existence.
Exclusion of Qur’aanic verses from syllabi denounced
March 23: Speakers at an Ulema convention in Karachi, organized by Islami Jamiat Talaba (IJT), strongly denounced the exclusion of Qur’aanic verses from textbooks and termed the government’s decision in this connection as a heavy blow to the ideological basis of the country. They viewed the exclusion of holy verses as yet another move of the Musharraf-led government to secularise the nation on the dictates of imperialist forces.
Ijaz and Ghauri take oath as federal ministers
March 23: Pakistan Muslim League-Zia (PML-Z) President Mohammad Ijazul Haq and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) senator Babar Khan Ghauri were inducted into the Jamali cabinet as federal ministers.
ARD sets up ‘Remove Musharraf’ camps in Nawabshah
March 23: On the appeal of ARD ‘Remove Musharraf’ camps were set up through out the district. Nawabshah District President and PPPP MPA Ghulam Qadir Chandio and Bilawal Rind established camp in front of the Nawabshah Press Club.
PIA decision to buy Boeing 777 criticized
March 24: The Planning Commission has raised serious objections over PIA's decision to purchase eight new Boeing 777 Family aircraft at a cost of Rs105.95 billion. An official document said that no proper feasibility was carried out to purchase the new eight aircraft. In the absence of a proper and independent feasibility study, it could not be ascertained whether the proposed procurement of aircraft was the optimal option. The selection of the aircraft preceded all other developments. It appeared that no bids were invited. The option of the Airbus was foreclosed in the initial stage, which left only two options viz old versus new Boeing aircraft. Four A340 Airbus could have been purchased at the cost of three Boeing 777.
Balochistan in blackout as towers blown up
March 24: Unknown persons blew up three huge pylons carrying two 220KV transmission lines between Sibi and Belput area, shutting down two-thirds of the power supply to Balochistan. "Pillars were blown up with explosive material destroying three huge towers," a spokesman of the Quetta Electricity Supply Company (Qesco) said.
India win one-day series
March 24: India won their first-ever one-day series in Pakistan after winning the deciding fifth and final One-day International by 40 runs at the Qadhafi Stadium in Lahore.
Quaid's daughter watches match
March 24: Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah's daughter, Dina Wadia, says she is happy to have come to Pakistan, adding that the only purpose of the visit is to watch and enjoy cricket. In a brief encounter with reporters, at the Qadhafi Stadium Lahore, Mrs Wadia said: "I'm enjoying the game of cricket." Mrs Wadia, the only child of the founder of Pakistan, lives in the United States. She arrived in Lahore in a special plane along with her son Nusli Wadia, daughter-in-law and their children on the invitation of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to watch the final one-day match between Pakistan and India.
Sanctions hurt America, say officials
March 24: Senior US officials have acknowledged that the sanctions imposed on Pakistan in the 1990s prevented successive US administration from taking any action against the Taliban and Al Qaeda. Officials as senior as former and serving secretaries of state and defense - who were testifying before the 9-11 panel - acknowledged that the sanctions proved counter-productive. They said the sanctions were imposed as a punishment for Pakistan's nuclear program and for the October 1999 military coup. They failed to achieve both the targets, the officials said. They argued that the path to Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden ran through the Taliban who were friendly with Pakistan but the sanctions deprived Washington of the leverage needed to influence Islamabad.
Imran fears insurgency in Fata
March 24: Pakistan Tehirk Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan has warned that the military operations in the tribal areas would lead to a full-scale insurgency in the tribal belt which could spill over to the NWFP and Balochistan. He said the escalation in the attacks against security forces in the towns of NWFP should be an eye-opener for the rulers. In a statement, Imaran Khan linked the attacks against the security forces in the NWFP to the continuing military action in tribal areas.
ANP chief condemns Wana operation
March 24: Awami National Party president Senator Asfandyar Wali Khan has condemned what he calls the massacre of innocent people in the Wana operation. He was speaking at a public meeting in Hyderabad organized by the local chapter of the party to commemorate the 16th death anniversary of Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan (Bacha Khan). Asfandyar said Taliban and Al Qaeda were not the product of Pakhtun culture but they had been created by the establishment to destroy Afghanistan.
Border guards meet after three years
March 24: A 14-member delegation of the Indian Border Security Force arrived in Lahorefrom the Wagah border to interact with the Pakistan Rangers on border problems. The agenda of the four-day biannual meeting, not held since May 2001, includes effective patrolling, control on smuggling and other border crimes, repatriation of inadvertent crossers and maintenance of boundary pillars.
Likely al-Qaida Tape Seeks Pakistan Coup
March 25: A tape purportedly recorded by Ayman al-Zawahri, the No. 2 figure in the al-Qaida terror group, called Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf a "traitor" and urged people to overthrow his government.
The pan-Arab satellite channel Al-Jazeera broadcast a seven-minute excerpt from a tape it received today. Its authenticity could not immediately be verified, but the speaker sounded like al-Zawahri.
US waives curbs on Pakistan: Way cleared for more assistance
March 25: US President George W. Bush waived sanctions on Pakistan imposed after President Pervez Musharraf seized power in a bloodless coup in 1999. "Lifting of the sanctions would facilitate the transition to democratic rule in Pakistan; and is important to US efforts to respond to, deter, or prevent acts of international terrorism," said a written statement issued by the White House. The waiver clears the way for Pakistan to receive hundreds of millions of dollars in economic assistance from the United States. Diplomatic circles in Washington see the waiver as the Bush administration's reward for a key ally in the war against terror.
America to inspect maritime traffic
March 25: Maritime traffic of Pakistan and other countries heading towards the United States will be subjected to inspections by the US authorities after July 1 when a new global anti-terrorism initiative is launched by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). A press release issued by the US embassy in Islamabad said the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code required the member countries of IMO to submit port and ship security plans to their national authorities before a July 2004 deadline.
Army bans 374 drugs from military hospitals
March 25: The General Headquarters of the Pakistan Army has banned the prescription of 374 medicines in military hospitals, and has directed doctors to offer low priced drugs to the patients instead. The AG Branch of the Army Medical directorate vide its letter dated 19th February 2004 issued specific directives to the military hospitals all over the country to carry out stock control of medicines. The letter said low priced medicines were to be given to the patients.
Indian court sentences four Pakistanis to death
March 25: An Indian court sentenced four Pakistani men to death for "waging war" against India after they were caught smuggling the deadly explosive RDX into the country in 1999, court officials said. The local court in Bhuj town in Gujarat state also acquitted 29 Indians accused of conspiring with the four men. The condemned men were identified as Jamaal Haji Mohammed, Nawazali Jan, Haji Ibrahim Jan and Usman Ali Mohammed Jan.
Media Blackout in Pakistan's Tribal Areas Triggers Outrage
March 25: National and international media groups in Pakistan are protesting attempts to prevent journalists from reporting on the government's offensive against Al-qaeda and Taliban members in tribal areas bordering Afghanistan where security forces are accused of several rights violations, said OneWorld South Asia. The forces, which are said to have suffered a huge number of casualties, are accused of killing civilians in the region. International media group, Reporters Sans Frontires has objected to Pakistan's concerted efforts to block media coverage, requesting armed forces spokesman Major General Shaukat Sultan to guarantee media access to the region by giving special passes to journalists.
List of 150 terrorists handed over to tribal elders
March 25: The government has handed over a list of 150 most wanted terrorists belonging to al-Qaeda, both local and foreigners, including some close aides of Osama bin Laden, to tribal elders of Fata for their immediate surrender to end the ongoing military operation, it has been reliably learnt by The News. Sources said the names of the wanted terrorists have been finalized by the US government and its intelligence apparatus who have been following the leads provided by sympathizers of Taliban, now in US custody.
Militants demand troops pullout to free hostages
March 25: The tribal jirga that had traveled to the militants’ hideout in South Waziristan to seek release of the 14 government personnel returned empty-handed as both sides showed rigidity while still keeping the channels of communication open. Great hopes were pinned on the Zalikhel tribal elders and the grand jirga having representatives of all regions of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) and the outcome of their trip to the militants’ stronghold. But the apparent failure of the mission caused concern among all concerned and triggered fears of resumption of the military operation.
140 held during operation
March 25: Troops have arrested over 140 miscreants including locals and foreigners during the ongoing operation in South Waziristan, an Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) spokesman said.
Fata MNA opposes operation in Wana
March 25: A pro-government tribal MNA from Kurram agency, Munir Khan Orakzai, resented the military operation in the tribal areas and said it would only fuel the fire of armed confrontation in the area. Talking to newsmen in the lobbies of National Assembly after staging a walkout when he was not allowed to speak again on the operation, Mr Orakzai said what was happening in Wana nowadays was against the assurances that the president Gen Pervez Musharraf had given to a large delegation of tribal legislators, who met him late last year.
Opposition warns govt of ’71-like situation
March 25: All opposition parties in the National Assembly jointly boycotted the proceedings of the House but only after delivering hard-hitting speeches against the military, General Pervez Musharraf and the United States for launching a military operation in the tribal areas. They warned the government that the ongoing military operation in Fata could create a 1971-like situation. Ambience in the lower house of parliament got charged after the MMA leadership told the House that their Ulema, through a Fatwa, had already declared that army personnel killed while fighting under the command of Americans in the tribal areas could not be called "Shuhada".
IAEA seeks permission to inspect Pak N-sites
March 25: The UN nuclear watchdog has officially conveyed to Pakistan a formal request, seeking permission for inspection of some of the Pakistani nuclear installations by the International Atomic Energy Agency’s designated inspectors. Talking to The News from Vienna, IAEA spokesperson and senior information officer Melissa Fleming said IAEA chief Dr Mohamed ElBaradei is of the view that "Pakistan is cooperating with the IAEA, but the agency wants more cooperation from Pakistan".
100,000 NGOs working in country, NA told
March 25: The National Assembly was informed that there were about 100,000 NGOs working throughout the country in various fields. Adviser to the Prime Minister for Women Development Nilofar Bakhtiar told the House authentic data in consolidated form indicating the exact number of NGOs does not exist, but some studies conducted by national and international organisations suggest that there are about 100,000 NGOs working in the country.
Pakistan not to allow N-inspection
March 26: Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said that Pakistan would not allow the International Atomic Energy Agency to inspect the country's nuclear facilities and if the UN body wanted to ascertain origin of any material it acquired from Iran it should hand it over to Pakistan.
LHC orders release of Sajid Naqvi
March 26: The Lahore High Court, Rawalpindi Bench, ordered the release of Allama Sajid Naqvi, chief of Millat Jaferia Pakistan, and a central leader of MMA , who was arrested for alleged involvement in the murder of Maulana Azam Tariq. Justice Sardar Aslam of LHC ordered the release of Allama Sajid Naqvi on the production of a surety bond worth Rs2 million to the satisfaction of the trial court.
Ally stuns govt with allegation of rigging in 2002 polls
March 26: An outspoken ally stunned the government as he attacked its vows about transparency by telling the National Assembly that he had traced 40,000 bogus votes in one constituency where he had lost in the last elections. Pakistan Awami Tehrik (PAT) chief Mohammad Tahirul Qadri said it took him 10 months to find the allegedly bogus entries in the NA-89 constituency of Jhang in the Punjab province through a computerized exercise and promised to resign his seat in the National Assembly if he were proved wrong.
US used Saudis to make Pakistan abandon Taliban: Berger
March 26: The United States had Saudi Arabia lean on Pakistan "very, very heavily" to make Islamabad abandon the Taliban regime but failed, a US panel was told. Samuel Berger, the Clinton administration's national security adviser, told the commission probing the Sept 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, that despite all this pressure the Pakistani administration remained faithful to the Taliban. The sanctions imposed on Pakistan before and after the May 1998 nuclear tests prevented the United States from taking any practical step to push Pakistan to abandon the Taliban, he said. He said the only thing that the US administration could have done but did not was to cut off Pakistan's access to IMF loans. Severing Pakistan's access to these loans, he said, "would have collapsed Pakistan, and we would have had a failed nuclear state in South Asia, which probably would not have been the best thing for the United States."
Dina Wadia visits mausoleum of Quaid
March 26: Dina Wadia visited the mausoleum of her father, Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, and laid floral wreath. She was accompanied by her son and grandchildren. She also went to the mazar of Madar-i-Millat Fatima Jinnah to pay respects to her aunt. She never visited Pakistan in her father's lifetime. Her first visit was at the time of the Quaid's death.
Bodies of 8 missing armymen found in South Waziristan
March 26: Suspected militants in the South Waziristan tribal region have shot dead eight soldiers held hostage since an ambush last week on an army supply convoy in Serwakai , 35km to the east of Wana, the regional headquarters. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed the death of eight soldiers but declined to say what action the government intended to take.
Wana operation termed threat to national unity: MMA holds protest demos, rallies
March 26: The ongoing army operation in tribal areas is a threat to the solidarity of the country and should be stopped forthwith. This was the gist of the speeches delivered by leaders and legislators of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal at rallies and demonstrations held in different parts of the city to protest against the army operation in Wana. These rallies and demonstrations were part of the country- wide protest called by the MMA against the army operation. The main demonstration was held at Banaras Chowk, Karachi, which was addressed by Jamaat-i-Islami Deputy Chief Prof Ghafoor Ahmad, Sifat Ahmad, Osman Ghani, Hameedullah Khan.
Lawyers observe protest day against Wana operation
March 26: Lawyers community observed a ‘protest day’ in connection with the countrywide protest call by lawyers against military operations in Wana and Miran Shah. The Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) passed a resolution for ending this operation and demanded formation of a commission headed by a senior Supreme Court judge to probe the situation.
Minister criticized at seminar: Report on textbook reforms
March 26: Speakers at a roundtable on "Ideology and Education", organized by Islamabad Social Sciences Forum, criticized federal education minister for, what they said, misquoting the findings of a committee constituted to evaluate the report on curricula and textbook reforms. It is worth mentioning here that a controversy has been generated over the findings of a study done by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), criticizing 'over-emphasis' on the subject of Islamiat and ideology of Pakistan in the syllabi taught at school and college levels.
Rashid condemns Zawahiri’s statement
March 26: Pakistan strongly condemned the alleged statement of Ayman al-Zawahiri, saying such statements cannot deter the country to pursue terrorists using its soil for terrorist activities. "We will not allow anybody to use our soil for terrorist activities and such statements cannot deter us from pursuing those who want to use our soil for terrorism," said Minister for Information and Broadcasting Sheikh Rashid Ahmed while addressing a press conference here. Arabic television channel Al-Jazeera broadcast an audiotaped message last night purportedly from the terror network’s number two, Ayman Al-Zawahiri, urging Pakistan’s Army to rise up against Musharraf and overthrow him.
Tariq on secret mission to Dubai, may meet Benazir
ISLAMABAD: Secretary National Security Council and close aide to President General Pervez Musharraf, Tariq Aziz, has dashed to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) amid reports that the Pakistan People’s Party and the Government are in contact. Federal Government sources told The News in Islamabad that Tariq Aziz, who is making important political and diplomatic moves on behalf of the president, had detailed meetings with the visiting National Security Advisor to the Indian Prime Minister Brajesh Mishra in Lahore last week where they held several rounds of discussions on important issues of mutual interest away from the public eye.