Chronology of Pakistan
December 2003 (Continued V)
Qaeda hand seen behind attempts on Musharraf's life
Dec 26: Al-Qaeda militants and religious fanatics in Pakistan are feared to be behind an increasingly organized effort to kill President Pervez Musharraf, analysts said, following the second assassination attempt in 11 days. Ruling party Senator Mushahid Hussain called the attacks a "matter of deep concern," especially since the latest bid was made near Musharraf's residence, in the heart of an area controlled by the military which he leads. "It shows an organized group is chasing him," he said, while an interior ministry official called the attacks a "new trend," saying that suicide bombings were not common in Pakistan. "The broad guess is that it could be a nexus between al-Qaeda and extremist militant groups here," analyst Talat Masood told AFP.
Suicide bombers identified: Faisal
Dec 26: Two men who launched a suicide attack in their bid to assassinate President Gen Pervez Musharraf in Rawalpindi have been identified, Interior Minister Faisal Saleh Hayat told Dawn. The minister said both the attackers belonged to an extremist group. However, he refused to disclose the name of the group as he said that would harm the ongoing investigation and strategic interests.
Death toll in Musharraf assassination bid rises to 17, 52 injured
Dec 26: The number of those killed in the assassination attempt has soared up to 17 while 52 are injured, The News said.
Washington expresses dismay
Dec 26: The United States expressed dismay over the assassination attempt on President Pervez Musharraf, and warned that terrorists posing as beggars or vendors may now target Americans.
Compensation for victims announced
Dec 26: President Gen Pervez Musharraf announced financial assistance amounting to Rs500,000 each for the families of those killed in suicide attacks, officials said. Officials said those who sustained injuries will be given Rs100,000 each while families of the police officials killed at the site of the incident would be given an additional Rs500,000 each.
Senators get threatening letters from banned outfit
Dec 26: The Treasury benches in the Senate shocked the Upper House by revealing that parliamentarians had received threatening letters from the London-based, Hizbul Teheer, that warned them in the strongest words against supporting President Pervez Musharraf and the Legal Framework Order (LFO), when it would come for approval in House. Senator Abbas Kumaili, who read out some of the contents of the letter, even claimed that since receipt of the letter, he himself had seen many suspected people, roaming around the Parliament Lodges, where over 440 parliamentarians were staying, and feared for the lives of all those who would give vote of confidence for Musharraf next week.
Two crackers explode along railway line in Malir
Dec 26: Two powerful crackers exploded along the main railway line in Malir in Karachi. The explosions did not cause any damage to life or property. "It is an attempt to spread fear among the people of Karachi," said a senior police official.
MMA differs, calls for new draft: Amendment bill moved in NA
Dec 26: The government moved a bill in the National Assembly to settle the LFO row, but the fate of the move hung in the balance after the MMA said the draft was not in accord with its deal with the ruling coalition. The Constitution (Seventeenth Amendment) Bill was also vehemently opposed by the ARD at the start of a general debate that began soon after the draft was introduced to implement the agreement signed by the PML-Q and the MMA to settle the 13-month-old controversy. Qazi Hussain Ahmed said in the agreement there was no point to validate the Legal Framework Ordinance. He said the MMA was only bound to validate those points that were agreed with the government. He said the government included in the bill clause 270-AA which validates all directives of the president including the LFO as part of the Constitution. He said, "We will not accept the LFO as the part of the Constitution."
NA adopts 17th amendment for inclusion of LFO in constitution
Dec 26: The National Assembly amended the Constitution for inclusion of Legal Frame Work Order by unanimously adopting 17th amendment bill. The Bill was presented by Minister of State for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Raza Hayat Hiraj.
Forex reserves cross $12bn
Dec 26: Pakistan’s official foreign exchange reserves crossed $12 billion mark today. "We touched the $12 billion mark, equivalent to 12 months of imports, which is a record," announced Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz at a press conference in Islamabad.
India rules out demilitarization of Siachen
Dec 25: Expressing optimism that the upcoming Saarc summit would lead to better relations in the South Asian region, India ruled out demilitarisation of Siachen Glacier unless differences with Pakistan were resolved. "As long as there is a controversy, there can be no demilitarization here," Defense Minister George Fernandes, who is on his 38th trip to the Siachen Glacier, has said, according to the Excelsior report.
Qadeer’s ‘detention’ challenged in LHC
Dec 26: A lawyer, MD Tahir, challenging the alleged investigation with nuclear scientist Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan by the law-enforcement agencies, asked the Lahore High Court to declare it illegal, against the interest of the nation and discouragement to the talented people. He also prayed the court to direct the government to produce Dr Abdul Qadeer before the court in accordance with law and after recording his statement, he should be set at liberty.
Objections removed, says Qazi
Dec 27: MMA Acting President Qazi Hussain Ahmed has said objections raised by MMA on the constitutional package have been removed by the government. These objections were related to the amendment of the constitution and formation of the National Security Council.
US vows to work with Musharraf
Dec 28: The White House described President Pervez Musharraf as "a strong partner" in the war against terrorism and vowed to continue to work with him. "President Musharraf has been a strong partner in our global war on terrorism and we are continuing to work with him on our global efforts," said White House spokesman Scott McClellan. He said the latest assassination attempt on President Musharraf was "a reminder that the war on terrorism continues."
'Country passing thru demographic transition'
Dec 27: Studies on the 1998 Population Census suggest that Pakistan was passing through a demographic transition as the decline in fertility, possibly propelled by increase in female literacy and consequent rise in marriageable age, would shorten the period over which the per capita income doubles. This transition to be successful would need massive employment growth as well as human resource development as was the case in some East Asian countries. These views were expressed by Dr M Irfan, the coordinator of the Census Data Analysis Project, executed by the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD) with financial support of the UNFPA through the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE).
UN to quiz Benazir, Nawaz on N-export
Dec 27: UN investigators tasked with probing into the allegations of nuclear technology transfers to Iran, North Korea and Libya intend to approach former Pakistani prime ministers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif during the course of investigations into the alleged transfer of nuclear technology to countries included in the US list of ‘rogue states’, which is purported to have continued for 17 years, a highly placed source in Vienna told The News.
MMA no more part of opposition: ARD - Friendly members turn hostile
Dec 28: The ARD members taking part in the debate on the 17th Amendment Bill in the National Assembly, lashed out at the MMA for "compromising" on the LFO and declared that the religious alliance was no more part of the combined opposition. Responding to some of the points raised by the ARD members, Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Hafiz Hussain Ahmed reminded them that how both the PPP and the PML-N had made "compromises" in the past.
'Secret agencies had cleared bomber': Attempt on Musharraf's life
Dec 28: One of the two suicide bombers, who attacked President Gen Musharraf's convoy in Rawalpindi last Thursday, had been cleared of involvement in anti-state activities by security agencies in April last year , background interviews and investigations by Dawn revealed. Security agencies working on the twin-suicide bombings to eliminate President Musharraf have established the identity of one of the bombers, Muhammad Jamil. Dawn's investigation revealed that Muhammad Jameel, 23, was affiliated with the banned Jaish-i-Muhammad, a militant organization, that had training camps in Rishkore near Kabul in the Taliban-ruled Afghanistan and was actively involved in the occupied Kashmir.
PPP blames agencies for suicide bombings
Dec 28: The Pakistan People's Party, Rawalpindi, has blamed security agencies for the suicide attacks on President Pervez Musharraf in the city on December 25.
Objectionable material to be removed from O, A levels textbooks
Dec 28: Education Minister Zubaida Jalal told the National Assembly that the Urdu textbooks taught in the "O" and "A" levels would be examined by the government to delete any objectionable material if found contrary to our beliefs and culture. "The federal government has no control over the curriculum of O and A levels because it falls under the British Educational system, still we will arrange a meeting with the British Council to scrutinize the books," she said in response to a calling attention notice moved jointly by Bushra Rahman, Chaudhry Anwar Ali Cheema, Mr Muhammad Hanif Abbasi, Rana Asif Tauseef and Rozina Tufail.
NA clears 17th Amendment Bill
Dec 28: The National Assembly, in an extraordinary eight-hour long sitting tonight cleared the 17th Amendment Bill in the second reading with two-thirds majority amid rumpus and walkout by the opposition.
Body of second suicide bomber identified
Dec 28: Investigators have identified the body of the second terrorist involved in the suicide attack on President Pervez Musharraf as Hazir Sultan. He is believed to have link with an Afghan militant group "Afghan Jihad", an investigation agency official told The News.
NA okays 17th Amendment: ARD, allies boycott vote
Dec 29: The National Assembly passed the 17th constitutional amendment bill with more than a two-thirds majority in a move to effectively legitimize President Pervez Musharraf's decrees and powers. The bill was approved by 248 of the 342-member lower house with no vote in opposition in a ballot that was boycotted by the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy (ARD) and its allies.
AKF buys HBL for Rs22.409bn
Dec 29: The government sold country's second largest commercial bank - Habib Bank Limited - to Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED) for Rs22.409 billion. The AKFED submitted highest bid of Rs22.409 billion to take over 51 per cent strategic stake along with management control of the HBL, which has consumed around Rs22.5 billion of the national kitty since 1999 for turn around in its balance sheet.
FO rejects report on 2 ex-PMs
Dec 29: The government dismissed a newspaper report that the UN nuclear agency wanted to grill two former prime ministers about the leaking of nuclear information to Iran. The foreign ministry reiterated that a "very small number" of Pakistani nuclear scientists were being investigated about the allegations. But Pakistan had no information that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) wanted to question former premiers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, foreign office spokesman Masood Khan said.
President rules out rollback of N-programme
Dec 29: President Gen Pervez Musharraf said Pakistan was fully safeguarding its national interests, asserting that nobody was asking the country to roll back its nuclear program or compromise on Kashmir. "There is no pressure whatsoever on me to roll back the nuclear and missile program. We are not rolling back, there is no question, these are our national interests and only a traitor will think of rolling back," he said at a function in Islamabad marking the 50th anniversary of the All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS).
Two Pakistanis held in Kabul
Dec 29: Authorities in Kabul claimed to have arrested two Pakistanis along with an Afghan national on terrorism charge. The arrested persons were shown on the state-run television. Police claimed that the three were involved in terrorist activities. However, a police official told Dawn that the two Pakistanis denied the charge during preliminary interrogations.
US condemns attack on Musharraf
Dec 29: The US condemned the latest bid to assassinate President Pervez Musharraf, and rejected rising criticism here of his key role in its anti-terror campaign. Secretary of State Colin Powell spoke to Gen Musharraf following his latest escape, to express "great relief at his safety and wellbeing", said State Department deputy spokesman Adam Ereli.
Referendum cannot be challenged: LHC
Dec 29: The Lahore High Court has dismissed a constitutional petition challenging the veracity of the referendum, held on April 30, 2002 , on the ground that it had asked political questions and not provided material enough to substantiate facts pertaining to the conduct of the electoral exercise. The Pakistan Lawyers Forum (PLF) filed the petition through its president advocate A.K. Dogar who contended that the referendum was a deceitful, fraudulent and an incredibly horrendous criminal exercise which was imposed on the people of Pakistan.
NA adopts 17th Amendment Bill
Dec. 29: The National passed the 17th Constitutional Amendment Bill with more than two-thirds majority amid boycott by the opposition members. The House adopted the bill with 248 votes in favor and none against as the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy, the Pukhtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party, the Tehrik-i-Insaf and the Balochistan National Party boycotted the proceedings to protest the non-issuance of production order of ARD parliamentary leader Makhdoom Javed Hashmi and Abid Sher Ali. The opposition leaders accused the treasury benches and the MMA of bulldozing legislation and usurping provincial rights.
17th Constitutional Amendment Bill receives mixed reaction
Dec 29: Lawyers and constitutional experts have expressed mixed reaction to the 17th Constitutional Amendment Bill passed by the National Assembly. Their criticism focused mainly on the Article 58(2)b as they termed it harmful to democracy and democratic institutions in the country. Referring to the re-introduction of Article 58(2)b into the Constitution, former additional advocate-general Sindh and lawyer of constitutional side KM Nadeem said if the power of the president to dismiss or dissolve the National Assembly had been curtailed to a large extent, even then it reflected autocratic tendency, which is an essential characteristic of the military rule in a democratic set-up. Such powers were not available in the original 1973 Constitution but were inserted through the Eight Amendment by General Zia-ul-Haq, who had no desire to part with the political sovereignty of the people as reflected in the assembly. KM Nadeem said Gen Zia abused these powers mercilessly by dismissing the governments of late Muhammad Khan Junejo, whose government enjoyed the confidence of the people and assembly but had fallen short of the confidence of General Zia-ul-Haq.
Sajid Mir differs with MMA
Dec 29: The Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal, after remaining united for well over a year, appeared to have developed a split as one of its component party distanced itself from the government-MMA accord when debate on the 17th Amendment Bill, passed earlier in the day by the National Assembly. To the surprise and disappointment of the treasury benches and the MMA senators, Vice President of the alliance, Senator Sajid Mir immediately distanced himself from the MMA-government accord cleared by the National Assembly. He accused his party elders of backing out of their one-year old stance on the LFO and wondered how could they have strengthened the hands of a general and weakened the state institutions and betraying their voters?
NA body to probe locking of parliament
Dec 29: Speaker National Assembly Chaudhry Amir Hussain formed a committee headed by former speaker National Assembly Chaudhry Hamid Nasir Chattha to probe charges that the security staff and police stopped elected members from going outside the Parliament House late on Sunday night (Dec. 28). PPPP Chief Whip in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah raised the issue of stopping him and his colleagues by the security staff from going outside the Parliament on Sunday night. Even the PPPP parliamentary leader Makhdoom Amin Fahim was also not being allowed to enter the Parliament House by the security staff.
Cyprus frees five Pakistanis terror suspects
Dec 29: Five Pakistani nationals held on suspicion of planning a "terrorism-related" act at a Cyprus airport were freed after police found nothing implicating them in such a plot, a Cyprus official said. "Nothing has surfaced that links (the suspects) to terrorist organisations ... there’s no proof these people are terrorists," Justice and Public Order Minister Doros Theodorou told reporters. Tanveer Ahmed Chaudhary, 22, Muhammad Abdul Qayum, 22, Shahbaz Ali, 21, Muhammad Tahir Suleman, 22, and Muhammad Asif Nawaz, 23, had initially faced charges of conspiracy to commit a crime relating to terrorist acts. They were due to appear in Paphos District Court today for a remand hearing, but were released beforehand since police found no incriminating evidence against them, Theodorou said.
Senate approves 17th Amendment
Dec 30: The Senate passed the 17th constitutional amendment bill by more than the required two-thirds majority, completing a parliamentary endorsement of President Pervez Musharraf's powers and laws he made since taking power more than four years ago. The bill was passed by 72 votes to nil after more than half of the opposition in the 100-seat upper house boycotted the process at its final stage.
NAB seeks details of shady deals in Euro Bonds
Dec 30: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has asked the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) to furnish details of allegedly fraudulent transactions worth $3.5 billion in the prestigious 10 per cent dollar-denominated Euro Bonds, which were listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange, with an initial capital of $585.46 million on December 14, 1999, The News said. This is one of the biggest bank scam in the history of Pakistan, which was allegedly committed between February and July 2002 by the NBP’s Tokyo (Japan), Seoul (Korea), USA, Bahrain, Hong Kong (China), Frankfurt (Germany), and Paris (France) operations, a highly-placed source said.
NSC vanishes without holding its inaugural meeting
Dec 31: Powerful circles’ old desire to have a National Security Council (NSC) remained unfulfilled this time again as the body was dropped from the 17th constitutional amendment at the last moment as part of the government-Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) deal. The NSC vanished without holding even its inaugural meeting. It was never put into action because of being incomplete in the absence of leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, who was to sit on it as one of its member.
New Chief Justice takes oath: 10 judges retire
Dec 31: Justice Nazim Hussain Siddiqui took oath as the new Chief Justice of Pakistan on Wednesday. Soon after President Pervez Musharraf's assent to the Constitutional (Seventeenth Amendment) Bill early today , 10 judges of the superior courts stood retired, including Supreme Court Chief Justice Shaikh Riaz Ahmad, who was replaced by Justice Nazim Hussain Siddiqui. The president named Justice Nazim Hussain Siddiqui as the chief justice for being the senior-most judge of the Supreme Court. The judges who have retired after attaining the age of superannuation in pursuance of Articles 179 and 195 are: Justice Shaikh Riaz Ahmad, Chief Justice of Pakistan; Justice Munir A. Sheikh, SC judge; Justice Qazi Mohammad Farooq, SC judge; Justice Karamat Nazir Bhandari, Lahore High Court judge (ad hoc judge, SC); Justice Raja Mohammad Sabir, LHC judge; Justice M. Roshan Essani, SHC judge; Justice S. Ahmad Sarwana, SHC judge; Justice Zahid Kurban Alavi, SHC judge; Justice Mohammad Ashraf Leghari, SHC judge and Justice Abdur Rauf Khan Lughmani, Peshawar High Court judge.
President assents 17th Amendment
Dec 31: President Gen Pervez Musharraf accorded his assent to the 17th constitutional amendment bill which was passed by the National Assembly and the Senate by more than the required two-thirds majority. After the presidential nod, the bill has become a part of the Constitution.