KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Farooq Sattar has said that the prevailing terrorist activities going on in different parts of Karachi and Quetta show that the upcoming general election would not be fair and transparent.

While talking to the media in Karachi on Wednesday, he said, “If our government institutions are not fulfilling their duties of ensuring fair elections, then by default or design it is leading towards unfair and non-transparent elections.”

In certain provinces, like Punjab, election climate is in full swing with parties holding big rallies, while MQM and few other parties are pushed aside and barred from carrying out their election campaign.

“In the given circumstances, when we are receiving open threats from terrorists, our offices are being attacked and party officials being killed, we are in no position to hold big rallies like other parties,” Sattar said.

On April 23, a crude bomb targeting MQM roadside office killed at least three people and injured 30 others. The attack, which took place in the Buffer Zone area, prompted the closure of all roadside camp offices of the party.

Party chief Altaf Hussain had claimed that about 25 MQM activists, including an election candidate, have been killed over the past few days.

Following the attacks, MQM had called for a strike in the region on Wednesday.

SAHIWAL: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chief Imran Khan challenged the Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (PML-N) to a debate on any TV channel, during his rally in Sahiwal, on Tuesday.

While addressing the rally, he said, “Accept my challenge Nawaz Sharif. Let’s have a debate on any TV channel. This debate is very important to bring the truth to light.”

The cricketer-turned-politician also said that PML-N “batted five times, however they will not get a sixth chance”.

“Whoever wants to succeed, succeeds in the first try,” Khan said.

Recalling his time as captain of the Pakistan national cricket team, he said that while he was the captain, no one could defeat him. “No one defeated me for ten years. I left the captaincy myself.”

He promised the supporters that if he came to power, one day will come when people living abroad will come to Pakistan in search of employment, such will be the development in Pakistan.

Earlier, on Monday night, Rehman Malik had also invited Imran Khan and Nawaz Sharif to a live debate on topics such as money laundering, morality and article 62 and 63.

https://twitter.com/SenRehmanMalik/status/326387004126425088

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) announced its manifesto during a press conference in Islamabad on Tuesday.

While addressing the press conference, party member Shireen Mazari said that according to the party manifesto, justice will be made equal for all.

“There will be no difference between the rich and the poor,” said Mazari.

Regarding the Karachi unrest issue, the PTI manifesto stated that they will start a movement against any political party, who has militant wings or holds arms.

“Our ulterior motive is to make Karachi free from arms and ammunition.”

The manifesto also outlined that the budget of the defense sector will be rationalised and promised to put an end to load shedding two to three years after they come to power.

The party policy further avowed that railway ministry will be abolished and Pakistan International Airline (PIA) will be removed from defense ministry’s supervision and will become directly accountable to the public.

“Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA) and PTV will be made independent bodies and, for good governance, all the government files and records will be made public online,” the manifesto stated.

PTI Chief Imran Khan said he is “proud” of his party.

“No other party has made any such policies, if you want you can compare our manifesto to theirs,” Khan claimed.

Some salient features of the manifesto are:

• To bring the nation out of the folds of ‘War on Terrorism’.
• Establish a 150,000 seat call centre to take service calls and facilitate e-governance. This would generate 250,000 new jobs.
• Establish a whistle-blowers programme, which will allow citizens to report unsavoury behavior by individuals or entities via a dedicated phone line.
• Announce local government elections schedule within the first 100 days of coming into power.
• Introduce regulations to ensure that the fees structure of the private schools is commensurate with the quality of education they provide.
• Engage professional services to track overseas cash and non-cash assets owned by Pakistanis.
• Withdraw all indemnities, privileges and rebates or subsidies extended to elected representatives and government officials, including the President and Prime Minister.Read the entire manifesto here.

KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Chief Altaf Hussain, while addressing a press conference in Karachi, expressed serious reservations over the questions asked by the returning officers during the election candidate scrutiny process.

“Returning officers have the authority to clear a candidates nomination papers or disqualify him, but he has no right to ask personal or appalling questions,” Hussain said.

He further requested the Supreme Court and the parliament to explain what ‘the ideology of Pakistan’ is because “I am not well-informed, I don’t know the history of the ideology of Pakistan or where it is written.”

“I don’t have an issue with returning officers asking questions, after all this is their job…what I am against is the questions they ask,” he added.

He also condemned the disqualification of a candidate over allegations of writing articles against the Two Nation Theory, and the inexcusable and personal questions asked by the returning officers.

Altaf pointed out that the papers of many suspects involved in the Asghar Khan Case have been cleared, while those who have nothing illegal in their record are being disqualified over minor issues.

Recently, there have been several strange instances of returning officers asking peculiar questions about candidate’s personal life and religion, which were widely criticised.

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Saturday that he did not agree to dissolve assemblies on March 19.

Addressing a press conference in Lahore, he said, “Our party (PML-N) would like to hold elections in the entire country on the same day and for that there were few requirements that I candidly conveyed to the Prime Minister.”

He mentioned the issues discussed during his one-on-one meeting with the premier.

Deadlock on interim premier

Shahbaz criticised the government for planning with its coalition partners in Sindh and Balochistan to orchestrate a scenario where friendly caretaker set-ups can be brought in.

“Those people should be named for the interim prime minister, who are honest and well-respected,” Sharif said.

The Punjab chief minister further added that when nominating the caretaker prime minister, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and other parties should be consulted and a decision should be taken after consensus is reached.

“We have offered to the PPP that if they have better names than our nominees, on whom all stakeholders agree, then we are ready to consider them,” Shahbaz said.

“I advise the PPP government not to bring such people in for the interim set-up because of which the people stop trusting the election.”

He added that the upcoming elections are not routine elections, “these polls will be make or break for Pakistan.”

Of Balochistan, Shahbaz urged that the PML-N and the nationalist parties should be consulted before naming the interim government, otherwise the estranged nationalists will be pushed to the wall.

KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on Tuesday announced that the party has issued application forms for the middle-class and poor people of Pakistan, who want to contest in the upcoming elections from national or provincial assembly seats.

Addressing a press conference in Karachi, MQM leader Farooq Sattar said, “Political and religious parties of the country sell their election tickets for millions to selfish candidates, who don’t even show their faces in their constituencies after they get elected.”

He said that poor and middle-class people, who want to serve their people, never get a chance to contest in the elections because they don’t have enough money to buy tickets.

“However, MQM has always supported poor and middle-class people, who are literate and talented. Therefore, the MQM has issued nomination forms for such people, who want to represent the people of Pakistan, for free, irrespective of their religion, caste and ethnicity.”

He further added that the forms would be available at the election cell of MQM headquarters, Nine Zero (90) and other zonal and district offices. The form, he said, will also be available on their website www.mqm.org.

KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) rescinded its previous call for a strike in Karachi against the government’s inefficiency after the Abbas Town blast, Express News reported.

MQM Coordination Committee member Raza Haroon, while addressing a second press conference on Wednesday, said, “Upon hearing appeals made by traders, transporters, business owners, members of school associations and many others, the MQM has taken back its decision to keep businesses closed for an indefinite period of time.”

Haroon reiterated that his party will continue their protest until their demands regarding the arrests of the perpetrators and compensation to the victims of the Abbas Town blast are met.

The MQM member reiterated that despite the cancellation of the strike call, the party had not compromised on its demands.

Afternoon strike call

Raza Haroon had said earlier, “After extensive negotiations and meetings, MQM has decided to observe a peaceful movement against the government’s inefficiency.”

Addressing a press conference in the afternoon, Raza Haroon said that MQM Chief Altaf Hussain had condemned the Abbas Town blast and had demanded the government arrest the terrorists involved within three days, otherwise, the MQM will observe a democratic protest.

“Although government promised immediate action, they did nothing except drama,” he added.

Condemning the government’s incompetence, Haroon said that this protest movement will continue till government arrests the culprits responsible for the attack.

“We appeal to the people of Karachi to stay peaceful and support the peaceful protest,” he said, before adding, “We request the people of Karachi, especially traders, factory owners, shop keepers, transporters and people belonging to other walks of life, to keep their businesses shut until the terrorists are arrested.”

He added that providing compensation to the victims of the attack and their rehabilitation was the responsibility of the government, but so far the government has done nothing except for promises, that were never kept.

Talking about the present situation of Karachi, he said that rumours are being spread in the city to spread panic. “We strongly condemn all such actions to sabotage our peaceful movement,” he said, referring to incidents of violence as the city shut down.

Understanding difficulty of businesses

Haroon said the MQM was cognisant of the pressure faced by the business community, traders and daily wage earners that strikes bring.

“They will face a lot of difficulty in the wake of these strikes; however, this is the only way to make the government realise and to stop the terrorism from spreading.”

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DUBAI: Former Pakistan President General (retd) Pervez Musharraf announced that he will return to Pakistan within a week after the establishment of a caretaker government.

Addressing a media conference in Dubai, he said, “people think I cannot come back to Pakistan because I would be in danger and because of the cases; I leave all the danger to Allah. It’s now or never,” he said

He further added that under his government, development had taken place in Pakistan as new universities had been set up and many sectors of the economy, such as agriculture and telecommunications had boomed.

Revealing his plans, he said, “either I will come to Karachi or Rawalpindi or Islamabad. But since Qaid-e-Azam came to Karachi after the partition, hence, I might be doing the same.”

Members of All Pakistan Muslim League (APML), a political party founded by Pervez Musharraf in 2010, were also present at the press conference.

He also said, “the APML will be taking part in the elections and our candidates will be running in the elections from all constituencies.”

Talking about the elections, he said that according to Article 62 and 63 of the constitution, all the ineligible candidates should be removed and should not be allowed to take part in the elections.

“Free and fair elections can only be held under army’s supervision,” he said.

Addressing the difficulties faced by the country, he said that Pakistan was going through a very difficult time and the coming few months will be challenging.

Highlighting religious extremism and terrorism as the reason behind this turmoil, he said that during his tenure as army chief and president, his government focused on a four point agenda that covered internal stability, regional peace, international acceptability and the country’s overall socio-economic development.

“We need a government that will work on these four agendas. And for this an honest and responsible government is a prerequisite,” he said.

Despite making announcements of returning to Pakistan in the past Musharraf never delivered on them.

Pending court cases of the famous Lal Masjid operation and the arrest warrants that were issued on his name in connection to the killing of Akbar Bugti in 2006 and the 2007 assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, are still outstanding against him.

KARACHI: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chairperson and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said that the current government had thrown the country into turmoil in its five years of governance.

He made these remarks on Tuesday while addressing a press conference in Karachi with the chairperson of the PML-Functional (PML-F), Pir Pagara.

Defending his own record as Prime Minister, he said that he had always defended Pakistan’s supreme national interest around the world.

Referring to the 1998 nuclear tests as a proud moment in the nation’s history, he said, “When India said that they will teach Pakistan a lesson, instead of replying with a similar violent statement I went with six nuclear tests in response to their five tests.”

Commenting on the local situation in Karachi and Sindh, he said that the failure of the law and order situation in the city was a testament to the failure that the federal and provincial government’s law and order policies had become.

He further added that to save the people of Pakistan and people of Sindh, he has joined hands with Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F) and National People’s Party and announced an electoral alliance with Pir Pagara and his party.

Earlier on Tuesday, PML-N had met Pir Pagara and other members of PML-F at his Karachi residence, where they discussed the course of action to be taken for the future.  Many important decisions were made.

The salient features of the negotiations were:

• It has been decided that strong candidates from each party will be given seats to save the civilians from the worst government in Sindh’s history.
• Higher judiciary and Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will be consulted to prevent rigging and ensure fair elections.
• Demanded the immediate expulsion of the existing governors and appointment of new governors
• Demanded setting up of a fair care-taker government and fair elections.

Denying links with LeJ

In response to the accusations of the People’s Party’s  Sharjeel Memon, Sharif said that as government has nothing more to say, hence they are linking him to terrorist groups.

Memon had blamed PML-N of backing the terrorists who were responsible for the recent Quetta blast.

Commenting on his links to the extremist groups he said, “Right now the government is saying that PML-N is involved in the bomb blasts, later they will say that Nawaz Sharif is exploding bombs.”

Pir Pagara’s stance

Pakistan Muslim League-Functional also addressed the media during the press conference. He said, “Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) cannot win because they don’t have enough power in Punjab and they are almost non-existent in Frontier and Balochistan. Their entire focus is on Sindh and they will try to win seats from here by hook or by crook.”

Commenting on their exit from the coalition, he said, “If we would have been greedy for power, we wouldn’t have joined opposition. We want to work for the betterment of Pakistan.”

KARACHI: Pakistani actor Ali Zafar did not take long to become India’s heartthrob. Ali has been roped in for Yash Raj Films (YRF) newest project Kill Dil. Directed by Shaad Ali — who has given hits like Saathiya — and produced by Aditya Chopra, Kill Dil features Bollywood stars Ranveer Singh, Ali Zafar and Parineeti Chopra in lead roles.

As far as Kill Dil is concerned, Ali will be seen in a rugged avatar for a change. The 32-year-old star says he will start exercising to get in shape. “I will be working out to gain some muscle for this film after we wrap up Neeraj Panday’s Aman Ki Asha,” Ali told The Express Tribune via email.

After Mere Brother Ki Dulhan, this is his second film under YRF banner. He says he “feels very privileged to work with YRF banner once again”.

When asked about the story, the versatile artist refused to reveal the plot of the film but did say that he is very excited about the role. “I am actually very excited for this role because action has been my favourite genre since I was a child.”

Ali’s publicist Ammara Hikmat said the film will go on floors in October and will release in 2014.

Dancing with fame

The talented musician, who made his debut in the Pakistani music industry in 2003 with album Huqa Pani, made his way to Bollywood with an unconventional movie Tere Bin Laden. After his performance as an ambitious young reporter, Ali not only gained recognition as an actor worldwide, but also got offers from big banners like YRF.

His second breakthrough was YRF’s Mere Brother Ki Dulhan, where he acted alongside Imran Khan and Katrina Kaif and also provided vocals for its catchy song Madhubala. While Ali was nominated for his debut film, he won the Stardust Award 2012 for Superstar of Tomorrow Male for Mere Brother Ki Dulhan. At the same ceremony, he bagged the award for New Musical Sensation for Madhubala.

Ali’s next film London, Paris, New York, in which  he stars opposite Aditi Rao Hyderi, saw a dull response at the box office but managed to attract attention overseas. This year, fans will see him playing the boy-next-door in the remake of the 1981 film Chashme Buddoor, which is set to release on April 5.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 21^st, 2013.               

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