Transcript: Interview with Asif Ali Zardari

By Farhan Bokhari and James Lamont

Published: September 15 2009 16:25 | Last updated: September 15 2009 16:25

Farhan Bokhari, the FT’s Pakistan correspondent, and James Lamont, the FT’s south Asia bureau chief, interviewed Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari at the presidency in Islamabad on Wednesday 9 September 2009. Below are Mr Zardari’s written responses to questions.

FT: What have you achieved after a year in office as president of Pakistan? What prospects do you see for the future of Pakistan’s democracy?

Asif Ali Zardari: The democratic government on assuming power inherited a huge portfolio of challenges that confronted the nation. The structure of democratic institutions had collapsed. The judicial crisis threatened the legal fibre of the country. The system of delivery of social services had collapsed. The macro economic instability was threatening country’s economic and financial foundations. Unemployment pushed the people below poverty line. Inflation was in the vicinity of 24 per cent. Pakistan’s international credibility was at its lowest ebb. The existence of the state was threatened by the terrorists and militants. The governance both at the federal and provincial level had collapsed.

Pakistan, thus, was facing political economic and social crisis that had to be addressed. In this backdrop, the government has achieved modest but tangible results during its first year in the office.

In these silhouettes of despair the only hope was to rise above the party politics, achieve census on national issues, cool down political tempers and restore sanity in the political conduct within the country.

Gradually, political tempers have cooled down. The national consensus on the fight against terrorism has been achieved. With the help of international community, Pakistan is fighting the menace of terrorism. Under the stewardship of the political leadership, the armed forces’ Swat operation has been a success. The militants there have been defeated. The writ of the civil government has been restored. The government moulded public opinion against terrorism.

The process of dialogue and consultation with the political parties within the parliament and outside the parliament remains a source of strength for the polity of Pakistan. This in turn, has strengthened the democratic institutions. The judiciary is independent and media is free.

FT: How fragile is the economy?

AZ: On the economic front, Pakistan has achieved a turn around. The macroeconomic indicators have improved considerably, leading to upgrades in outlook by the international credit rating agencies. The foreign exchange reserves are now around US$14bn to offset import of 5-6 months. The inflation is under check and has been brought down from 24 per cent to 11 per cent. Stock exchanges are buoyant. This has given confidence to the international corporate citizenry of Pakistan for investment in the country.

The acute problem of power shortage is being addressed. By the end of December, we hope to overcome this problem through short-term and long-term measures. The water shortage in the country is being addressed also. Massive allocations have been made in the water and power sector to overcome water shortage and to increase the productivity and achieve food self-sufficiency.

Under the Benazir Support Programme poverty issue is being addressed. The dysfunctional system of delivery of services has been checked.

To regain the confidence of our international development partners, we initiated the forum ‘Friends of democratic Pakistan’. FoDP is not a donor’s club. It is a platform for strategic support by the international community to Pakistan. It also provides a forum for continuous dialogue for identifying economic challenges that confront our nation.

On the international political landscape, there is better understanding of Pakistan’s political economic and strategic issues. We aspire to promote peace and harmony with the region. These measures are not an end itself. We cannot be complacent. We would continue to support international efforts to defeat terrorism.

FT: How serious is the challenge from your political opponents, notably the PML-N [Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz]?

AZ: I have always advocated the process of dialogue with the political parties, including PML-N to resolve the political issues. The continuity of this dialogue has created an understanding among all the political parties of Pakistan that democracy needs to be strengthened.

Political disagreements, if any, are to be addressed and resolved through this process to strengthen the democracy and democratic institutions. PML-N is playing its role within the democratic polity. Political disagreements have the colour and fragrance that normally is seen and felt in a political bouquet, while remaining united on one issue that democracy is the future of Pakistan.

FT: What were the lessons learned in the Swat campaign? What is the level of the current threat from militants to you and your government? Has your government foiled any terrorist plots against you personally? Could you give some details?

AZ: We are following a three “Ds” policy to deal with terrorism.

First, dialogue. With tribal elders and those who lay down arms and do not challenge the state. As “political will” is must to defeat terrorism, we called the All Parties Conference and a national consensus to fight terrorism was achieved. Upon the request of provincial Government, Ilan-e-Swat (Swat declaration) was approved. But the militants mistook our offer of dialogue as our weakness and started expanding their operations to other areas. At this point the civil population was also alarmed and even those who had shown some understanding of the Taliban mindset in the past began to worry. As consensus of all political parties was with the government, so we decided to use force to establish writ of the government. After violating the peace accord, the actual face of militants was exposed and support of masses was evinced to carry out an operation against the militancy.

Second, development. Development of the areas to address to the root cause of militancy and extremism. During operation in Swat millions of citizens were displaced. Our government took extra care to cater for this unpleasant outcome of militancy. With our effective management, successful Operation, support of international community and Friends of Democratic Pakistan, a major population has returned to their homes. Rehabilitation of these persons is a major challenge. We have drawn up a rehabilitation and reconstruction plan for Malakand costing nearly $2.5bn. We expect the international community to support it.

Third, deterrence. To use force against militants. After the violation of Ilan-e-Swat, the main operation was started on 7 May 09 which is now almost over. Mopping up operations in rural areas is continuing. Intelligent cooperation and support of local people is helping in preventing any untoward incident.

The threat is perpetual. We have lost our former Prime Minister Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, and countless of our troops and people have laid down their lives. We are not complacent. We are determined to pursue and chase the militants to the finish.

FT: How seriously do you regard President Karzai’s offer of resuming a peace dialogue with Pakistan after the elections?

AZ: We have warm and cordial relations with the people of Afghanistan and Afghan leadership. We signed the declaration of Bilateral Relations in January 2009 with Afghanistan during my visit to Kabul. The declaration has provided a framework for our multifaceted relationship. Pakistan will continue to work towards strengthening our bilateral relationship.

FT: How could peace be achieved with India during Manmohan Singh’s premiership? What steps need to be taken?

AZ: The meeting between me and Prime Minister of India in New York on 24 September 2008 led to the resumption of the fifth round of the Composite Dialogue. In the aftermath of the Mumbai incident in November 2008, India once again placed a pause on the dialogue process. Soon after re-election as prime minister in May, 2009, Manmohan Singh accused Pakistan of involvement in [the] Mumbai incident. These allegations were rejected by Pakistan.

I met prime minister Singh in Yekaterinburg, in June 2009. Later, prime minister Gilani met Mr Singh at Sharm el-Sheikh on 16 July. Both leaders have reaffirmed the desire to improve bilateral relations.

In our view, the resumption of a sustained engagement and dialogue with India could ally each others’ concerns. Both Pakistan and India need to avoid hostile propaganda and confrontation against each other.

Pakistan is ready to cooperate with India to punish the perpetrators of terror attacks in Mumbai. Pakistan has assured that it would not allow its territory to be used against India for any acts of terror. India must also reciprocate and address our concerns which are very genuine. Dialogue is the only way forward. Absence of dialogue leads to tension.

FT: How significant was the death of Baitullah Mehsud? Will it make a difference to Pakistan’s campaign against terror especially in the border areas?

AZ: The death of Baitullah is very significant. Due to his death the Taliban leadership is in disarray. On the issue of Baitullah’s succession, there is a significant division among the Taliban leadership. The major suicide bomb network and Taliban patronage has been disrupted. The acts of terror have considerably decreased in the border area.

FT: What do you consider your government’s major economic policy successes?

AZ: Over the past year, Pakistan has successfully achieved macroeconomic stability under exceptional circumstances. The key highlights are:

– The fiscal deficit has been brought down from 7.6 per cent of GDP in 2007-08, to 5.2 per cent of GDP in 2008-09, and is targeted to be lowered further to 4.9 per cent in the current fiscal. Adjusted for expenditures related to the military’s ongoing counter-terrorism operation, and for the upkeep and rehabilitation of over 2.5m Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) – the largest IDP population in the world the underlying fiscal deficit for 2008-09 was substantially lower, indicating a significant fiscal adjustment in a space of 12 months.

– Since late 2008, foreign exchange reserves have improved, rising from US$6.7bn in October, 2008, to over US$13bn as of end august 2009. As a result, the rupee has also stabilised after recording a nearly 25 per cent decline in 2008.

– Inflation has exhibited a strong trend of improvement over the past few months, declining from a high of 25 per cent year-on-year in October 2008 to 11.2 per cent in July 2009.

– Finally, market confidence has visibly improved. Pakistan’s sovereign rating has been upgraded one notch by S&P, while Moody’s has revised the outlook to “stable”. Spreads on Pakistan’s outstanding Euro bonds have narrowed over 1,700 basis points from their peak in December 2008, while net portfolio investment has rebounded sharply in August. Pakistan’s benchmark equity index, the Karachi stock Exchange’s KSE-100 index, has risen slightly over 53 percent since January this year.

FT: Do you share your finance minister Shaukat Tarin’s concern about the high costs associated with larger US aid flows? Is this an issue you will raise with US president Barack Obama when you meet him next month in the US?

AZ: The concern regarding high intermediate costs is a general one, and does not pertain to US aid flows alone. The fact that up to 45 percent of the aid disbursement is not spent on the recipient country but is instead utilised on goods and services sourced from a donor country is a matter of concern regarding the effectiveness of international aid.

Given the severity of the international security challenge, and the associated spillover effects that Pakistan faces, the country needs maximum support from the international community. This should translate into not just a higher quantum of assistance but also higher quality of aid - ie, Pakistan needs more grant assistance than loans; soft terms for assistance in the form of loans, and less “tied” aid.

FT: Are you disappointed by the failure of the Friends of Pakistan Group to begin delivering the money they had promised in Tokyo earlier this year? If the pledges do not come in full, what would be the implications for Pakistan’s economy?

AZ: We are indebted to the international community/Friends of Democratic Pakistan for the generous pledges made in Tokyo amounting to $5.27bn. We also recognise that converting those pledges into actual disbursements of aid can be a cumbersome process.

However, Pakistan does not have the luxury of time. Given the severity of internal security challenge the country is facing, it is critical that the economy is provided a strong stimulus as quickly as possible so that the maximum number of jobs are created in the shortest time.

Pakistan does not have the fiscal resources to provide for the stimulus; hence, the importance of international aid flows. If these are delayed beyond the next few months, the country will be forced to cut development spending as well as the provision of critical social services. You can then imagine how big a setback that could be for the global war on terror.

FT: Are you still worried about the proliferation network operated by AQ Khan? Do you share US concerns about the safety of the nuclear arsenal?

AZ: Dr AQ Khan now lives a private life and has nothing to do with the country’s nuclear programme. We have strengthened our export controls and Command and Control Systems. So, concerns, if any, regarding the safety of our nuclear arsenals are unfounded.

FT: What was the substance of your talks with Gordon Brown during your recent visit to the UK?

AZ: Apart from bilateral ties we discussed a whole range of issues including Afghanistan and Pak-India relations. Pakistan-UK have substantive ongoing cooperation in many fields. We have a 1m Pakistani diaspora in UK. We are exploring ways and means towards engaging them in Pakistan’s long term socio-economic development. This is one area where Britain can be of great help to Pakistan.

FT: How do you see China’s involvement in Pakistan during your tenure as president and going in to the future?

AZ: China is our longstanding friend and a traditional partner. There is complete understanding between us on regional and international issues. The depth of our political understanding has, however, not been fully translated in to our economic ties.

It has been my endeavour to translate our relations in the economic sphere. I have visited China four times since assuming office last year. The purpose of my visit to the major provincial hubs of China is to learn from their growth model and to identify areas of commonality where we can cooperate. The emphasis of my government is to take advantage from the Chinese experience in the fields of agriculture, fisheries, energy, infrastructure, development, health and high efficiency irrigation. We have made progress in these areas. Chinese investment and expertise would be forthcoming in these areas. We are committed to further strengthen our ties to truly make it a model relationship through strong institutional linkages.

FT: Do you see a difference in US engagement especially with Richard Holbrooke’s appointment as Washington’s envoy for the AfPak region? How much difference has been made by Richard Holbrooke personally?

AZ: Afghanistan and Pakistan are distinctly different countries and should not be lumped together in the generic label of AfPak.

Pakistan and US share a strategic relationship which is based on mutual interest. The democratic government of Pakistan is committed to building a long-term, broad-based relationship with the US which benefits the people of both the countries. Anybody who pursues this agenda is welcome from our side. We had earlier welcomed the appointment of Mr Holbrooke as President Obama’s special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan and we continue to work with him to promote the mutual interest of our two countries.

Our interaction with the US side has increased with the appointment of Mr Holbrooke who brings with him a unique focus on relations with Pakistan. We also appreciate the emphasis of the Obama administration on our economic and energy issues and look forward to working with them to resolve some of the chronic issues facing our economy.

Abolishment of capital punishment

President seeks recommendations to abolish death penalty

Daily Times Monitor

LAHORE: President Asif Ali Zardari wants to replace capital punishment
with 24 to 30 years of imprisonment, and he has called on provincial
governments to submit recommendations on the matter, a private TV
channel quoted Sindh Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ayaz
Soomro as saying on Wednesday.

According to the channel, the minister said the Sindh government would
look into the matter from an Islamic point of view. He said that
amnesty for a criminal was even allowed in Islam. He said a meeting of
the Sindh Assembly would be called soon after the first week of Eid,
and all suggestions on the matter would be heard.

SOURCE DAILYTIMES

NAJAM SETHI EDITORIAL ON PRESIDENT CHINA DIPLOMACY

Editorial: Zardari’s China diplomacy

Talking to the Chinese newspaper Guangming Daily, President Asif Ali Zardari has detailed the results of his frequent working visits to China, saying he had identified more than 50 new initiatives and signed three dozen MoUs during one year of his out-of-protocol tours of China. He spoke of Chinese advances in the field of agriculture, signalling his intent of expanding cooperation in that field.

Mr Zardari’s diplomacy is careful while being focused on Pakistan’s self-interest. He mentions the founder of the PPP, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, as the architect of Pakistan’s China policy; but the difference this time is that there is no Cold War polarity to contend with. His diplomacy with the United States and the United Kingdom is equally focused on the national interest.

Unfortunately, however, few in Pakistan are concerned with the dynamic behind President Zardari’s intensification of contacts with China. Such is the strength of the destabilising factors in Pakistan that his visits to China are either ignored or described as the pursuit of a dubious “personal” programme. In the past, visits to China by Pakistani leaders were hardly ever criticised. But now even that restraint is gone.

Apart from the problem of terrorism that destabilises Pakistan by undermining public trust in the state, there are two very strong additional factors of instability. The first is the lingering political vendetta that characterised the politics of the 1990s and isolated Pakistan internationally. The second is the trend of using this politics for media trials. The more the charges brought against the government are disproved, the more frequent and intense they become.

The media seduces the inward-looking politician into agitation with its slanted coverage and personal attacks by TV hosts. Every time the politician realises the folly of walking behind the hosts blindly, he beats a retreat from his hostile position, but this is only temporary. Anger rather than opinion is freely expressed on TV, persuading the viewing public to adopt a similar attitude towards the government.

Prior “free market” problems of a faltering economy are blamed on the government without suggesting a way out, apart from bringing back the statism that had failed to resolve Pakistan’s poverty dilemma. Somehow President Zardari is constantly referred to. His visits abroad are resented as if his presence in Pakistan was more important than that of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani. But at the same time he is also criticised for usurping the prime ministerial role!

The uproar about corruption is another such case. It may turn out to be justified but at some point, proof of the allegations levelled against the PPP government and indirectly against President Zardari must also be presented. An orchestrated campaign about the Rental Power Producers (RPPs) was mounted against the water and power minister, accusing him of kickbacks, even mentioning the house he had bought abroad. But when the showdown actually took place on a TV channel, the vilification campaign failed to convince.

The state is being taxed with acting in unfamiliar ways. It is first accused of allowing the Americans of planting their mercenary non-state actors in Islamabad in order to target and destroy Pakistan’s nuclear programme; then it is asked to take action against the United States to prove that Pakistan is sovereign. Similarly, the government is rebuked for not getting the states in the Friends of Democratic Pakistan to cough up the promised funds when the fact is that the money in question was targeted but not actually pledged.

There was a time when the critic never tired of the “perfidy” of America in walking away from Pakistan when most needed. This was made the ground for delinking Pakistan’s interests from the US, without however defining an alternative strategy that would offset the political and economic losses thus entailed. Today, as the US admits that it was wrong in abandoning Pakistan in the past and wishes to beef up its presence, the critic insists that America’s exit from Afghanistan and leaving Pakistan alone would be the right scenario.

President Zardari is pilloried if he makes a friendly overture to India; a similar overture made by Mr Nawaz Sharif is either ignored or actually praised. Retired generals and retired bureaucrats whose “stand-still” strategy with India in the past has brought Pakistan to its present crisis point, have crept out of their retirement to express their shock at how President Zardari is harming Pakistan through his diplomacy with China, the United States and the European Union.

Pakistan needs a lot of placatory diplomacy, not hostile “action”, given its past failed strategies. President Zardari is on the right path in his efforts to woo the international community, especially China and the US. Certainly, that is how the world looks at him. *

Nawaz Sharif ordered murder of Pak Army officer?

Lahore: Former Pakistan premier Nawaz Sharif, recently buffeted by a controversy over receiving an alleged payoff from ISI, has been accused of "ordering the murder of an Army officer" in a petition filed in the Supreme Court, a charge termed by his PML-N party as "politically motivated”.

Freelance journalist Shahid Orakzai alleged in his petition that a sitting judge of the apex court had abetted Sharif in the murder of his brother, Major Khalid Saeed Orakzai, in 1993.

Orakzai further alleged in his petition, which was filed yesterday, that Sharif ordered the murder of his brother after a "political kickbacks deal" turned sour. The judge in question should be made a respondent in the case and stopped from performing his duties till the court gives its decision, he said.

"My brother was murdered because I went public with a kickbacks deal in 1993 and this annoyed Sharif and some senior PML-N leaders," Orakzai said.

The PML-N has dismissed the allegations. "This is a false and totally politically motivated accusation," said Ahsan Iqbal, the spokesman for the PML-N.

"This is only the latest in a series of recent accusations against Sharif. The presidency and hidden hands are trying to pressurise him into backing down on his demand for prosecuting former President Pervez Musharraf," Iqbal said.

Orakzai, who was a media consultant for Sharif in the early 1990s, said he had arranged a deal between Sharif's party, then known as the Pakistan Muslim League, and seven parliamentarians from the tribal areas to install the PML's candidate as speaker in the National Assembly.

"The deal involved the payment of Rs 17.5 million to the parliamentarians in return for their support for Sharif's candidate for the post of speaker. The party paid Rs 2.5 million each to four parliamentarians but reneged on the payment to the other three after the Pakistan People's Party candidate won the election," Orakzai claimed.

After that, Orakzai made the deal public and moved the apex court to take action against Sharif. The court accepted that the deal had taken place and Orakzai's actions led to awkward questions and embarrassment for Sharif, who had just started his second innings as premier.

"After the court's observation, the PML men were after me. My brother was a major protection for me against their harassment, and that was why they first removed him from the scene. He was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Kohat in October 1997," Orakzai said.

In his petition, Orakzai has named Sharif, his brother Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Saifur Rehman, Sartaj Aziz and Gohar Ayub for allegedly being involved in the murder of his brother. "I am hopeful that I will get justice from the independent judiciary," he said.

Source

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Nawaz Sharif faces murder inquiry

By Syed Shoaib Hasan BBC News, Islamabad Pakistan's Supreme court is set to hear petitions seeking the prosecution of the main opposition leader, Nawaz Sharif, for murder. According to documents obtained by the BBC, the court will hear the accusations against Mr Sharif and then decide whether to pursue the charges. The petitions call for Mr Sharif's arrest and prosecution. He has denied ordering the murder of an ex-army officer after an alleged political kickbacks deal turned sour. Nawaz Sharif, twice elected as Pakistan's prime minister, has recently been acquitted of similar criminal charges by the Supreme Court. The court's decision was made on 21 July but it is expected to begin its inquiries imminently. 'Vindication' "This is a false and totally politically motivated accusation," Ehsan Iqbal, spokesman for Mr Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party, told the BBC. "This is only the latest in a series of recent accusations against Mr Sharif. "The presidency and hidden hands are trying to pressurise him into backing down on his demand for prosecuting (former President) Musharraf." However, the main petitioner in the case, Shahid Orakzai, said that the court ruling was the vindication of a long struggle. "It has taken 12 years for the truth to prevail," said Mr Orakzai. His brother, Maj Khalidsaeed Orakzai, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in the northern town of Kohat in 1997. Shahid Orakzai, a freelance journalist, says his brother was murdered because he went public with a political kickbacks deal. The deal dates back to 1993 and allegedly involved Mr Sharif and senior party leaders. At that time Mr Orakzai arranged a deal between them and parliamentarians from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata). The deal involved the payment of 10 million rupees to the parliamentarians in return for their support for the PML-N candidate for Speaker of Pakistan's parliament. But the PML-N reneged on payment after the the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) candidate won the election. This led to Mr Orakzai going public with the deal and asking the chief election commissioner (CEC) to take action. However, the CEC refused and the matter ended up in court. Eventually, the court accepted that the deal had taken place and Mr Orakzai's persistence led to awkward questions for Mr Sharif. Mr Orakzai alleges that Mr Sharif subsequently ordered his brother to be murdered. "It is utter rubbish and just part of a scheme to launch a character assassination of Mr Sharif," said Mr Iqbal. "Mr Orakzai has often made himself part of petitions against Mr Sharif and everybody knows his connections to the intelligence agencies. "If we are issued notices, we will deal with them, although we aren't too worried about them."

Murder case petition against Nawaz

Wednesday, 09 Sep, 2009 (Dawn)

The Supreme Court is set to hear petitions seeking the prosecution of the main opposition leader, Nawaz Sharif, for murder.The BBC claims in a report by Syed Shoaib Hasan from Islamabad that it has obtained documents which say the court will hear the accusations against Mr Sharif and then decide whether to pursue the charges.

The petitions call for Mr Sharif’s arrest and prosecution. He has denied ordering the murder of an ex-army officer after an alleged political kickbacks deal turned sour.

“This is a false and totally politically motivated accusation,” Ahsan Iqbal, spokesman for Mr Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-N, told the BBC.

“This is only the latest in a series of recent accusations against Mr Sharif. The presidency and hidden hands are trying to pressurise him into backing down on his demand for prosecuting (former president) Musharraf.”

However, the main petitioner in the case, Shahid Orakzai, said that the court’s decision was the vindication of a long struggle. “It has taken 12 years for the truth to prevail,” said Mr Orakzai.

His brother, Maj Khalid Saeed Orakzai, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Kohat in 1997.

Mr Orakzai, a freelance journalist, says his brother was murdered because he went public with a kickback deal that dated back to 1993 and allegedly involved Mr Sharif and senior party leaders.

At that time Mr Orakzai arranged a deal between them and parliamentarians from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas.

The deal involved the payment of Rs10 million to the parliamentarians in return for their support for the PML-N candidate for speaker of the National Assembly.

But the PML-N reneged on payment after the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) candidate won the election.

This led to Mr Orakzai going public with the deal and asking the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) to take action. However, the CEC refused and the matter ended up in court.

Eventually, the court accepted that the deal had taken place and Mr Orakzai’s persistence led to awkward questions for Mr Sharif.

Mr Orakzai alleges that Mr Sharif subsequently ordered his brother to be murdered.

“It is utter rubbish and just part of a scheme to launch a character assassination of Mr Sharif,” said Mr Iqbal.

“Mr Orakzai has often made himself part of petitions against Mr Sharif and everybody knows his connections to the intelligence agencies. “If we are issued notices, we will deal with them, although we aren’t too worried about them.”

SIMON REEVES NEW BOOK :"THE NEW JACKALS"

The unholy alliance of Nawaz, Osama, Gul and Khawaja

Daily Times Monitor

LAHORE: After claims of close ties between Osama bin Laden and PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif by the British author and journalist Simon Reeves, a former Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) officer named Khalid Khawaja has revealed similar facts during his interview to different media outlets including a Pakistani TV channel.

According to the information given by Simon Reeves in his book “The New Jackals: Ramzi Yousaf, Osama bin Laden and the future of terrorism”, backed by that of Khalid Khawaja, Bin Laden not only sponsored the election campaign of former prime minister and PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif in 1988 but paid him large sums of money to ensure protection of Al Qaeda operatives in Pakistan and to “Islamise” the state and society.

Khawaja, who also runs a non-government organisation with the name of Defence for Human Rights, has claimed in an interview to a local TV channel that Bin Laden had held five meetings with PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif.

He further stated that he had arranged these meetings between the Al Qaeda leader and Nawaz on the former prime minister’s request. He also said that he could produce evidence of these meetings to counter the denial by PML-N spokesman Siddique ul Farooq who said that no such meetings ever took place.

However, Khawaja denied that he ever stated that Osama gave more than Rs 500 million to Nawaz Sharif. He said hopefully Nawaz Sharif would not “tell a lie” in this regard, and added that the statement of PML-N spokesman Siddique ul Farooq was untrue that no such meetings had taken place.

Khawaja said that he used to be a close associate of Bin Laden in the past and might have met him more than a hundred times but he never met him after the 9/11 terror attacks.

A blogger at ABCNews.com had previously quoted the former ISI official as stating that Nawaz took a million dollar payoff from Bin Laden for turning a blind eye to Al Qaeda operatives in Pakistan.

ABC News also confirmed the same incident of payoff by quoting former FBI agent Jack Cloonan who used to interrogate one of the key Al Qaeda operatives in US custody, Ali Muhammad.

Cloonan, who is currently working as an ABC News consultant, claimed that Ali had once told him that Bin Laden paid Nawaz’s representatives $1 million for not cracking down on the militants in the Northwest Frontier Province.

Simon Reeves states in his book that after re-establishing Al Qaeda, one of Bin Laden’s first actions was to try and guarantee the security of his men living in Pakistani refugee camps by throwing money at the election campaign of Nawaz Sharif, “an energetic Pakistani politician” standing for the election of Prime Minister.

He also states in his book that Nawaz had received the money from Bin Laden with a promise to convert Pakistan into a strict Islamic state.

An American website named History Commons Website has not only confirmed Cloonan’s claim but has also mentioned another book by Scott-Clark and Levy, claiming that General Hameed Gul had contacted Osama Bin Laden who was then known to provide financial support to the Afghan mujahideen, to pay for a coup and assassination of the late Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

A lonely father facing mother of all troubles

A lonely father facing mother of all troubles

Tuesday, September 08, 2009 By Sharmila Faruqui ‘My husband is a friend of friends,’ .... Benazir Bhutto Shaheed described her high profile, highly victimised and grossly demonized Asif Ali Zardari in one of her last remarks. Indeed, she was right. He has proved her correct at every stage, suffering immensely at the hands of both friends and foes. Zardari, a firm believer of ‘never say die’ has proved his detractors wrong time and again. This week the much-maligned Zardari is completing one year in office as the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, a country of 180 million at war against terrorism and with itself, craving to win for its existence. The man deserves credit for spearheading the most difficult war of the 21st century. The war mongers have miserably failed to snatch the broad smile that baffles his greatest detractors. Even in a pensive mood he keeps smiling that baffles his greatest critics and arch rivals. His smile has kept this beleaguered nation alive to the grave day-to-day ground realities of Pakistan in the last quarter of 2009. It has never been a bed of roses for the father of Bilawal, Bakhtawar and Asifa, who has had to act as their mother as well since the tragic death of Benazir Bhutto Shaheed. One year is no period to judge a president, who presides over a struggling nation that witnesses crisis after crisis at regular intervals starting from the judicial upheaval to sugar, wheat and flour shortages to unpredictable power breakdowns to sometimes wavering overseas friends but he always manages the last laugh. He has boldly faced an unending tirade of wild charges, fake scandals, unsubstantiated corruption stories and sensational media trial. He has braved ferocious and pervasive attacks by the ‘friendly opposition’ in collaboration with untamed and furious right wing media organisations. This is typical of Zardari; he knows when to play on the front foot and when to avoid rushing unannounced bouncers. He is a player of his own class ... almost peerless. Despite usual hiccups, for this nation and for the whole world the most satisfying factor is his winning the war of terrorism that was unleashed against Pakistan by an enemy that knew no boundaries and has no limits of its brutality and cruelty. Zardari himself is a victim of this war on terrorism. He lost his own wife Benazir Bhutto. Millions cried for the angel that fell on the fateful evening of December 27, 2007 in Rawalpindi. Another Karbala that the people shall always remember as they pay her tribute day and night and cherish her great memory. No doubt the president of Pakistan is hundred per cent serious and determined to finish the job and bring the culprits to book that they rightly deserve. One such merchant of death Baitullah Mahsud was killed few weeks before Zardari completes his first year in office; the world is a safer place since Mahsud was annihilated in a drone attack at his hideout. This one achievement is sufficient to judge Zardari’s caliber for the highest office and definitely the most difficult job on this planet. To accomplish Shaheed Benazir’s grand mission of ‘Roti, Kapra and Makan’ Asif Ali Zardari is virtually running from pillar to post; one morning he is in London the next he is found on the Atlantic shores from where he jets towards the Mediterranean and then to the Middle East. The man leaves no stone unturned to bring money for his country. He never takes a begging bowl rather he negotiates the significance of his country as a bulwark against highly funded terrorism. He urges the United States to expedite reimbursement of $1.6 billion worth outstanding payment in the Coalition Support Fund, an early passage of Kerry-Lugar Bill to the quick legislation to set up reconstruction opportunity zones in war-torn areas of Pakistan. He seeks payment assistance for the energy sector and massive $2.5 billion plan for the rehabilitation of internally displaced persons. He talks to ‘Friends of Democratic Pakistan’ and makes urgent pleas for the much needed help. And the world leaders help him; they know they are helping a real friend in need, from the US president Barrack Obama to Saudi monarch King Abdullah to Chinese President Hu Jin Tao to Gordon Brown of the UK; he is at ease with all and they trust him immensely. Asif Ali Zardari has gained this trust due to the fact that he is sincere to this country and to his nation as he takes it out of the woods. He is no despot, he is a democrat, a tolerant to the core leader, legally, constitutionally and democratically elected president of Pakistan for a full five-year term. Overseas friends and partners have total faith in the man who was no candidate for the top slot. Even his detractors agree that in the post-Benazir era when the chips were down and prophets of doom were forecasting a gloomy scenario, he took up the challenge to steer this nation out of troubled waters as he raised the slogan of ‘Pakistan Khappay’ with misty eyes as the whole world was watching him in Larkana, the land of Bhuttos who sacrificed their lives for Pakistan. True, the task ahead is gigantic and against all odds. There are long queues for wheat flour and sugar. The petroleum prices have just witnessed a hike and subsidies are to be removed over gas and electricity yet there is a silver lining; the Karachi Stock Market is bouncing back. 100 index has crossed the psychological barrier of 8600 points that was down to half a year ago. This alone is no mean achievement. A lot has to be done indeed. Benazir Income Support Programme and Benazir Behan Basti Programme are just a few among the many projects launched to provide much needed relief to the downtrodden womenfolk of this country; Friends of Democratic Pakistan are lunging forward to help. They all trust the man who treats this nation and its people like he treats Bilawal, Bakhtawar and Asifa. He believes in forgetting and forgiving; following a reconciliatory policy. He is a leader in his own right and has proved it without a shadow of doubt. He is a lonely father who is facing mother of all troubles, chin high. This is Asif Ali Zardari. 9th Sept 2008 to 9th Sept 2009. Happy Birthday Mr President. Pakistan Khappay The author is an adviser to the Sindh chief minister

"My death will serve as a catalyst for change " Benzir Bhutto

"My death will serve as a catalyst for change" was the dying words of Benazir Bhutto Shaheed.

When BB came back from exile in 2007 the very existence of Pakistan was on stake . and the country was divided , whether to call sucide bomber a Matyr or Evil. The Mullah Military Alliance surrender the province of NWFP to taliban but one person stood steadfast against increasing talibanization of Pakistan and this evil mindset and to fight for a pluralist society which we once were.

Signs of improvement

Dawn Editorial
Sunday, 06 Sep, 2009 | 08:05 AM PST |

The law and order situation in the NWFP has seen a marked improvement since the army took on the Taliban. — Photo by AFP

PROVINCES

Clashes in Swat, Buner leave 9 militants dead

INTERACTIVE: SWAT TALIBAN

Rise and the fall of a religious militia

Doom and gloom is to be expected in a country dominated by rapacious politicians and brutal dictators. Democracy has been strangled in Pakistan, the rule of law violated at will and the poor left oppressed. At the same time a particular class has been patronised so it can gather all the spoils. Religion has been exploited to give the unempowered a sense of belonging, to make the unprivileged think that they are equals in an inequitable society.

Gen Ziaul Haq, aided and abetted by the US, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, encouraged the forces of obscurantism to further his illegitimate rule. Our intelligence agencies pursued a policy of ‘strategic depth’ in Afghanistan that created Frankensteins we could no longer control. ‘Talibanisation’ entered the nomenclature and, for a time, the country was held hostage by semi-literate clerics and their armed supporters.

But things are getting better. The law and order situation in the NWFP has seen a marked improvement since the army took on the Taliban in Malakand. A report in this newspaper, relying on statistical evidence, illustrates that more may have been achieved in three months than what Gen Musharraf could muster over several years. It is now becoming increasingly clear that Mr Musharraf played a double-game with the West, keeping the threat of Talibanisation alive to force Washington and London into thinking that he was indispensable.

His rule as dictator, and favoured ally of the Bush administration, was marked by deals and bargains with the enemies of Pakistan. He could have thrown down the gauntlet, as the current government and army chief have, but he instead kowtowed to the militants and pushed Pakistan to the brink of ruin. What we have seen in the last few months reinforces the idea that where there is a will, there is a way. It has finally sunk in that the Taliban cannot be mollycoddled — they must be defeated. The Pakistan Army has now taken to the battlefield in right earnest and the Taliban are on the run. If the engagement doesn’t lose momentum, the people of Pakistan will emerge victorious.