Pakistan Media Digest

1/28/2015

Table of Contents PM chairs brainstorming session in Murree to discuss NAP, energy crisis................................................... 3

Nuclear deal for India could impact deterrence stability in South Asia: Aziz ............................................... 4

Charlie Hebdo protesters storm Christian boys' school in Bannu ................................................................ 5

Will never abandon FATA without fully restoring normalcy: General Raheel .............................................. 6

Shift in focus: Rise of Pakistan just a matter of time, says Morgan Stanley ................................................. 7

PBC to challenge military courts ................................................................................................................... 8

Musharraf blames Kayani for delay in action against Taliban ...................................................................... 9

PM chairs brainstorming session in Murree to discuss NAP, energy crisis Published: January 27, 2015

MURREE: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is chairing a brainstorming session in Murree with his

close aides to discuss the National Action Plan (NAP) to combat terrorism and important

national issues, including the current energy situation.

The prime minister, along with his family members and federal ministers, will discuss challenges

that the country is facing, following the recent fuel shortage crisis and the electricity breakdown.

The meeting was chaired by premier to review the government‘s policies and performance, as

well as to devise a strategy on how to address the issues.

The meeting will form strategies regarding domestic issues, senate elections, the energy crisis,

cabinet reshuffling, foreign policy, and the federal government‘s conduct with provincial

governments and defence institutions.

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, the premier‘s daughter Maryam Nawaz Shairf, Interior

Minister Chaudhry Nisar, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and other close aides from Punjab.

The attendees will discuss the challenges being faced by the federal government and the Punjab

government, as well as the implementation of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz‘s manifesto .

The premier expressed satisfaction over the supply of petrol in the country, and directed all

relevant ministries and departments to ensure seamless coordination in order to avoid the

occurrence of a shortage again.

Additionally, Chief Minister Shahbaz apprised the premier of the progress made by the province

in implementing the NAP.

The prime minister said the government is committed to eradicating terrorism and extremism

from the country, and has requested other provinces to speed up the process of implementing the

programme.

Further, he said all political parties unanimously agreed on the 20 points of the NAP, and it is

the responsibility of all federating units of the country to implement it.

Nuclear deal for India could impact deterrence stability in South Asia:

Aziz Published: January 27, 2015

ISLAMABAD: With a flurry of concessions and deals for India during US President Barack

Obama‘s tour of New Delhi, Pakistan on Tuesday slammed the ‗double standards‘ and selective

treatment for its eastern neighbor including the membership to the nuclear suppliers group

(NSG) and operationalisation of the nuclear deal between US and India which could have a

‗detrimental impact on deterrence stability in South Asia.‘

According to a statement from the Adivser to the Prime Minister on National Security and

Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz on Tuesday, he said that Pakistan remains opposed to policies of

selectivity and discrimination and warned that ―Pakistan reserves the right to safeguard its

national security interests.‖

He said that the country-specific exemption for India from NSG rules to grant it membership

would ―further compound the already fragile strategic stability environment in South Asia,

would further undermine the credibility of NSG and weaken the nonproliferation regime.‖

―Pakistan is not averse to civil nuclear cooperation and NSG membership for Non-NPT states

provided it is based on the principles of nondiscrimination and objective nonproliferation

criteria,‖ Aziz said, adding that Pakistan remains opposed to policies of selectivity and

discrimination.

―Pakistan would continue to maintain its constructive engagement with NSG and other export

control regimes to build its case for membership.‖

On terrorism, Aziz said that Pakistan rejects any insinuation or aspersion over its commitment to

fight terrorism, given that Pakistan was a leading partner of the international community in

counter-terrorism and also the biggest victim of terrorism, including that sponsored and

supported from abroad. ―Pakistan rejects any insinuation or aspersion over its commitment to

fight terrorism. Condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations should not be

based on selectivity or double standards.‖

―Pakistan reiterates its call on India to bring the planners and perpetrators of the February 2007

Samjhota Express terrorist attack to justice.‖

Commenting on Obama‘s call for granting India a permanent call on the UN Security Council,

Aziz said that the move has ‗no rationale in this age of democracy, inclusiveness and

accountability.‘

―A country, in violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions on matters of

international peace and security, such as the Jammu & Kashmir dispute , by no means qualifies

for a special status in the Security Council.‖

He said that Pakistan supports a reformed Security Council that corresponds to the positions and

collective interests of all member states, not just a few.

Aziz said Pakistan expects the United States to play a constructive role for strategic stability and

balance in South Asia

Charlie Hebdo protesters storm Christian boys' school in Bannu Published: January 27, 2015

PESHAWAR: Hundreds of students protesting against a French magazine for publishing

cartoons of Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) stormed a Christian boys‘ school demanding it close,

officials and police said Tuesday.

Four students were slightly hurt in the incident in which took place in Bannu on Monday, which

happened as students from local colleges and schools demonstrated against the cartoons printed

in French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo.

―A group of some 200 to 300 protesting students entered Panel High School after jumping its

outer walls and forcibly opened the gates,‖ school principal Fredrick Farhan Das told AFP.

He said the students who wanted the school to be shut damaged the property and smashed

windows.

―This caused kind of a stampede, which slightly injured four students,‖ Das said.

He said the school remained closed on Tuesday in protest against the incident and will re-open

on Wednesday.

District police officer Abdul Rashid Khan confirmed the incident but said it was not thought to

be an anti-Christian attack.

Two gunmen stormed the Paris offices of Charlie Hebdo earlier this month, killing 12 people.

Under the country‘s strict blasphemy laws, insulting Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) can carry the

death penalty, and the country‘s prime minister and parliament have strongly condemned the

publication of the cartoons .

At least three people were injured on January 16 when protesters and police clashed at an anti-

Charlie Hebdo demonstration outside the French consulate in Karachi

Will never abandon FATA without fully restoring normalcy: General

Raheel Published: January 27, 2015

Army chief General Raheel Sharif visited Mohmand Agency in the Federally Administered

Tribal Areas on Tuesday.

The army chief was given a detailed briefing about the progress of stabilisation operations,

including ongoing development projects by army engineers, according to an Inter Services

Public Relations statement.

―We will never abandon these areas without fully restoring them to functional normalcy,‖

General Raheel said.

Referring to the recently launched operations by Afghan National Army in areas close to

Mohmand and Bajaur, the army chief expressed hope such measures would help check cross

border terrorism incidents and enhance border coordination.

During his visit, Gen Raheel lauded the officers ‘ professionalism, dedication and sacrifices in

fighting terrorism and bringing stability in Mohmand Agency.

Further, the army chief emphasised on the need to follow a comprehensive and uniform

reconstruction and rehabilitation policy across Fata after areas have been cleared of terrorists.

―He expressed hope that such projects will help root out terrorism on long term basis by

providing education and economic opportunities to the youth,‖ the statement added.

Shift in focus: Rise of Pakistan just a matter of time, says Morgan Stanley Published: January 28, 2015

Pakistan is located in a region that will bring major changes in the world economy in coming

decades primarily due to its demographics.

With over 100 million people below the age of 30 aspiring to change their lives, the rise of

Pakistan is just a matter of time, Morgan Stanley Chief Investment Strategist David M Darst

said on Tuesday.

―Demographics will play a major role in coming decades. Pakistan is among those nine countries

in Asia that will add another China in the next 35 years and the impact of this change will be

phenomenal on the world economy,‖ he said while giving a lecture on ―The World Economic

Environment: Where‘s the Global Capital Going‖.

It was part of a special series of lectures that was organised by The Aga Khan University here at

its auditorium.

With a young population of an average age of 22 years , ―I believe the opportunities that the

young entrepreneurs from Pakistan have are going to make an exceptional contribution to the

economy of the region,‖ he added.

Darst, who is the author of 11 books and has a PhD in economics from Yale, said it is wrong to

believe that Pakistan is lagging behind due to its proximity with Afghanistan, Iran and India. ―In

fact, I believe Pakistan is in the centre of Asian countries like Iran, Bangladesh, Vietnam and

Indonesia that will significantly contribute in the world economy in coming decades.‖

Speaking about the strong fundamentals of Pakistan‘s stocks , he said, with 31% returns in dollar

terms Pakistan led the world markets in 2014. ―What is important is that the stocks in Pakistan

are still very cheap compared to the markets in the industrialised world and they are performing

better than many markets in terms of returns,‖ he added.

―I am surprised to see low number of investors in the bourses of Pakistan. This must change

considering the strong fundamentals of Pakistani stocks.‖

Darst said women in the world are playing an important role in today‘s world economy. The rise

of the entrepreneurs from the developing world, especially women entrepreneurs, will also bring

significant positive changes in this century.

Listing down the challenges to the global economy, he said though Pakistan and India have

benefitted from the current sharp decline in oil prices, sudden fall in oil prices has rejuvenated

fears of deflation in many countries .

He said Europe is redefining itself and the sharp changes in Europe can surprise the world at

large.

Speaking on the challenges facing Europe in relation to Greece, he said the new elected prime

minister of Greece could take decisions that may not go well with the euro and the overall

economy of the continent

PBC to challenge military courts

ISLAMABAD: With the Supreme Court set to commence hearing challenges to the 21st

Amendment on Wednesday, the Pakistan Bar Council has announced that it will hold

countrywide protests against the law and become party in the petitions already filed in the apex

court.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk, Justice Gulzar Ahmed and Justice Mushir Alam

will take up a petition filed by the Lahore High Court Bar Association, which has requested the

court to declare the 21st Amendment against the basic structure of the Constitution.

A meeting of the PBC – the country‘s premier legal body – adopted a unanimous resolution on

Tuesday to file a petition before the Supreme Court against the establishment of military courts.

The meeting, whose primary order of business was election of a new vice chairman, was initially

presided over by its ex-officio chairman, Attorney General Salman Aslam Butt.

After the council elected Azam Nazeer Tarar as its new vice chairman, the attorney general left

the meeting because he cannot interfere in day-to-day matters of the PBC.

Then the meeting was chaired by Mr Tarar, who condemned the 21st Amendment and changes

made in the Pakistan Army Act, 1952, and passed a strong-worded resolution asking the legal

fraternity to observe a black day countrywide on Jan 29. Bar associations are required to hold

protest meetings in their bar rooms and members must wear black armbands while appearing in

courts.

The PBC expressed grave concerns on continued and undue interference of the military

establishment in affairs of the state, especially foreign affairs and internal security.

The resolution observed that the PBC was extremely disturbed at the manner in which the 21st

Amendment was passed by parliament. The establishment of military courts, it said, has severely

undermined the principles of independence of judiciary and deprived citizens of a due process.

After detailed deliberations, the council decided to file a constitutional petition in the Supreme

Court, challenging the amendment in light of fundamental rights guaranteed in the Constitution

and its expected impact on the judicial system.

The PBC, the resolution said, remained mindful that parliament is the supreme legislative body

and represents the will of the people, but stressed that even parliament couldn‘t deprive citizens

of their fundamental rights to a fair trial and appeal before superior courts of the country in case

of a miscarriage of justice.

―The PBC is bewildered at the establishment of military courts in Gilgit and Baltistan as well as

Azad Kashmir. Such an action is totally unconstitutional and will only encourage negative forces

towards taking more extreme positions,‖ the resolution deplored.

The council expressed regrets over the Dec 16 massacre of children in the Army Public School,

Peshawar, and strongly condemned this shameful act. ―The council shares the grief suffered by

the affected families and realises that the event has had a traumatic effect on the children of this

country.‖

The resolution also called upon the government to provide security to educational institutions.

Musharraf blames Kayani for delay in action against Taliban

KARACHI: Former army chief retired Gen Pervez Musharraf believes that one of the reasons

why the country‘s security challenges have become almost insurmountable now is because his

successor, retired Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, was too scared to take action against militants.

In an interview with Dawn on Tuesday, Gen Musharraf said that it was Gen Kayani‘s own

reluctance — and not poor judgement — that caused him to not launch an operation against the

Taliban.

―You see, the main issue is that when a government is inactive, it requires an army chief to go

and coax it into action. That‘s what [Gen] Raheel has done. So either Gen Kayani was scared or

too reticent or too reserved. He didn‘t want to go and discuss this matter.‖

When this reporter pointed out that Gen Kayani must have gone to the then Pakistan Peoples

Party government for an extension in his term as army chief — and the PPP government was

said to have acquiesced within hours — Gen Musharraf said: ―But that was for his own person.

The army was clear in its views as a whole. They wanted action, even in Kayani‘s days. Kayani

has to be asked why he did not act [against militants]. I wouldn‘t be able to comment on that. But

the delay was all in that period.‖

The former military ruler recalls that his government took on Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan chief

Mulla Fazlullah in 2007. ―We acted against him and defeated him. Peaceful elections were held

in 2008. The turnout was good. The Awami National Party — and not religious parties — came

to power in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. And then Fazlullah was allowed to return and set on fire 13

girls schools. He had the tourist resort in Malam Jabba torched. No action was taken till he

crossed the Shangla Hills and almost blocked the Karakoram Highway. When there was

international hue and cry that the militants were only 100 miles away from Islamabad, then they

woke up.‖

Apart from blaming Gen Kayani for his pusillanimity even when a wave of terrorism swept

through the country, Gen Musharraf also feels he was let down by his successor when political

adversaries thought he was vulnerable — he had taken off the all-powerful army uniform — and

threatened him with an impeachment move.

Was he disappointed? ―To a degree, yes. He could have helped out there. But, you see, I didn‘t

want to sit in the presidency as a useless president. I am not that type.‖ Had Gen Kayani made it

clear that in a stand-off between Gen Musharraf and the PPP government, he would be neutral.

―Yes.‖

But Gen Musharraf seems to be quite happy with his successor‘s successor, Gen Raheel Sharif.

So much so that he does not mind Gen Sharif becoming a globetrotting army chief, hobnobbing

with world leaders and conducting the country‘s foreign policy.

―It‘s not he who‘s doing that, it‘s those countries who are giving him that stature. The army is the

only stabilising institution in Pakistan. That is why they give importance to the military chief.

Especially when they also see the degree of bad governance going on. They want to see where

the stability comes from. That is why they give him importance. He should take it. He should be

proud of it. Look, international relations largely depend on personalities. Agar aap nay ja kay

kookro ban kay baith jana hai, to aap to kya importance milay gi.‖

Emboldened by Gen Sharif‘s initiatives against militancy — especially after the gruesome attack

on the Army Public School in Peshawar — the Muttahida Qaumi Movement has called for the

imposition of martial law in Sindh? Does Gen Musharraf think the call for martial law is

reasonable and fair?

―I don‘t think there should be martial law. And I have my reasons. Pakistan is facing the worst

situation in its history. The economy is not doing well. Terrorism is in all the provinces. It has

never been this bad. The army is a fallback force in the country. We call it in the military, a force

in being. Its potential consists in being. If you use it or consume it, it‘s gone. If you were to use

the military, and suppose in the present situation of turmoil, they are unable to rectify the socio-

economic ills of Pakistan, you‘d have consumed this fallback force.

NRO deal, with the benefit of hindsight

Gen Musharraf feels bad having struck the NRO deal with former prime minister Benazir

Bhutto. ―I shouldn‘t have done that. It impacted me very wrongly and the political realities of

Pakistan. My popularity went down because of the NRO deal.‖

Dismissing the assertion made by former US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice in her memoirs

that she brokered a deal between Gen Musharraf and Ms Bhutto, he recalls that the NRO deal

was actually aimed at ―weaning away the PPP and Benazir‖ from the group of political parties

that were agreeing on the Charter of Democracy in London.

―I met Benazir in Abu Dhabi. She had three demands. First, remove Article 58-2B [of the

Constitution]. The moment she said that, I said out of the question. And the way I said it, she

immediately conceded. She said alright put this aside. She demanded an end to the restriction on

a person becoming a prime minister for a third time and withdrawal of corruption cases. I

demanded that she wouldn‘t return before the elections. She asked me when the elections would

be held. I said roughly in the first or second week of Dec 2007. She said she would be able to

come before New Year. And, on a lighter note, she asked me if she invited me to a New Year

party, would I come. I said I would. This was the level of understanding of what she had to do.‖

Gen Musharraf returned to Pakistan to discuss Ms Bhutto‘s demands with his political partners,

notably the Chaudhrys of Gujrat. Apparently, the veteran politicians told Gen Musharraf that if

he removed the third-time prime ministership condition, he would merely confirm rumours

already swirling in the country that the United States wanted Gen Musharraf to be president and

Ms Bhutto to be his prime minister. They, however, had no issues with the corruption cases.

―They said that out of 11 cases of corruption against Benazir and Zardari, they have been

acquitted in eight cases. They might get acquitted in the remaining three also. That got me

convinced. Prime minister [Shaukat Aziz] used to attend all those meetings.‖

Trial or vendetta

Gen Musharraf grimaces when he is reminded — apologetically — that former president Asif

Ali Zardari almost always refers to him as a billa. However, when he is asked the reason for Mr

Zardari‘s animus towards him, he chuckles and says: ―No reason. He has made the best of

everything. I know he knows that I didn‘t have Benazir assassinated, though he keeps maligning

me on this issue. And the language is certainly unbecoming.‖

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, however, has a valid reason to bear a grudge against Gen

Musharraf. The former strongman ousted Mr Sharif in a coup in Oct 1999.

―Nawaz Sharif has a reason, but he‘s taking it to an extent where it has become an issue of

instability ... my trial, being hostile towards me, putting my name on the ECL [Exit Control List]

... these things are not going down well with the army ... my trial is vendetta. I am the only

former head of state in Pakistan who has been to the lowest courts in the subordinate judiciary.‖

Gen Musharraf‘s travails will come out in the sequel to his autobiography that he is updating

these days