The Public Toilet

Global warming sure has a lot of by products. Researchers at Pentagon and Guantanamo Bay have just found a new one; a new season to be more precise, the season of confessions. The researchers believe say that in this season a person becomes a saint and speaks the truth and nothing but the truth. They have even provided the world with experimental results to further strengthen their claim.

The researchers performed experiments on two males. Both of them had histories of adventures, or misadventures, and were reluctant to discuss their exploits. Another important fact is that it is not just the arrival of this season that affects these individuals; rather the season affects the researches that in turn induce this effect into their test specimens. The induction is done with the help of methods and techniques learnt from the hit TV show ’24’.

The guinea pigs in this case are none other than Khalid Sheikh Mohammad, the man who killed Wall Street journalist Daniel Pearl, and Waleed bin Attash, USS Cole bomber. The transcript of Khalid Sheikh Mohammad’s confession can be found here(Adobe Acrobat pdf file).

What is interesting to note in this whole phenomenon is that timeline of the confessions by the two men. Many analysts and observers have questioned this whole process, and rightly so. There are numerous parallel plots which make these confessions seem dubious. It may just turn out to be a ploy just to help Bush and his crumbling policies.

Or maybe the interrogators were waiting for ‘24’ to end to learn some new techniques.

Every brick of President General Pervez Musharraf?s palatial Pindi office vividly reminisces about what the chief justice of Pakistan had been confronted with on March 9, adding a new chapter to our chequered history.The pleasant outside environment did not match the tense moments behind the closed doors of Musharraf?s camp office. What had transpired within the thick walls has now started unraveling.

Even a passer-by or a motorist driving through the Park Road, which graces the camp office, could now hear the reverberations of the dialogue between the two giants in their own spheres. One may give a fictional account of the dialogue between the two. While the prime minister sat through the session with muted silence but always nodding when Musharraf was speaking, the president was reading out a charge sheet while the chief justice was just scoffing at every charge.

Though the reference filed against Justice Chaudhry is still not public, the camp office reverberations are too clear about the charges framed. One can clearly hear the president saying to the chief justice: You have used your influence to pressurize the concerned authorities to win undue favours for your son ? Dr Arsalan Iftikhar.

The CJ says: Be specific Mr. President. President says: Dr Arsalan sought admission in Bolan Medical College despite securing marks far below the merit. The Balochistan chief minister was approached following which your son got into the medical college.

The CJ says: Sir who is the violator ? me, Dr Arsalan or the chief minister? President says: Dr Arsalan was initially posted as section officer in the Health Department, Balochistan against a vacancy meant for initial recruitment through the Provincial Public Service Commission. On August 6, 2005 the Interior Ministry approached the Balochistan Government seeking the services of Dr Arsalan for his posting in the FIA in public interest. On August 13, 2005, the Balochistan Government conveyed its no-objection to the Interior Ministry following which the Ministry on August 15th and again on September 5, 2005 issued the posting order of Dr Arsalan in the FIA on deputation. On 30th September Dr Arsalan joined the FIA.

The CJ says: What is the point you want to make Mr. President?

The president says: Without completing the mandatory period of his probation as medical officer in the Institute of Public Health, Quetta, Arsalan was transferred and posted first as section officer in the Balochistan Secretariat against a non-existing post and then sent on deputation in the FIA.

The CJ says: Who violated the law and where do I figure Sir?

The president says: In November 2005, the Balochistan Government relaxed the rules to confirm the appointment of your son as medical officer in the Provincial Health Department. Barely within 5 months of having assumed the charge of assistant director FIA in BS-17, the Balochistan Government issued an order on March 22, 2006 saying that Arsalan?s services are placed in the FIA as deputy director (BS-18) on deputation for a period of three years. On April 7, it was notified that he had assumed the charge of the office of DD FIA.

The CJ says: Who violated the law and where do I figure Sir?

The president says: Later you launched an offensive to get your son inducted into the Police Service of Pakistan, which under the law was only possible through the CSS. As first step, he was sent to the Police Academy for training with probationer ASPs as notified by the Interior Ministry on May 19, 2006. On 24th May the Interior Ministry issued another order directing the commandant National Policy Academy that Dr Arsalan should be attached with the Punjab Police after the completion of specialized police training in the academy. On May 24 2006, the Academy relieved Arsalan and directed him to report to the Elite Police Training School, Lahore. After the completion of the course, he was to report to Lahore police for six months field attachment.

The CJ says: Mr. President who is the violator?

The president says: Meanwhile the Prime Minister?s Secretariat was approached for regular induction of Dr Arsalan in the Police Service of Pakistan in BS-18. The PM sought the Establishment Division (ED)?s view, which said it is not possible under the law. Later you pressurized the secretary Establishment to get Dr Arsalan inducted into the PSP no matter what the rules say.

The CJ says: Sir, who told you this?

The president says: The secretary Establishment told all this to the principal secretary of the prime minister. It was not possible but still you kept on pressing for the impossible task. Ultimately the Establishment Division had to propose an amendment in the rules to make this impossible a possible. During these days you have been regularly exerting pressure on the Prime Minister?s Secretariat.

The CJ says: Sir do you have any concrete evidence? Secondly, if my son was inducted into the Police Service of Pakistan?

The president says: You also exerted pressure on the Interior Ministry to ensure that your son is nominated for a foreign course on combating international terrorism. This was done despite the fact that your son was not a police officer.

The CJ says: Sir who was the nominating authority?

The president says: Being the CJ, you are entitled to one 1600cc car but you have seven including a Mercedes Benz 3000cc in Islamabad. You also have several cars at Lahore and Quetta. Additionally you have also, more than once, asked the provincial chief minister or governor to provide you the cars during your stay in the province.

The CJ says: Sir if I am an exception?

The president says: You have also been insisting and getting protocol that is not allowed to the CJ.

The CJ says: Hummmm…

The president says: You have been repeatedly demanding for official plane/helicopter of the provincial governments for your travelling from one place to the other and even to offer condolences whereas you are not allowed to use these luxuries.

The CJ says: At times one requires faster transport means to save time.

The president says: For sometime you and your family has been using a BMW car registration No ?Razia-1?.

The CJ says: If so, is it a crime Sir?

The president says: You are also accused of passing orders but subsequently changing them when giving the same in writing.

The CJ says: Who says so Sir? I hope it is Naeem Bukhari.

The president says: You also used you influence to enhance the entitlements of your office.

The CJ says: Where was I wrong?

The president says: Face the above charges or?

The CJ says: I will.

Source: The News. (By Ansar AbbasI)

“Man Who Killed Two In Random Nightclub Shootings Sentenced To Life In Prison”

“Canadian Doctor Recovering From New Orleans Shooting that Killed his Wife”

“A Gunman With A Mysterious Grudge Kills Four Girls At An Amish School In Pennsylvania”

“Mass Murder & Suicide Rocks City Of Brotherly Love”

All these and many more stories are taking place EVERY SINGLE day in North America yet none of these criminals are termed terrorists or fundamentalists or extremists or what not. The question is why not? And the answer is just as simple as the question. 

Behind all that anti-discriminatory talk and multiculturalist attitude portrayed by the Americans, lies a white person who is NOT colorblind and does not hesitate to point fingers at other colored skins! Hence an American creating havoc in malls and on the streets by randomly deciding to shoot a few innocent civilians is obviously NOT a terrorist. He is but a mentally unstable individual. He had a traumatic childhood and has no control over his emotional state. So, he decides to take it out in a rather harmless way by killing a few random people. The world IS getting over-populated afterall!  

However the Iraqis, Afghans, Palestinians, Somalis who kill to protect their homes and families against foreign infiltrators, who kill to bring home just enough food to keep their young ones alive, who kill to free themselves of foreign occupation, who kill to prevent their women from being raped, who kill to defend their land, and kill not only others but are willing to sacrifice their own lives to make the world realize their pain and sufferings ARE the real terrorists. Not only are they a threat to their own people but somehow a ‘major threat to US security’

In what sort of a country are people’s definitions this far from the truth? A country who’s President needs to address its people in a national press conference to remind and reassure them that they are a ”decent and honorable nation, and a resilient one too”. God save us all from their definitions of ‘decent’, ‘honorable’ and ‘resilient’!�

The US government only understands one language; the language of force. Force here doesn’t necessarily mean an armed confrontation; instead it means a definitive and a consistent response. This can be an economic one.

The US has always turned a blind eye to North Korea’s nuclear ambitions. Not that North Korea is not allowed to have a nuclear program, civil or military, every country has the right to do so, but why not Iran? As a matter of fact, North Korea was labeled as one of the “Axis of Evil� by Bush himself. They started off discussing North Koreas nuclear disarmament and now they are talking about financial matters: the unfreezing of North Koreas assets. Reason for this policy shift? North Korea refused to be bullied. The North Korean nuclear test did not raise many eyebrows because the North Koreans know which buttons to press and at what time; Iran does not.

Iran is content in defending its civil program when it can get away with a military one; just threaten the world with an oil blockade. It was the money that caused a war, and it is money that is going to stop one. Nuclear weapons are never desirable, but if one country has them, then everybody should have them. On one hand nukes act as deterrents and on the other they guarantee mutually assured destruction.

It was the money that caused a war, and it is money that is going to stop one.

The western governments in general and the US government in particular have lost touch with reality. They take all the Asian countries in a “stride�, till a country like North Korea comes along and gives them a reality check.

Everyone knows the meaning of “the long arm of the law�. The phrase indicates that the law should be applied to everyone. No one is above the law. Or are the politicians above it? Now this is an issue which is thought provoking and requires attention.

At this point, a background check of our beloved Minister is required. Rewind to a fine morning of August 2005; Wasi Zafar along with his son Umair Zafar arrived at Jinnah International Airport on Wednesday evening. Airport Security Personnel, setting aside the protocol did not check Wasi Zafar and his son Umair. An Islamabad based PIA passenger objected for his search and mentioned why other passengers were checked and Mr. Minister and his son were left without being searched. The remarks of poor chap infuriated the young son of federal minister and he started slapping and kicking the man. The hard-hitting action scene created a fuss on the airport. What a way to start a wrestling career!

Unfortunately Wasi Zafar is still our law minister. The person who wrote an article about this issue was targeted by Mr. Wasi Zafar in a radio talk show called Voice of America. The Journalist Ansar Abbasi is a Bureau Chief in “The News International�. Harsh words were exchanged between Federal Law Minister Wasi Zafar and Islamabad-based journalist Ansar Abbasi on a radio programme – Voice of America – with the former making blatant use of abusive language, reported Geo TV. On Wasi Zafar’s insistence (which shows his mental caliber), the channel later aired a recording of the radio programme in which the minister lashed out at Mr.Abbasi’s family. He interpreted the long arm of the law as the big arm of the law. Mr. Wasi used the word “Big Arm� as if it is an everyday word. Now people this is a new twist in our politics. The politicians have started abusing like hawkers and illiterate people. Looks like this is another step towards a better “Parha Likha Pakistan� -Bravo!!

Mr. Wasi Zafar may even get axed after the show cause notice. There is wide spread speculation that he is part of the President’s Anti-Chaudry Iftikhar policy. There is also speculation about a job search strategy adopted by our law minister. Maybe he wants to retire from the political scenario and become a fish monger or a hawker. Whatever the case, we all should hail the developmental work done by Pakistani politicians.

Who would’ve thought that the Europeans had good memory! Americans certainly don’t; which is evident by their misadventures worldwide. Now out of all the things to remember, what they remember is one dead soldier from, hold your breath, March 2003. That was four years ago. Great memory or what? Since the same people cannot remember the number of Iraqis killed in, well, Iraq. Here is an excerpt from the actual story

“An incident in which a British soldier was accidentally killed by American pilots would not have happened had the US air force followed the same rules for opening fire as the British, an inquest heard today.

A British Forward Air Controller who was in the area when Lance Corporal Matty Hull was accidentally killed in Basra, southern Iraq, four years ago, told the inquest into his death that British pilots must adhere to strict checks before firing.

Corporal Stuart Matthews told the court that under UK rules, pilots must listen to and read back to their air controllers the location and coordinates of their targets, their direction of attack and the distance of friendly forces from the target, before they can open fire.�

Read the complete story http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,2032055,00.html

A reality check is needed at this point. Either the Orientals have to come to terms to the depreciating value of their lives or the Occidentals need to be shown the door.

Is this a déjà vu or did Spielberg really direct this one as well? Bad ending this time; the Private could not be saved.

There hasn’t been a united front against the government in Pakistan in recent times. But this fact is now a history as a result of the firing of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudry by General Musharraf.

There have been protests, demonstrations and rallies from time to time, but all of them had a specific composition; this time it is different. This time around, the emotions and the thinking of the people, the media and the lawyers are on the same wavelength. This may turn out to be a wind of change for Pakistan.

Things have taken another turn in Islamabad. The Supreme Judicial Council postponed the hearing of the case till 21^st of March. The turn, however, was not inside but outside the Supreme Court. Tear gas, rubber bullets, stone pelting, and all the ingredients for a perfect protest were there outside the Supreme Court.

The Media bashing has now gone to another level with the banning of a TV show on GEO TV and ransacking of the offices of the same channel. The fear has surely set in the government and its machinery about the opinion changing power of the media, especially the electronic media. Though the half-asleep Information Minister Muhammad Ali Durrani was quick to reach the GEO and Jang Group offices and forward Presidents regrets and condemnation, the damage has been done.

To top it off, the poor old ex President of Pakistan, Rafiq Tarrar, who was shown the door by the man of crisis, Pervez Musharraf, has been placed under house arrest. Why this has happened is anyone’s guess at the moment. An interesting thing about him is that the team which was sent to ask for his resignation after the arrival of the General included the fired Chief Justice, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudry.

As they say, what goes around comes around.

There is more to the Government or rather General Musharraf vs. Chief Justice Iftikhar episode than meets the eye. More specifically, some parallel developments in the last few days have complicated this case even further.

Firstly, Naeem Bokhari is now, fortunately or unfortunately, left out to dry. One of his main complaints against Chief Justice (CJ) Iftikhar was the CJ’s attitude towards lawyers, including some very senior ones. These included Fakhruddin G Ibrahim and Akram Sheikh; others such as Khalid Anwar (Former Law Minister), Dr. Babar Awan and Dr. Sher Aghan Niazi (Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs), were also mentioned in the letter. All of these people have refuted Naeem Bokhari’s claims partially or completely. It makes one wonder about Naeem Bokhari’s objective in the first place.

A second issue that has popped up out of the woodwork is the case against media channels, specifically GEO TV (property of Jang Group). Almost all the Pakistani news channels, except PTV of course, are being panned by the government and some sections of judiciary as well over the thorough coverage of this issue. There is an obvious feeling that the media in general and TV channels in particular will be targeted after the main issue is settled.

On a side note, GEO TV was involved in a case with the Lahore High Court (LHC) on showing some footage in the broadcaster’s program “GUMNAAM�. The footage involved some members of the judiciary which consequently raised the eyebrows of the LHC. As a result of the ruling by the LHC, GEO TV had to publish an apology as prescribed by the Court.

And then is there is the issue of the elusive Justice Rana Bhagwandas. The man is the senior most Judge in the Supreme Court after the fired Chief Justice. He went to India and forgot all about us back in Pakistan. The Government has been hiding his itinerary because it is widely speculated that the man is potentially a renegade from the Government’s perspective. Besides, he should be heading the Supreme Judicial Council and not the acting Chief Justice, Justice Javed Iqbal.

A good swimmer always checks the temperature of water and acclimates himself accordingly. General Musharraf sure is no exception. He has a knack of acting like a spark plug once in a while just to test the people, the politicians and the media. He did it before the announcing which dam to build, he did the same before passing the Women Protection Bill and the beat goes on.

This time, it seems that the General has misfired. Unlike the previous cases, the country is united against his decision; the media, the people and most importantly the lawyers. Such a case happened when the Supreme Court was attacked during Nawaz Sharif’s government, but at that time the lawyer community was divided. This time it is different. But then again, it may all be going according the General’s plans.

General Musharraf will surely be musing about what he has done by firing the Chief Justice. Although the General himself is the master strategist, most of his comrades are blithering idiots. The people in question are the Information Minister Muhammad Ali Durrani and the Law Minister Wasi Zafar.

The half-asleep, Muhammad Ali Durrani has given up everything his honesty, integrity and even his sleep in the General’s servitude. The honorable Law Minister, on the other hand, could not help but use foul language against a journalist, Ansar Abbasi, on a TV show on Voice of America. Pakistani Ministers have become trend setters in video clip scandals. In fact, they go one up and shed their clothes on national and international television. It is a shame that Victoria’s Secret does not look this way for models.

This case has the potential of changing Pakistan’s course. If the Supreme Judicial Council decides in favor of the Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudry, then the consequences for General Pervez Musharraf will be immense.

Israeli Army soldiers using a Palestinian kid as a human shield.

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