Human RIghts Organizations condemn release of Malik Ishaq-a mass killer

A Hong Kong based Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has expressed deep concerns over the release of banned Lashkat e Jhangvi (LeJ)- an al-Qaeda-linked anti-Shia and anti-US Sunni-Deobandi sectarian-turned-jehadi organisation- leader Malik Ishaq. 
The AHRC which is being run by prominant human right activists of Asia has published a statement on its website (http://www.humanrights.asia/) with the title "A mass killer has been provided protection while the families of his victims continue to suffer threats" in which the release of Malik Ishaq was vehemently condemned and said that it was all done with the consent of Punjab government.
 The statement aslo accused the Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah of conniving with the abductors of Shahbaz Taseer the son of slain Salman Taseer to release his assasin Mumtaz Qadri who was sentenced to death on October 1 by the anti terrorism court in Rawalpindi.
The statement added "Malik Ishaq, well known as a killer in many incidents of sectarian violence and bomb blasts has been taken by the state after killing over 100 victims. He is currently being held under house arrest for a period of ten days, supposedly as protective detention. His arrest happened on September 22, 2011 just two days after the killing of 29 persons from the Hazara tribe, the Shia community, in Mastung, Balochistan province and just three days after a sad incident where four more persons from the same tribe were killed by unknown persons as they were going to work."

It further added that  "a banned religious organisation, the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) has claimed responsibility for the killings of the Shiaite and Malik heads that organisation. Malik was bailed from the Supreme Court of Pakistan in July from many cases regarding killings and bombings. Malik remained in detention for 14 years but the government could not provided protection to witnesses. Also the prosecution produced very weak cases which ultimately benefitted his defence. Subsequently he was released on bail by the Supreme Court on the grounds of these weak cases. He still faces seven cases and confessed that he planned the attack on the Sri Lankan Cricket Team when he was in jail in March 2009. In the attack seven security personnel were killed."
He was detained on September 22 on the pretext that he was facing death threats and needed protection. His arrest was made under Article 5 of the Maintenance of public order for ten days. The house detention generally does not fall under the term of punishment in the country as during that period the detainee has access to communications via cell phones, internet and the electronic media.
Immediately after his release on bail he visited many places and roused the people on sectarian issues. At the same time he organised his group, the LeJ, which is supposedly banned by the government. However, the LeJ has overtly opened offices in many districts of the Punjab province and is collecting funds on the streets by means of collection boxes in shops and restaurants. After the killing of the 29 Shia pilgrims from the Hazara tribe in Mastung, Balochistan province as they were going in a bus to visit the shrines of religious leaders in Iran, the LeJ has come out openly and announced that it would continue its movement against the Shia sect as they are infidel and they should be declared a non-Islamic religious group.
It is also alleged that banned militant religious groups are exciting violence in Punjab province with full institutional protection from the ruling party of the province. The federal minister on Interior Affairs accused the Punjab provincial government that its ministers and officials are closely associated with the LeJ which is why no action has been taken against the group.
The state's attitude, particularly that of the armed forces, towards the militant religious groups is very soft and sometimes it seems that the militant groups are being protected for the purpose of being used at some suitable time in the future when the state of affairs goes out of the control. The state of Pakistan, which is mainly run by the military, has been using religious militant groups against the liberals and enlightened persons and forces.
In another case, Qadri, the killer of the assassinated governor of Punjab has been given the status of a hero of Islam and is enjoying every facility of life in custody; facilities which he never had in his ordinary life being a head constable in the police. He has access to his network through mobile phones and is being held in a special ward of the jail and allowed to have visitors who meet him regularly. All of this is contrary according to the prison manuals.
The son of the assassinated governor of Punjab, Mr. Shahbaz Taseer, was also abducted by militant groups from Punjab province on August 27 and his whereabouts remain unknown. It is reported that the LeJ is negotiating through the Punjab government for the release of Qadri in exchange for Shahbaz. The negotiations are apparently being carried out under the supervision of the law minister of Punjab province who is notorious for having relationships with the banned militant groups. Therefore all efforts for the release of Shahbaz have been in the interests of the militant organisations.
The state has totally failed to provide protection to the citizens from the religious militant organisations who are surviving on the mercy of Jihadis.
It has been stated before in many forums that the government of Pakistan is turning a blind eye to the atrocities perpetrated by the religious militant groups. There can be no possible justification for the deaths of innocent persons in the name of religion. Religious minorities see no form of protection or redress from the government whose campaign promise was to provide protection for every citizen of the country. However, it is ironic that one of the very people responsible for these atrocities is being protected by the very government that is supposed to be protecting his victims. Malik's protective detention under the guise of house arrest comes after his organisation, the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, claimed responsibility for the killings of the Shia pilgrims. One must ask if this is another attempt at appeasement by the government towards the militant religious groups.
The Asian Human Rights Commission urges the government of Pakistan to realise that the international community is closely monitoring the situation and is quite capable of seeing the very blatant discrepancies in the treatment of the victims and the perpetrators. We vehemently condemn the protection provided for a mass murderer while his victims continue to face death threats and religious intolerance. We urge that action be immediately taken against the LeJ and its members. The Minister of Law of Punjab province who is aiding and abetting this organisation must be prosecuted particularly for his connivance with the abductors of Mr. Shahbaz Taseer to obtain the release of a murderer. We also urge the government to ensure the safe release of Mr. Shahbaz Taseer and that suitable compensation and rehabilitation be provided to the victims and families of the Mastung carnage.

Text of President Zardari article published in Washington Post

For Pakistan, no turning back from reform
By Asif Ali Zardari

When I was elected president more than a year ago, Pakistan was in grave condition, strained by terrorism and a ravaged economy.  Countering the effects of a decade of dictatorship requires bold actions, some of which are unpopular. I am working with Parliament to run a country, not a political campaign. The goal of our democratic government is to implement policies that will dramatically improve the lives of Pakistanis. In time, good policies will become good politics.
Our economic crisis demanded unprecedented response. On taxes, education, agriculture and energy, we have shown that we must adapt, reform and become self-sufficient. Terrorists do not want Pakistan to succeed. They want to distract us from preparing for a stable and prosperous future. After a suicide bomber killed 75 people in northwestern Pakistan this month, U.S. media reports noted that “the militants’ objective is to sow terror among the general population in hopes of putting more political pressure on President Asif Ali Zardari’s government to back down.” But militants underestimate us.  Just as our people refuse to be terrorized, our government refuses to be derailed from its course of fiscal responsibility, social accountability and financial transparency.
Restoring economic health has required raising fuel prices and taxes. These moves are understandably unpopular. Stringent terms had to be accepted to partner with the International Monetary Fund, but we understood the condition of our economy and the global economy and acted decisively.
The war against terrorism has cost Pakistan not just in lives but also in economic terms, freezing international investment and diverting priorities from social and other sectors. Despite constant challenges on multiple fronts, we took the political hits and stuck with reform. The IMF has even praised “the efforts being made by the authorities to further stabilize the economy, to advance structural reform and lay the foundations for high and sustainable growth. The early signs of recovery, declining inflation, and the improved external position are encouraging.” Pakistan met IMF criteria last month to receive the “fourth tranche,” or $1.2 billion, of its loan funding—no easy feat during a global recession. Corrupt governments don’t reach this level of IMF partnership. The World Bank, European Union and United States have all applauded our accomplishments. This praise may be little reported, but it’s far more important than the chimera of polls.
Pakistan’s economic resurrection has been the product, primarily, of our own sweat and blood. The return of democracy was negotiated and carried out by the intercession of the West. Pakistanis know that expediency has at times caused the world’s extended democracies to support dictatorships, as happened after Sept. 11, 2001. The West has a moral responsibility to ensure that our democratic transition continues. Long-term moral values must prevail. If the community of developed democratic nations had, after our last democratic election, crafted an innovative development plan with the scope and vision of the Marshall Plan that rebuilt Europe after World War II, much greater economic, political and military stability would already have been achieved. Some in my country disapprove of efforts to increase the power and fiscal responsibility of our provinces and the integrity of our institutions. Those who found comfort with dictators have resisted change. Pakistan tried it their way—and endured catastrophe. We intend to build a new Pakistan using long-term solutions based on sound fiscal management.
Now, some Western reports suggest the Pakistani military does not support the policies of our democratic government. This is not true.  Not only is our military courageously battling extremists in Swat and Waziristan, and succeeding, but our troops also are supporting the country’s democratic transition and adherence to our Constitution. Some in Pakistan question our international alliances because they disapprove of our allies’ actions, such as Thursday’s unilateral U.S. drone attack against militants in Waziristan. We should all understand that concern. But we are fighting for our lives, and Pakistan’s policies cannot be based solely on what is popular. When Franklin Roosevelt threw a lifeline to Britain with the Lend-Lease program, few Americans supported challenging the Nazis. Harry Truman had less than 15 percent support among Americans to rebuild Europe. They did what was right, not what was popular, and so will we.
History has shown the difference between expedient policies and the long-term goals of true statesmen. When the history of our time is written, Pakistan’s decisions will be seen as a turning point in containing international terrorism. We are building a functioning society and economy. In the end, these sometime unpopular steps will create a Pakistan that sucks the oxygen from the fire of terrorism.  Those who are counting on Pakistan to back off the fight— militarily and economically—underestimate my country and me.
(TEXT ENDS)

What we gained and what lost since creation of Pakistan

Keeping in view the present confused situation, people across the country are very much concerned about the future of Pakistan.
Some people even say now that they were far better before the creation of the country. After sacrificing thousands of lives, today we could not achieve the destination for what the founder of the country dreamt off. We have already lost our eastern part due to our own obliviousness. USA, Israel, India and Europe are busy in making plans to divide Pakistan into number of small states so that this only Islamic atomic power may deprive of this ability.
                          
Our political leaders have successfully divided us into different groups on the basis of languages and sects. Now we are being identified as Sindhi, Seraiki, Balochi, Punjabi and Pakhtoon. But during these 64 years, we could not make even a single Pakistani.
We should unite as a nation and should reject all those elements who are dreaming of division of the country. The new generation is confused about the future of the country and they ask "What is the future of Pakistan". Following are some optimistic facts and figures.
Pakistan has now become the 46th big economy in the world. At the time of its creation, to run the government affairs, the country's expenditures were Rs. 800 million while its revenues were only Rs. 450 million, so the rest of funds were met with the help of patriotic people of Pakistan.
Today, Pakistan's revenues are have been exceeded to Rs. 2000 billion Our per capita income has reached to over $ 1000 per anum.
During last 60 years the country's average growth rate remained 5 per cent. Poverty rate has declined from 60 per cent to 24 per cent in 2005-06.
In 1947, total population of western Pakistan was 30 million and at that time, all the commodities were imported from the world. Today, our total population is 180 million and we are independent in wheat flour, sugar, rice, milk, fabrics and medicines and even we earn more than $25 billion by exporting these commodities.
Our people who are working abroad send $ 12 billion to their country. Our exchange reserves has reached to $ 18 billion and total volume of trade has reached to $ 60 billion.
Pakistan is one of those few countries in the world which has modern banking system and a number of foreign banks' branches are also working in the country. Our youth consists of 60 per cent of total population.
At the time of its creation, there was no industry in Pakistan. There were no textile mills, no jute mills, no paper mills, no automobiles industries and not even banks. Today everything is present in the country.
In 1947, Quid e Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah inaugurated first industry (Walika Textile Mill) in SITE Karachi and today Pakistan's textile mills are well recognized around the world.
World demands our fabric, denim, bedwea, garments and lawn.
Pakistan is the world's 2nd largest cotton yarn exporter, 3rd largest fabric exporter, and 4th largest cotton producer. Pakistan is listed among top ten countries in textile products exports.
In 1947, we produced only one million bales of cotton whereas now it has reached to 15-16 million bales.
During last 50 years, number of new water reservoirs and dams were constructed due to which our cultivated land is 22 million hectare. Pakistan is among the leading countries of the world in natural resources.
Pakistan is number one in the world in ghee production, 2nd largest in gram production, 4th largest in cotton, rice and apricot, 5th largest in milk production, 6th largest in wheat and dates, 7th largest in mango production, 8th largest in kinnow production and 16the largest in meat production.
Pakistan has made wonderful development in manufacturing sector like steel, cement, automobile, sugar, fertilizer, textile, vegetable ghee, chemical, petroleum products, auto parts and electricity fans.
Electricity consumption in 1947 was only 57 MW while now it has reached up to 20,000 MW. Pakistan has well trained 5th largest armed forces which is equipped with modern weapons and missile technology. Pakistan has also become among the exporter countries of defence products.
God has endowed us huge reservoirs of natural gas and this time we are consuming 32 billion cubic feet which is 50 per cent of our total power requirements.
We are also producing 700 MW power generation from nuclear technology from Chasma I and II with the help of China. And work is going on on Chasma III and IV civil nuclear energy power projects which will produce further 700 MW.
In 1947, one vehicle was available for 1000 people in Pakistan while now in 2011. there are 52 vehicles for the same number of people. In 1947, 4000 people were getting facility of telephone connection whereas now in 2011 the number has reached to 100 million. On different news channels, some analysts, with the consents of western countries, are talking about the dismemberment of the country. Even they are showing off the new maps of the country.