Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan policy: Brazen smash and grab, organised ethnic cleansing, Islam and Politics, NewAgeIslam.com

Islam and Politics

Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan policy: Brazen smash and grab, organised ethnic cleansing

Evolution of Pakistan’s Northern Areas policy

B Raman

September 18, 2009

n September 7, 2009, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari signed what is called the ‘Gilgit-Baltistan Empowerment and Self-Governance Order 2009’, purporting to introduce administrative, political, financial and judicial reforms in the Northern Areas of Jammu & Kashmir, which has been under Pakistani occupation since 1947-48. The order re-names the Northern Areas as Gilgit-Baltistan, thereby seeking to obliterate the linkage of the area with Jammu & Kashmir.

Addressing a Press conference the same day, president of Gilgit-Baltistan branch of the Pakistan People’s Party, Syed Mehdi Shah, said that Mr Zardari had instructed the authorities concerned to prepare a comprehensive plan to accelerate economic development in Gilgit-Baltistan. He claimed that the Zardari Government had given internal freedom and all financial, democratic, administrative, judicial, political and developmental powers to the Legislative Assembly of Gilgit-Baltistan. He said that a Gilgit-Baltistan Council, to be headed by the Prime Minister, would be set up and that Mr Zardari had ordered early initiation of a Gilgit-Skardu road project, the establishment of regional branches of the National Bank of Pakistan, the National Database and Registration Authority and the House Building Finance Corporation in the area.

Explaining the changes sought to be introduced by the Government in the status of the area to the media, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani stated as follows on August 29, 2009:

http://newageislam.com/pakistan%E2%80%99s-gilgit-baltistan-policy--brazen-smash-and-grab,-organised-ethnic-cleansing/islam-and-politics/d/1761

British Army to grill Harry over ‘Paki’ remark, Islam and the West, NewAgeIslam.com

Islam and the West

British Army to grill Harry over ‘Paki’ remark

A source told the paper: “The worst that could then happen would be that he would get a letter of displeasure from the Army which would go on his record and might slightly affect future promotion prospects. If he had made the remarks last week, or addressed them to a private soldier, that would be a much more serious matter.”

“Harry will be hauled before the top brass over this, just as any other young officer would. His commanding officer will certainly give him a stern telling off. But as there has been no formal complaint, it will probably not go any further than that,” the Mirror quoted an unnamed insider as saying.

Meanwhile, leading British politicians from all parties described Harry’s remarks as irresponsible and unacceptable in modern Britain. Universities and Skills Minister John Denham said: “This sort of language can be seen as offensive, is offensive, is gradually going out of use in our society, and he’s apologised for it.” Opposition Conservative party leader David Cameron called Harry’s use of the racist term “completely unacceptable” and urged the army to “root out” such attitudes. Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said the prince’s words would cause “considerable offence”.

Asked if he would sack a member of his own front bench team who used phrases like that uttered by the prince, Clegg replied: “Almost certainly I would have to. Yes.”

Keith Vaz, Britain’s longest-serving MP of South Asian origin, said: “I can’t think of any circumstances in the House of Commons where I or anyone else has been called a Paki. This word is unacceptable, wounding and ought to be - as it has been - widely condemned.”

http://newageislam.com/british-army-to-grill-harry-over-%E2%80%98paki%E2%80%99-remark--/islam-and-the-west/d/1116

Jamaat-e-Islami is welcome in politics, Radical Islamism and Jihad, NewAgeIslam.com

Radical Islamism and Jihad

Jamaat-e-Islami is welcome in politics, but it should jettison its dangerous ideological baggage first

By Sultan Shahin, editor, New Age Islam

Watching top Jamaat-e-Islami leaders a couple of days ago sitting next to top communist, socialist, casteist leaders and declaring their intention to involve themselves in the national politics in some way, one could not help being besieged by mixed emotions. On the one hand, it is a welcome development. It shows that the debate that has been going on within the Jamaat since 1947 has finally ended in favour of pragmatists who believed it could not possibly have any activist role in multi-cultural, secular, democratic India other than that of a lobby or normal political party seeking to serve the Muslim community in sorting out their worldly affairs, much in the mould of Indian Union Muslim League or Muslim Majlis, either by directly participating in elections or supporting other political parties having entered into some sort of deal with them. It could not retain the veneer of following Maulana Maudoodi’s ideology of establishing the sovereignty of God on earth. The late Maulana had himself been able to do that in Pakistan as the religious parties who had opposed the creation of Pakistan were able to blackmail the secular founders of Pakistan into passing an Objectives Resolution effectively making Pakistan an Islamic nation and vesting the sovereignty in God. Adopted on 12 March 1949 by the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan this Resolution proclaimed the following principles among other things.

http://newageislam.com/jamaat-e-islami-is-welcome-in-politics,-but-it-should-jettison-its-dangerous-ideological-baggage-first--/radical-islamism-and-jihad/d/958

Civilian response to terrorism is needed, says Pakistan President Zardari, War on Terror, NewAgeIslam.com

War on Terror

Civilian response to terrorism is needed, says Pakistan President Zardari

By Sajjad Malik

October 22, 2008

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari urged civil and political leaders on Tuesday to own the war on terror, saying the military and security agencies could not be left to fight the war alone. “This is total war and should be fought in totality, and on multiple fronts,” he told participants of a top-level meeting on the FATA and NWFP security situation at the President’s House. Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani accompanied him. “Pakistan’s civilian political leadership has successfully confronted terrorism in parts of the country in the past, and drawing lessons from that experience, is determined to carry out the ongoing fight against terrorism to a logical conclusion,” Zardari said. NWFP Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti and Interior Adviser Rehman Malik made presentations on the terror threat and the government’s strategy to tackle it. “The fight against terrorism is part of a larger struggle to save the country, the federation and its democratic structure,” the president said. “That is why the government has put together the strategy of three Ds – dialogue, development and deterrence – to wipe out the menace.” He said the government had expanded the consultative process and consult the parliament on the issue, for the elected representatives from across the political divide to own the war.

http://newageislam.com/civilian-response-to-terrorism-is-needed,-says-pakistan-president-zardari--/war-on-terror/d/918

Islamic Maldives' Ruler Vows Smooth Democratic Transition, Islamic World News, NewAgeIslam.com

Islamic World News

Islamic Maldives' Ruler Vows Smooth Democratic Transition

There have been signs of a bubbling conflict on the islands. The Maldives suffered its first terror attack last year, with Islamic militants blamed for bombing a park in Male, wounding a dozen tourists.
The MDP considers Male its base: Anni Nasheed was elected to the Maldivian parliament in 2000. Gayoom's political constituency is among the 1,000 smaller islands located 800km (500 miles) off the tip of India. In these rural constituencies, Gayoom's message as protector of Islam plays well.
The winner will have to garner more than 50% of the votes to avoid a run-off. With no reliable opinion polls, the outcome is seen as impossible to predict. One local newspaper's internet poll put the MDP at 53% to Gayoom's 10%. This was considered a reflection only of web users' preferences.
Gayoom has promised to hand over power peacefully if he loses. Last month, the president signed into law a new constitution establishing an independent judiciary and electoral body. It ended the practice of the parliament approving a single candidate who was put forward in a referendum. On this basis, Gayoom was returned to power six times with what he said was more than 90% of the vote.

http://newageislam.com/islamic-maldives--ruler-vows-smooth-democratic-transition/islamic-world-news/d/939

Pakistan's much-dreaded ISI: A Hydra-headed Monster, Islam,Terrorism and Jihad, NewAgeIslam.com

Islam,Terrorism and Jihad

Pakistan's much-dreaded ISI: A Hydra-headed Monster

By Sumit Ganguly

31 July 2008

Reports from the Pakistani press suggest that the directive had come from no less than Asif Ali Zardari, the co-chair of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), the senior partner of the current ruling coalition. Zardari has reason to dislike the ISI. Shortly before her tragic demise, his wife, Benazir Bhutto, had made no secret of her unhappiness with the functioning of the organisation and had promised to render it more accountable to civilian authority. Also, based upon Pakistani press accounts, the decision to move the ISI's reporting line to the interior ministry was undertaken without being discussed in a cabinet meeting.

Obviously, in a democratic state, any intelligence agency, however shadowy, must be accountable to elected authority. However, the attempt to so abruptly place it under the interior ministry without consulting the military was both inept and careless. The newly elected (and unelected) members of the civilian regime in Pakistan may well have many legitimate grievances against both the ISI and the military establishment. That said, attempting to bring about drastic organisational reform through a form of administrative fiat was bound to provoke an adverse reaction from the military establishment.

http://newageislam.com/pakistan-s-much-dreaded-isi--a-hydra-headed-monster/islam,terrorism-and-jihad/d/370

The three pampered Jammu Kashmiris, Current affairs, NewAgeIslam.com

Current affairs

The three pampered Jammu Kashmiris

David Devadas, Hindustan Times

August 19, 2008

Look at all the development and allocations in the Valley while we are neglected year after year There's never been a Hindu Chief Minister in the last 61 years. Come to think of it, there's not even been a Hindu Minister in important portfolios. Even when Mufti Mohammed Sayeed had a Hindu Deputy Chief Minister, he gave more important portfolios to Muzaffar Beigh of his own party.

Tells you a story, doesn't it? The People's Democratic Party is anti-national. Its leaders protect terrorists. They raised the land transfer issue for cheap elec- toral benefits. They brought down the government and caused this crisis. If we don't protest, they'll hand us over to Pakistan. After all, doesn't PDP president Mehbooba Mufti openly talk of legitimising Pakistani currency here? Secessionist organisations like the Hurriyat are manufacturing an agitation on the highway at Pakistan's behest. They just need an excuse to secede. The army should crush them.

http://newageislam.com/the-three-pampered-jammu-kashmiris/current-affairs/d/608

Pakistan after Musharraf: No direct role for army, Current affairs, NewAgeIslam.com

Current affairs

Pakistan after Musharraf: No direct role for army

By Ajay Darshan Behera

Even though General Kayani was perceived as a close ally of Musharraf when he was appointed last November, he did what is expected of the army chief and that was to protect the interests of the army first. Musharraf had increasingly become a liability for the army. The military was forced to recognise the popular mood by the series of events starting from the sacking of the Chief Justice and the resultant demand by the legal community for the restoration of the country’s judges to the public’s demand for free and fair elections and the creation of a democratic government. Musharraf’s attempts to cling to power in such circumstances did not reflect well on the image of the army. Therefore, General Kayani left Musharraf to his fate but was, however, interested in a dignified exit for him.

http://newageislam.com/pakistan-after-musharraf--no-direct-role-for-army/current-affairs/d/622

Iraqi Leader: US Should Leave as Soon as Possible, Islam and the West, NewAgeISlam.com

Islam and the West

Iraqi Leader: US Should Leave as Soon as Possible

Published on Sunday, July 20, 2008 by The Associated Press

The Der Spiegel article, released Saturday, quoted al-Maliki as giving apparent backing to the withdrawal plans discussed by Obama - the Illinois senator and likely Democratic nominee has pledged to withdraw combat troops from Iraq within 16 months if he is elected.

“That, we think, would be the right timeframe for a withdrawal, with the possibility of slight changes,” al-Maliki was quoted as saying. “Those who operate on the premise of short time periods in Iraq today are being more realistic. Artificially prolonging the tenure of U.S. troops in Iraq would cause problems.”

Asked when U.S. forces would leave Iraq, he responded, “As soon as possible, as far a we’re concerned.”

In the interview, al-Maliki said he was not seeking to endorse Obama.

Sadiq al-Rikabi, an adviser to al-Maliki, said later that Iraqi officials do not intend to be “part of the electoral campaign in the United States.”

http://newageislam.com/iraqi-leader--us-should-leave-as-soon-as-possible/islam-and-the-west/d/272