Chronology of Pakistan
November 2002 (Page V)
Jamali elected PM
Nov 21: Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali of the Pakistan Muslim League-Q was elected Leader of the House by the new National Assembly and he vowed to seek harmony with his political opponents to run his new civilian administration. But the 342-seat lower house of parliament voted Jamali by the barest of majority that will force him to walk on a tight rope in keeping his multi-party coalition together while sharing power with President Pervez Musharraf. Jamali, a former chief minister of Balochistan, got 172 votes out of 329 votes cast, against 86 bagged by Maulana Fazlur Rehman of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) and 70 by Shah Mahmood Qureshi of the People's Party Parliamentarians (PPP). The PPP, which came second with 81 votes, was damaged when 10 of its members went over to the PML-Q at the risk of being unseated after the anti-defection clauses of the partially revived Constitution are restored and the 60-seat MMA was bolstered by support from the 19-seat PML-N and some smaller groups.
Nine MPAs occupying Pipals House illegally
Nov 21: Nine MPAs-elect, seven of them belonging to the PML-Q, have forcibly grabbed suites at the Pipals House MPA Hostel in Lahore in violation of the rules. Official sources said that MPAs-elect had grabbed the suites after breaking the locks or placing their own locks on those of the management. "They simply overawed the staff with their men and guns," the sources said.
MNA from Khuzdar refuses to take oath
ISLAMABAD, Nov 21: Mehmood Khan Achakzai, Pakhtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party chief, took oath as MNA as the National Assembly met in Islamabad for electing prime minister. MNA-elect from Khuzdar Abdur Rauf Mengal, however, refused to take oath in protest against what he said the provincial administration's failure in nabbing the persons responsible for the killing of two people in Panjgur bazaar on Oct 30 last.
23 killed in NAs earthquake
Nov 21: At least 23 people were killed and many others injured when two earthquakes measuring 5.5 on the Richter scale jolted the Northern Areas early today. Most of the injured belonged to Astor, some 80 km west of Gilgit.
Fazl fears repeat of '71 catastrophe
Nov 21: The 1973 Constitution is a consensus document among all shades of opinion and any attempt to tamper with it could dismember the country, said Opposition Leader Maulana Fazlur Rahman while taking the floor of the National Assembly after the election of Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali as Prime Minister of Pakistan. Greeting Jamali on his election, Maulana Fazlur Rehman said: "A dictator cannot be allowed to demolish the constitution, which came into being after a decade old struggle."
Defiant Achakzai stirs lower house
Nov 21: The defiant leader of Pakhtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party, Mehmood Khan Achakzai sent the signal across the Lower House and the country that "none deserved to become prime minister" by not casting his vote. The articulate and outspoken Achakzai was the first parliamentarian who did not bother to even shake hand with Speaker Amir Hussain after signing the oath book. Without blinking his eye, the Pukhtoon leader walked to his seat. He is the only politician in the country who has been a vocal critic of ISI and for this he has suffered a lot. He has been accusing of ISI and establishment forces of facilitating attacks on his life. Zafaruallah Jamali, Amin Fahim, Farooq Leghari, Hafiz Hussain Ahmad, Chaudhry Nisar, Miss Noorjhan Panezai, Liaquat Baloch, Abdul Satar Lalika, Aftab Ahmad Sherpao and Fazlur Rehman all visited him to pay regards.
75 Pakistanis arrive from Spain after deportation
Nov 21: The first batch of the Pakistanis, deported from Spain, arrived in Islamabad by a PIA flight. They were investigated by by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) officials about the agents involved in sending them for an indirect entry into Europe, before permission to go to homes.
SHC sets aside Muttahida men's death sentence
Nov 21: The Anti-Terrorism Appellate bench of the Sindh High Court granted appeal in Sirajuddin kidnapping-cum-murder case and set aside the death penalty awarded to the Muttahidda activists Asif Jameel and Qaiser.
EU report on democracy biased, says Pakistan
Nov 22: Pakistan expressed its disappointment over the 'biased and unbalanced' resolution adopted in the European Parliament about the process of revival of democracy in Pakistan. The resolution was moved by the chairman of EU election mission, John Cushnahan, and adopted in the European Parliament yesterday. "It is most unfortunate that Mr Cushnahan persists with the deeply flawed conclusions in his report of the EU election observation mission which monitored the recently concluded general elections in Pakistan," a foreign office spokesman said.
Crisis group suggests division of Kashmir along LoC
Nov 22: The solution of the Kashmir issue lies in the division of the disputed territory around the Line of Control rather than holding of a plebiscite as promised by the United Nations. "While a plebiscite could bring sustainable peace to the region, it does not appear a practical or likely prospect," said an international think tank in its report "Kashmir: The View From Srinagar".
NAB clears railway minister of charges
Nov 22: The National Accountability Bureau issued a clean bill of health to Federal Minister for Communication, Javed Ashraf Qazi, saying that there was no evidence of alleged swindling of Rs 40 billion in Railway deals against him. "Prima facie there is no evidence of corruption against Mr Kazi," a NAB uniformed spokesman told reporters at a briefing held at the NAB secretariat.
No case pending against Jamali: NAB
Nov 22: There was no case pending with the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against Prime Minister-elect Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali, the bureau said. Brig Tayyab, spokesman for the NAB, told newsmen in Islamabad that an enquiry by NAB officials was conducted sometime back against Zafarullah Jamali on charges of making fresh appointments but its was closed as nothing was found against him.
Jamali, cabinet take oath: PPP, PML-N abstain from ceremony;: forward bloc gets six slots
Nov 23: Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali and his 21-member cabinet were sworn-in in Islamabad, completing the transition from three-year military rule to an elected democratic government. President Gen Pervez Musharraf administered the oath, first to the prime minister and then to 14 federal ministers and seven state ministers separately at Aiwan-i-Sadr. The PPP forward bloc was offered six slots - three federal ministers including a senior minister's status to Rao Sikandar Iqbal and the key interior ministry to group leader Faisal Saleh Hayat, and three ministers of state.
Power transferred, says Musharraf
Nov 23: Power to govern the country was transferred to elected representatives and the cabinet headed by Prime Minister Zafarullah Jamali, said President General Pervez Musharraf.
MPs allowed to defect until Senators take oath
Nov 23– General Pervez Musharraf announced to fully revive the Constitution with effect from December 31,2002 and allowed Parliamentarians and provincial assemblies members to defect until Senate comes into being, according to an official handout issued. General Musharraf through a back dated order of November 22, a day before he transferred power to elected Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Jamali, proclaimed the notification to revive several more constitutional provisions which has given option to Parliamentarians to defect from the political parties they belong until the Senators take oath. Fundamental rights of the people guaranteed in the Constitution would also be restored with the members of Senate taking oath.
US wants SC order reversed
Nov 24: The government is under the pressure of the United States and the World Bank because of a Supreme Court judgment in which it had directed a US-based multinational company to a furnish bank guarantee of one billion dollar for qualifying itself to defend a suit for damages. Official sources told Dawn that the American government and the World Bank had taken up the matter with the highest office in the country. The ministers of finance and commerce have also been apprised of the anxiety of the US government. The US is urging the Pakistan government to get the judgment reversed if it was interested in foreign investment and economic development.
150 ordinances issued in three years
Nov 24: The Punjab law department promulgated 150 ordinances, issued 87 regulations and 51 notifications besides entering into 27 agreements during the last three years. This was stated by Punjab Minister for Law Rana Ijaz Ahmad Khan in a statement issued in Lahore.
Dissidents form PPPP Patriots
Nov 24: Cracks in the Pakistan People's Party Parliamentarins (PPPP) at federal and the Punjab level have emerged more glaringly as dissidents, who earlier made a forward bloc in the party, have formed a new political party by the name of Pakistan People's Party Parliamentarians Patriots (PPPPP). While PPPP Chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim expressed his ignorance to the formation of new party, a dissident from Lahore, Zaheer Abbas Khokhar, confirmed formation of the PPPPP, with Rao Sikander Iqbal as its chairman, The News reported.
Pakistan dismisses DPRK arms deal report
Nov 24: Pakistan strongly denied a report that it had helped North Korea develop its nuclear weapons programme in return for missile technology that would strengthen its hand against India. "There is no truth in these reports whatsoever," said presidential spokesman Major-General Rashid Qureshi. "I do not know where the New York Times gets its information from. I am convinced that they need to update their intelligence gathering system," he told Reuters.
Man burnt alive, six vehicles torched as violence continues unabated in Landhi, Korangi Towns
Nov 24: A man was burnt alive while six vehicles were torched by unidentified miscreants as violence continued for the second consecutive day in Landhi, Korangi, Khokhrapar and other Mohajir Qaumi Movement (MQM) dominated areas.
Governors take fresh oath
Nov 25: All four provincial governors took a fresh oath of their offices under the 1973 Constitution. In Lahore, Punjab Governor Khalid Maqbool was administered the oath by the Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court, Justice Iftikhar Hussain Chaudhry, at the Governor's House, hours before the inaugural session of the Punjab Assembly. In Karachi, Sindh Governor Mohammedmian Soomro was administered the oath by the Chief Justice of the Sindh High Court, Justice Syed Saeed Ashhad, at a simple ceremony held at the Governor's House. In Peshawar, NWFP Governor Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah was administered the oath by the Chief Justice of the Peshawar High Court, Justice Mian Shakirullah Jan, at the at Governor's House. In Quetta, Balochistan Governor Amirul Mulk Mengal was administered the oath by the Chief Justice of the Balochistan High Court, Raja Fayyaz Ahmed, at a simple ceremony held at the Governor's House.
Rumpus in Punjab PA before swearing-in
Nov 25: As many as 353 members elected to the Punjab Assembly in October 10 election took oath on the first day of its inaugural session. The session was presided over by the Speaker of the 1999 assembly and the PML-Q candidate for the office of chief minister, Chaudhry Pervez Elahi. Before administering oath to the members, he himself was sworn in as a member of the House amidst shouts against him by the opposition members. When the PPP, the PML-N and the MMA members sought explanation from the chair whether they were taking oath under the 1973 Constitution or the Legal Frame Work Order (LFO), the presiding officer stated the oath was being administered under the Constitution. "There has been no change in the oath mentioned in the 1973 Constitution," he replied. All provincial legislators present in the House took oath except MMA parliamentary party leader Chaudhry Asghar Gujjar who left the place after the "explanation" given by the chair on the LFO issue. Before taking oath, the opposition members used strong words and remarks against the military, the judiciary and Chaudhry Pervez Elahi. However, the chair expunged all such remarks on the ground that they were uttered before the administration of oath and hence did not form part of the proceedings. He also asked reporters not to publish the expunged remarks.
Frontier MPAs reject LFO before taking oath
Nov 25: The maiden session of the Frontier Assembly was held in Peshawar at which 120 MPAs-elect were sworn in, ushering in a new era of what some members described as controlled democracy. At the outset the House, dominated by MMA's legislators, strongly criticized the military rulers for changing the spirit of the 1973 Constitution.
Dissenters launch PPPP-Patriot
Nov 25: Dissenters from Pakistan People's Party launched a new faction. "We have formed our own group," Interior Minister Makhdoom Faisal Saleh Hayat told AFP in Islamabad. The party will be called PPPP-Patriot, its deputy secretary-general, Zaheer Abbas Khokhar said. Rao Sikandar Iqbal, who was given the portfolio of defence and the post of senior minister, will lead the group, Mr Khokhar said.
50,000 people die of Malaria in Pakistan every year
Nov 25: Pakistan being an endemic zone for malaria registers 50,000 deaths every year with victims pertaining to all age groups, the APP reported. The situation is, however, turning serious with growing resistance among locals against the WHO-recommended first line of drugs comprising chloroquine phosphate, bezoquine and pyramithamine/sulphadoxine, a compound drug commonly known as Fansidar.
'MQM offered to leave country'
Nov 25: The Sindh government and the Rangers offered the besieged leadership of Muhajir Qaumi Movement (MQM) to fly out of the country, claimed MQM leaders led by MNA Mahmood Ahmad Qureshi and party's Vice Chairman Younis Khan in a hurriedly called press conference in Karachi. The entire Haqiqi leadership has been offered money required for their settlement abroad and they have been asked to hand over their passports to authorities as early as possible, they further claimed.
US to address Pak nukes after Iraq: US Congressman
Nov 25: The United States is expected to press harder on allegations Pakistan has exported nuclear equipment after the crisis with Iraq has passed, a pro-India US Congressman, Frank Pallone, said. During his visit to the eastern Indian state of Bihar, Pallone said he is pushing for Congress to invoke the 1976 Symington Amendment, which bans US economic and military assistance to any country delivering or receiving nuclear material or technology.
MNAs seize senators' suites
Nov 25: The Senate Secretariat sought the assistance of President General Pervez Musharraf in recovering from MNAs 47 out of 82 suites to be allotted to the would be senators. The MNAs, majority of whom belonged to the ruling party, earlier seized all the 82 suites in Islamabad after breaking their locks forcibly.
Literacy rate goes up to 48pc
Nov 25: The consolidated results of fourth Pakistan Integrated Household Survey (PIHS) 2001-02 show literacy rate at 48 per cent, with signs of gradual improvement in other social sector indicators. Selected details of the PIHS were released in Islamabad at a press conference after a long delay. The brief summary of major social indicators in the education, health, population welfare and water and sanitation was "refined and consolidated" before making it public. However, the full report, which the government says would include the original findings of the survey, would be released later on.
'1,800 Pakistanis die of pollution each year'
Nov 25: An estimated 1,800 people die every year due to air pollution in Pakistan, says a United Nations report released in Karachi. According to the report, about 6.4 million hospital admissions and 418,000 cases of minor sickness occur every year due to air pollution in the country. It says the main reason for the deaths is the quality of air in big cities, and this is getting worse because of haphazard industrialization and a rapid increase in the number of vehicles.
Hunt for Al Qaeda to be blocked, says Akram
Nov 26: The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) vowed to block the manhunt for Al Qaeda in the NWFP, where the US military believe hundreds of the extremists are hiding.
"We have opposed the government's pro-US policies, particularly operations aided by them and we shall maintain our opposition," Akram Durrani, the MMA nominee for NWFP chief minister's post told AFP in an interview.
Afghan govt releases 87 more Pakistanis
Nov 26: A group of 87 Pakistani prisoners who were set free from Kabul prison arrived at Landi Kotal, Khyber Agency, via Torkham gate this evening. Majority of the prisoners reportedly belong to the upper parts of the NWFP and Punjab province. Soon after their arrival at the border town the political authorities of Khyber Agency took them into custody and shifted to a lock up in Landi Kotal, some 45 kms west of Peshawar.
US warns Pakistan over N Korea N-links
Nov 26: US Secretary of State Colin Powell said in Mexico City that he had told Pakistan there would be "consequences" if it had contacts with North Korea but said he knew of nothing now that could trigger sanctions on Pakistan over allegations that it aided North Korea's nuclear program. "In my conversations with (Pakistani) President (Pervez) Musharraf in recent months, I have made it clear to him that any, any sort of contact between Pakistan and North Korea we believe would be improper, inappropriate and would have consequences," Powell told reporters.
Jamali seeks Baboos' help to deliver
Nov 26: Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali asked the civil servants to
work with him shoulder to shoulder to achieve greater good for masses. In his brief address to all the federal secretaries, who were invited to meet the newly-elected prime minister, the Baloch leader assured them that he would be accessible to them. "Anyone of you can approach me anytime," he offered.
MPA accuses PML-QA leaders of coercion
Nov 26: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz MPA Ch Talib Hussain has alleged the PML-Q leaders are coercing him to change loyalty. Addressing a press conference in Lahore, the MPA alleged he was abducted by some 'government agency men' and was taken to Islamabad, where Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar Khan and Minister of State Habibullah Warraich threatened and pressurised him to join PML-Q, otherwise he would lose his seat. He disclosed they offered him the office of parliamentary secretary in the Punjab Assembly if he switched over.
Sherpao backs withdrawal of Army from Wapda
Nov 26: The Ministry of Water and Power has decided to approach the federal government to take decision for withdrawal of Army from Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) within next few days. According to The News, Minister for Water and Power Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao, after assuming the charge of the Ministry supported the withdrawal of the army from Wapda as its financial position has been improved.
Over 200 Pakistanis deported from Iran
Nov 26: Spurred on by promises of a brighter tomorrow in alien lands, over 109 people belonging to different parts of the country lost their hard-earned millions after the Iranian Border Force arrested and handed them over to the FIA a couple of days ago, sources confided to The News. The sources said that the Iranian Border Force had deported over 200 people - majority of them belong to Karachi, Gujrat, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Jelhum, southern Punjab, and Mardan and Swabi areas of the NWFP - in the last ten days. They had crossed over the Pak-Iran border with the intention to reach a European country.
Admiral Mansoor's bail plea rejected
Nov 26: A division bench of Sindh High Court dismissed the bail applications of Admiral (Retd) Mansoorul Haq, former Naval chief in the US$47.14 million 'Container Ships Purchase Cases'. Mansoorul Haq was initially booked in reference number 43/2001 for allegedly receiving kickbacks in a defence deal. At that time he was in the USA and he was arrested in that country and extradited to Pakistan. During pendency of the case he entered a bargain with NAB as provided under Section 25 o the NAB Ordinance and paid US$7.5 million to NAB authorities after which the reference against him was withdrawn. After this deal the petitioner was released and his accounts and assets restored. However, on July 15, 2002 he was again arrested and detained at Karachi central Jail. The NAB authorities later instituted three cases (pertaining to US$47.14 million Container Ships Purchase deal) against him.
FBI puts 'Spiders' to work in Pakistan
Nov 26: The FBI has organized some former Pakistani army officers and others into a band known as the "Spider Group" to locate Taliban and al Qaeda fugitives hiding in tribal areas along the Afghanistan border, the Washington Times reported. A federal law-enforcement official in Washington said that the move marked an attempt by the FBI to develop a "free flow of information" to U.S. agents who previously had worked under some restrictions with Pakistan's official Inter-Services Intelligence agency. The Spider Group consists largely of retired officers of Pakistan's army, some of whom had reached the rank of brigadier and colonel, say law-enforcement authorities in Washington and sources in Pakistan familiar with the operation.
Presiding officer slammed for not allowing MPA to take oath in Punjabi
Nov 27: The Chairman of World Punjabi Congress, Fakhar Zaman has criticized the presiding officer of the Punjab Assembly for not allowing MPA-elect to take oath in Punjabi language. In a statement issued in Lahore, he said, "Urdu is our national language and we have no objection on it, but it should be considered that the Punjabi is our mother tongue and a cultural language". He asked MPAs to speak in Punjabi language in the provincial assembly sessions.
Sindh Assembly inaugural session postponed
Nov 27: The inaugural session of the Sindh Assembly, scheduled for tomorrow, was postponed indefinitely, reportedly at the request of an individual. This postponement, second since Nov 25, has been termed by major political parties in the assembly as "an attempt to bulldoze the mandate of the people of Sindh and foist a minority and unrepresentative clique at the top". The government decision followed a request by Grand National Alliance's candidate for the top slot in Sindh, Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim, who had requested the postponement to help political groups overcome what he termed "deadlock".