Govt. attaches high importance to independence of judiciary: PM

ISLAMABAD : Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Thursday said the government gives priority to the independence of judiciary and the rule of law in the country as per the manifesto of Pakistan Peoples Party. He was talking to Minister for Law, Justice, Human Rights and Parliamentary Affairs, Farooq H. Naek who called on him here at the PM House this evening.
The Prime Minister directed the Ministry of Law, Justice and Human Rights to immediately start working on important national issues like provincial autonomy, accountability, jail and Police reforms.
He said that while formulating police reforms special attention should be paid to the welfare of constables and other low-paid staff.
The Prime Minister said that in this regard the report of the National Commission for Government Reforms should also be consulted and all stakeholders be taken along including all the provinces as well as the civil society organizations.
The Prime Minister said that jails should act as correction facilities and directed that in future jails should be called Reformatory Centers instead of Prisons or Jails.
Farooq H. Naek briefed the Prime Minister about various steps the Ministry of Law, Justice and Human Rights is taking for ensuring independence of judiciary in the country.

National reconciliation to help take country forward; Gilani

APS


ISLAMABAD : Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani Thursday said the new coalition government believes in policy of national reconciliation aimed at taking the nation forward, and has vowed not to repeat mistakes of the past. Addressing participants of the 88th National Management Course under the National School of Public Policy, here at the PM House, the Prime Minister said “we want reconciliation and want to have a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to take our nation on path of progress.”
The Prime Minister said the challenges confronting the country require all political forces to stand united by rising above petty differences and work for a better future of the country.
He cited poor economy, wheat crisis, energy shortage and inflation as some of the most pressing issues that demanded immediate action.
Gilani recalled his five years in jail and around eight years by PPP’s co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari and said despite it they were not bitter and wanted to take along all to secure a better future of the country.
He said the charter of democracy inked by later Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif in London was part of this grand vision of reconciliation.
“We apologized to the nation for our past mistakes and have vowed not to repeat in future ... we have accepted Nawaz Sharif’s mandate in Punjab and he has accepted ours in the center,” he said terming it a sign of political maturity.
The Prime Minister said he believed in the supremacy of the parliament and wanted to maintain relations with all the institutions according to the constitution.
“We have committed to the nation to restore the constitution of 1973, restore the judiciary and ensure independence of judiciary and media.
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said the people of Pakistan were conscientious and have voted in power moderate forces. He said that it was a split mandate and a broad-based government has been formed.
Gilani said in an unprecedented move in country’s parliamentary history, he was given a unanimous vote of confidence only because the people wanted the new government to resolve all the problems.
He said the law and order situation in the country was bad because of extremism and terrorism.
“We lost our great leader Benazir Bhutto, because of an act of terrorism,” Gilani said and vowed that his government will make Pakistan a safe place to live.
He also termed the economic situation of the country bad and mentioned that the shortage of wheat occurred because of wrong policies adopted by the previous government. He said inflated figures were given and on its basis export of wheat allowed, but later expensive wheat had to be imported to avert the crisis.
“However our government does not believe in blaming the previous government,” he said and added that it was committed to bring an improvement in the situation.
Prime Minister Gilani said the energy shortage was a serious matter and had we not set up the Independent Power Producers during late Benazir Bhutto’s tenure, the country would have been in a stone age.
The Prime Minister mentioned the threat of extremism and terrorism and said his government believed in use of force only when necessary as excessive use of force eroded its impact.
Gilani said a three-pronged policy was being pursued to counter the threat and focus was on uplift of the area, provision of health, education, socio-economic development, communication networks, business opportunities and infrastructure development.
The Prime Minister when questioned about the National Finance Commission award said the Pakistan Peoples Party believed in provincial autonomy and will keep in view the needs of the underdeveloped provinces.
He said within a year the concurrent list will be abolished and more provincial autonomy accorded.
Prime Minister Gilani hoped that the nation wants to give more time to the new coalition government to formulate new policies.
“We need the cooperation of the entire nation and the civil servants, who are at the helm of affairs, to help us in our task,” he said.
He said that he believed in strengthening of the institutions and mentioned the recent promotions in bureaucracy that were based on seniority, merit, competence, provincial quota.
He said the country can benefit a great deal from senior civil servants, however he urged them to work selflessly for the country with a committment to serve the people.
To a question about the lifting of the ban on student unions, he said it was aimed at training the new generation in the art of politics, so that they remain busy in social work and stay away from extremists.
However, he pointed that the activities of the student unions will be fully regulated and they will not be allowed to get involved in unhealthy activties.

Recommendations of NCGR to be debated in NA: PM

APS

ISLAMABAD : Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Thursday said all the provincial governments and other concerned organizations should be taken on board and consulted on the report of the National Commission for Government Reforms. Accordingly, he added, the recommendations would be debated in the National Assembly so as to achieve the desired results of good governance and better delivery of services to common man.
The Prime Minister was chairing a high level meeting in which Dr. Ishrat Hussain, Chairman of the National Commission for Government Reforms (NCGR) presented the interim report along with recommendations here at the PM House today.
The Prime Minister said that reforms in any sector need to target the common people who should benefit from the change.
“Redressing the grievances and minimizing the difficulties of the people is our ultimate goal which needs to be kept in view while formulating these reforms”, he added.
The Prime Minister also underlined the need for changing the “Thana” culture by making it people-friendly with focus on resolving the problems of the people.
He said the government is promoting e-government system for ensuring fast delivery of government business and restoring people’s confidence in the elected government in addition to ensuring general public’s access to information.
While talking on provincial autonomy, the Prime Minister said he has already announced the abolition of concurrent list within a year and expressed the confidence that this would lead towards resolving the problems of people at the local level.
The Prime Minister also called for inclusion of jail reforms in the report for addressing the problems being confronted by the inmates.
He underlined the need for replacement of centuries old “Patwari” system by using modern technology and learning from the experiences of developed world aimed at facilitating masses and eradicating corruption.
The Prime Minister said the government is focusing on improving social services across the country and would extend all possible resources for the provision of education and health facilities to people.
The reforms, he said, also need to focus on better management of social sector both administratively and professionally.
Earlier, in his presentation, Dr. Ishrat Hussain briefed the Prime Minister about salient features and recommendations of the report.
The interim report presented to the Prime Minister claimed that it would bring change in governance besides improving the efficiency of government servants towards resolving people’s problems.
The Prime Minister in his remarks said that since parliament is the supreme forum for making policy decisions, therefore, the report should be thoroughly deliberated upon in the National Assembly after due consultation with all the four provinces.
The final approval of the recommendations would later be given by the Federal Cabinet, he added.

Pakistan pursuing comprehensive policy to fight terrorism: FO

ASSOCIATED PRESS SERVICE

ISLAMABAD : Pakistan Thursday said it has been pursuing a comprehensive policy agaisnt terrorism which combines political, socio-economic and military elements.
Foreign Office Spokesman Muhammad Sadiq in his weekly briefing said, “The government believes that military action alone will not be effective in permanently ending the menace of terrorism.”
He said political engagement is an essential part of the policy but it is possible only with those who renounce militancy and violence; do not allow the use of Pakistan’s territory against any other country; and do not help foreign terrorist elements to find hideouts in the country.
The Spokesman said, “The security requirements will not be abandoned or ignored under the policy.”
“Negotiations with tribal leaders and notables are aimed at supporting military efforts with political ones,” he added.
Replying to a question about arrested Pakistanis on charges of terrorism in Spain, the spokesman said, the Spanish Police took into custody 12 Pakistanis on January 18, 2008 in Barcelona on the suspicion of planning terror attacks in Spain and other European countries.
He said authorities claimed to have recovered bomb-making material and timing devices from them.
The spokesman said apparently, the detainees belonged to the Tableeghi Jamaat and some of them had been resident in the country for many years. Three were reported to be illegal migrants, he added.
He said nine individuals were produced in the Madrid Anti-terrorist Court for hearing on January 23 while others were released for insufficient evidence and the next date of hearing is yet to be fixed.
The Spokesman said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Pakistan’s Mission in Spain remained alive to the situation. He said the detainees, who are in three different jails, were met by Pakistan’s consular officials.
He said the embassy also requested the host authorities to allow the families of the detainees to establish contact with them through the embassy in Madrid or the Consulate General in Barcelona.
He said the relatives and lawyers of the detainees have since been permitted to contact them and the detainees are also allowed to make telephone calls to their families.
About the death of a Pakistani Mohammad Akram in Indian custody, the spokesman said, he was under trial Pakistani prisoner in India. He was held at Central Jail Amritsar and died in Guru Nanak Dev Hospital on April 26.
The Spokesman said the information about his death was conveyed to the officials of Pakistan High Commission, New Delhi when they visited the Amritsar Jail for consular access to some other Pakistani prisoners.
He said Pakistan Mission has asked the Indian Ministry of External Affairs for details of the circumstances leading to the death of Mohammad Akram and has sought early repatriation of his dead body.
He said the Foreign Office is also in contact with the Indian High Commission in Islamabad on the issue.
The spokesman said on March 31 this year, Pakistan and India had exchanged lists of prisoners in accordance with the recommendations of the first meeting of Pak-India Judicial Committee on prisoners held in New Delhi on February 26.
He said the Indian side had informed that 133 Pakistani civil prisoners and 14 fishermen were held in India and at that time Indian side had mentioned that further names will be communicated to Pakistan when they are received from various jail authorities.
Additional information from Indian side is still awaited, he added.
On the reports for giving land for Pakistan’s consulate in Mumbai, the spokesman said Pakistan still has not been able to acquire any property to open the Consulate there.
He said a team of officials from Pakistan’s High Commission in New Delhi will visit Mumbai shortly to look at certain properties available for rent or purchase adding that as soon as a suitable property is available Pakistan will open its consulate in Mumbai.
The spokesman said Pakistan’s request to the Indian government to allow the opening of its consulate in Jinnah House remains there. He said in the meantime, Pakistan has continued efforts to find another premise, in Mumbai, however these efforts have not succeeded as yet.
Replying to a question about Pakistan’s foreign policy to solve Kashmir issue, the spokesman said Pakistan is still committed for peaceful solution to the issue in accordance with UN resolutions through mutual consultation.
Answering a question about sending proposal to UN for probing assassination of Benazir Bhutto, the spokesman said, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is still finalizing the modalities on the basis of resolution passed unanimously by the National Assembly in this regard.
Regarding construction of dams by India, the spokesman said Pakistan has been pursuing the policy of “energy security” and added that Indus Basin Treaty is very helpful in solving any such problem.
About Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline project, the spokesman said, it is in final stage of implementation.

Sherry directs govt functionaries to serve public with dedication, honesty

ASSOCIATED PRESS SERVICE

ISLAMABAD : Government functionaries should serve the public with honesty and dedication.The problems of the people should not only be appropriately identified but should be solved swiftly and judiciously. These views were expressed by Ms. Sherry Rehman, Minister for Information and Broadcasting on Thursday during her visit to Press Information Department (PID) here.
Mrs. Rizwan Khan, Principal Information Officer (PIO) briefed the minister on the role, composition and working of the PID. Secretary Information Akram Shaheedi was also present on the occasion.
The PID not only highlights the policies of the government and facilitates the development of media but also serves as link between the government and the public, the minister was told.
The PIO informed the minister that there are 816 employees working in the PID and Regional Information Offices.
The minister issued instructions for improvement of functioning of PID and visited different sections of the department.

UN probe not to pose threat to nuclear assets: Rabbani

ISLAMABAD : The Leader of the House in Senate, Mian Raza Rabbani said on Thursday that probe by the United Nations into the assassination of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto would not pose any threat to the nuclear assets of the country.
Speaking during the debate on Foreign Policy, the Leader of the House rejected the words of Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed who, during his speech feared that the UN probe could have put the nuclear assets on risk.
“Benazir Bhutto was assassinated in Liaqat Bagh, Rawalpindi, not anywhere near Kahuta, so how it could be threatening for the security of nuclear assets of Pakistan,” he commented.
He criticized the foreign policy of the previous government saying that Pakistan had to face tough times during the days when Dr A.Q Khan was implicated in the scam of the nuclear assets.
He said the UN commission is aimed at probing into the intentions and involvement of internal or external hands in the national tragedy, adding that it has nothing to do with the security of nuclear assets.
“The nuclear assets of Pakistan are in safe hands and no one would be given access to them,” Senator Raza Rabbani assured.
He said the terms and conditions of the formation of the commission would revolve around only the investigation of the hands and factors involved in the assassination of the national leader.
He clarified that Pakistan People’s Party is not enjoying the extraordinary friendship of the president rather he said the party is having relationship with him within the constitutional limits.
He said the Foreign Office is devising the policies setting aside all the international influence and every policy would be made to safeguard the national interests.
The senator vowed that Pakistan would never allow any foreign power to make an assault on the soil of Pakistan. “We have always been opposing the intrusion of foreign powers on Pakistan’s soil,” he remarked.
He condemned the abuse of human rights being committed in Guantanamobay Prison and demanded that it should be closed down.
The senator reiterated that he would standby his bill demanding the presentation of any foreign agreement before the Parliament for endorsement.
Senator Professor Khurshid Ahmed said that the foreign policy of the previous government is implanted in practical terms which should be revised.
He said the role of Foreign Office has been remained limited while formulating the foreign policy of Pakistan that is why the policy had been made to safeguard some vested interests ignoring the national interests.
Professor Khurshid said the foreign policy should be initiated from Foreign Office and should not be finalized by the cabinet but the Parliament.
He said the alliance with the US in war on terror has proved war against our own Muslim brethren and was aimed just to address the vested interests of the United States. It was the war on terror which has made our friends our enemies, he added.
The senator urged the government that the phenomenon of terrorism should be resolved through dialogue and the root causes should be addressed and grievances should be redressed.

Five killed, ten injured in a road accident near Sohrab

KALAT : At least five people were killed and ten others sustained injuries, five of them serious in a head on collision between a pickup and a jeep near Sohrab, here Thursday, police said.
The speedy vehicles which belonged to the FC and FWO collided near Kharan Cross at the National Highway. Five people including Muhammad Bakhsh, Nazir Ahmed, Muhammad Ali, Muhammad Ismail and Abdul Rehman died on the spot while Nadim Ali, Saffar Muhammad, Haq Nawaz, Shaukat Ali, Mushtaq Ahmed, Muhammad Ijaz, Saeed Ahmed, Maqbool Ahmed, Rehmatullah and Niaz Ahmed sustained injuries and were shifted to Quetta for treatment via helicopter.

INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE TO STAGE 1968 PHOTOGRAPHY AND FRONT PAGE RETROSPECTIVE AT THE NATIONAL THEATRE

London :Two great institutions are joining together in honour of an extraordinary year in history: At the National Theatre, the International Herald Tribune (IHT) will mount an exhibition of photography and iconic front pages to illustrate and illuminate the historic events of 1968. The exhibit ’68: The news, the stories, the photographs, will offer a rare glimpse into the Paris-based newspaper’s 120 year old archives.
The free exhibition will be open to the London public from May 2 to June 28 as part of the major cultural season All Power to the Imagination! 1968 and Its Legacies, which the IHT is supporting.
Striking photographs, contextualized by front pages, will explain what made 1968 unique. The IHT’s network of journalists, famed for their integrity and balanced perspective reported from every corner of the globe in 1968 – as they continue to do today – making the newspaper the ideal institution to mount this exhibition. From the student rebellion in the streets of Paris to the first ever photographs of planet Earth, the show will evoke memories but also show a younger generation why this year was special, and what messages it still sends us today.
The exhibition is curated by the IHT’s director of photography, Cecilia Bohan: “1968 helped shape the world we live in today and the global political and cultural events we feature will resonate with all those who see it. We wanted to capture the revolutionary spirit of ’68 using images that immortalize fleeting moments. Many of the photographs are rich in detail – fascinating to study – and the International Herald Tribune front pages we selected anchor everything, explaining why the events really mattered.”
For the IHT the exhibition and sponsorship of the All Power to the Imagination season is an opportunity to raise its profile among politically educated, culturally literate readers in a market where its sales are increasing. Jim Clayton, the IHT’s circulation director for UK and Ireland, said: “Our core audience is predominantly international business leaders and high net worth individuals and going against the current trend, UK sales have grown. Through sponsorship of this season and sampling efforts at an impressive network of cultural partners across the city we will reach a new audience of Londoners who perhaps want a more outward looking and balanced perspective than is available from the nationals.”
To accompany the exhibition the IHT’s executive editor, Michael Oreskes, will lead a panel made up of award-winning photographers Ian Berry and John G Morris and author Geoff Dyer to discuss how 1968 shaped the way we illustrate news today. A limited number of free tickets will be available to IHT readers. The event will take place at the Cottesloe Theatre on May 27 and tickets can be purchased via the box office.

First UN aid flights start arriving in Myanmar

YANGON - The first United Nations relief flights started to arrive on Thursday for cyclone victims in military-ruled Myanmar...
...as a U.S. diplomat said that more than 100,000 people may have been killed. The cyclone slammed into coastal towns and villages in the rice-growing Irrawaddy delta southwest of Yangon on Saturday, the most devastating storm to hit Asia since 1991, when 143,000 people were killed in neighbouring Bangladesh.
Witnesses reported that villages were destroyed and people fought for survival by clutching trees as the storm brought walls of water charging inland from the sea.
Aid has been trickling in from other Asian nations, although frustrated governments and relief agencies are putting increasing pressure on Myanmar's reclusive military rulers to throw their borders wide open to as much help as possible.
Thailand, Japan, India, China, Singapore and Indonesia were all flying in assistance.
'The first plane has arrived with food supplies and three other flights were scheduled this morning,' said Paul Risley, spokesman for the U.N. World Food Programme in Bangkok.
Reports of cyclone damage in a country that used to be the world's largest rice exporter added to worries about tight global supplies of the grain.
Richard Horsey of the U.N. Office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said in Bangkok that 5,000 square km (1,930 square miles) of the delta were under water.
But the government insists it has enough reserves, although the the U.N.'s Food and Agriculture Organisation said damage to crops and stores in the delta rice bowl could mean that Myanmar will need short-term imports and miss its 2008 export targets.
At the United Nations in New York, John Holmes, U.N. undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs, said four Asian aid workers who did not need visas would get in but other U.N. aid workers were still waiting for travel permits.
The United States and other Western countries have imposed tough sanctions against Myanmar over its human rights record, punitive measures that have antagonised the government.
Helicopter Drops
The Myanmar military's own aid operation has moved up a gear with some helicopter drops, but land convoys to the inundated Irrawaddy delta were nowhere to be seen, a Reuters witness said.
State media are reporting a death toll of 22,980 with 42,119 missing, although diplomat and disaster experts said the real figure from the massive storm surge that swept into the Irrawaddy delta is likely to be much higher.
'The information that we're receiving indicates that there may well be over 100,000 deaths in the delta area,' Shari Villarosa, charge d'affaires of the U.S. embassy in Myanmar, told reporters in Washington.
The U.N.'s Holmes said the toll could not be independently verified, but 'it would not surprise me if they continued to rise and maybe rise very significantly'.
Washington, a vocal critic of the junta that has ruled the former Burma for more than four decades, said humanitarian access should not be a political matter.
'What remains is for the Burmese government to allow the international community to help its people. It should be a simple matter. It is not a matter of politics,' Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told reporters in Washington.
Political analysts and critics of 46 years of military rule said the cyclone may have long-term implications for the junta, which is even more feared and resented since last September's bloody crackdown on Buddhist monk-led protests.
For the moment, though, the mood in rubble-strewn Yangon, a city of five million people, is one of resignation rather than revolution.
'There won't be demonstrations,' one taxi driver told Reuters on Wednesday. 'People don't want to be shot.'

عوامی توجہ ہٹانے کے مصنوعی بحران۔۔۔ تحریر:چودھری احسن پریمی اے پی ایس

12 مئی کو ججوں کو بحال نہ کیا گیا تو 14 مئی کوعوام آئندہ کا لائحہ عمل طے کریں گے، بعض عوامی حلقوں نے یہ بھی کہا ہے کہ مسلم لیگ (ن) اور پیپلز پارٹی کا اتحاد برقرار رہنا چاہئے ورنہ آمریت کو مزید تقویت ملے گی۔ججوں کی بحالی کیلئے قائم کردہ کمیٹی نے گزشتہ بدھ کو ججوں کی بحالی کی قراداد کے مسودے پر اتفاق کرلیا ہے اور اس حوالے سے تجاویز تیار کی گئی ہیں جنہیں حکمران اتحاد میں شامل دو بڑی جماعتوں پیپلز پارٹی اور مسلم لیگ (ن) کے سربراہان آصف علی زردرای اور میاں نواز شریف کے سامنے پیش کیا جائے اور اب ان تجاویز کے حوالے سے حتمی فیصلہ دونوں رہنما کریں گے۔ کمیٹی میں شامل آئینی ماہرین نے ڈرافٹ کی تیاری میں حصہ نہیں لیا۔ قرارداد کا مسودہ تیار کرلیا گیا ہے تاہم قرارداد پر عمل درآمد کے معاملے پر اختلاف موجود ہے ۔ یہ مسئلہ حل کرنے کیلئے مسودے کو اتحادی جماعتوں کے قائدین کے سامنے پیش کردیا جائے گا جسے پڑھنے کے بعد دونوں رہنما طے کریں گے کہ اس پر کس طرح عمل درآمد کیا جائے۔ آئینی پیکیج اور قرارداد کے حوالے سے آصف زرداری اور نواز شریف میڈیا کو آگاہ کریں گے، دونوں رہنما چاہیں تو مسودے میں تبدیلی کرسکتے ہیں یہ قرارداد کا آخری اجلاس تھا جس میں فخر الدین جی ابراہیم کے علاوہ تمام ارکان نے شرکت کی۔اعتزاز احسن نے کہا ہے کہ و ہ پی سی او ججز کو تسلیم نہیں کرتے۔ ادھر وزارت پارلیمانی امور نے ججز کی بحالی کے حوالے سے قومی اسمبلی کا اجلاس 24 گھنٹے کے نوٹس پر بلانے کی تیاری مکمل کرلی ہے۔ وزیراعظم یوسف رضا گیلانی کی خصوصی ہدایات پر پارلیمانی امور ڈویڑن نے قومی اسمبلی کا اجلاس بلانے کی سمری مرتب کرلی ہے۔ حکمران اتحاد کے ذرائع کے مطابق اتحاد میں شامل جماعتوں کے پارلیمانی رہنماو¿ں کی جانب سے تمام ارکان اسمبلی کو قومی اسمبلی کے اجلاس میں شرکت یقینی بنانے کیلئے ہدایات بھی جاری کردی گئی ہیں۔ ذرائع کے مطابق اجلاس میں ٹاپ ایجنڈا معزول ججوں کی بحالی ہوگا۔ اختلافات کو حل کرنے کیلئے ایک طریقہ کاروضع کیا جا ئے عدلیہ کے معاملہ کو جلد از جلد حل کرنا انتہائی ضروری ہے تاکہ عوام کو درپیش سنگین مسائل کی طرف فوری اور بھرپور توجہ دیکر انہیں حل کیا جا سکے۔ قوم عدالتی مسئلہ میں پھنسی ہوئی ہے جبکہ بہت سے دیگر بحران حل طلب ہیں جن میں بجلی، خوراک، افراط زر اور بیروزگاری جیسے انتہائی اہم معاملات شامل ہیں۔ کامیابی سے چلتے حکومتی اتحاد کو ناکامی سے دوچار کرنے کے خواہاں بعض عناصر سازشوں میں مصروف ہیں ۔ جبکہ پیپلز پارٹی کے شریک چیئرمین آصف زرداری نے کہا ہے کہ جج عام ملازمتوں کی طرح کی ملازمت نہیں ہے اور چیف جسٹس کا تقرر باقاعدہ ایک عمل کے تحت ہونا چاہئے اور چیف جسٹس کا تقرر پارلیمنٹ میں اسکروٹنی کے بعد ہونا چاہئے، میں پی سی او اور نان پی سی او ججز کے چکر میں نہیں پڑنا چاہتا، میرے لئے پاکستان کی بقاء سب سے زیادہ اہم ہے، خدانخواستہ اگر ہمارے ملک کو کچھ ہوگیا تو 18 کروڑ لوگ کہاں جائیں گے۔سارے ججز پی سی او ججز ہیں، ہماری کوشش ہوگی کہ معزول جج 12 مئی تک بحال ہوجائیں۔ پیپلز پارٹی پرویز مشرف کو قانون اور آئینی صدر تسلیم نہیں کرتی لیکن ہم محاذ آرائی کی سیاست نہیں چاہتے، پارلیمنٹ اور وزیراعظم کی صدر سے ورکنگ ریلیشن شپ ہے۔ انہوں نے کہا کہ مجھے یہ دیکھ کر افسوس ہوتا ہے کہ پاکستان تمام وسائل کے باوجود غربت کا شکار ہے، میں نے سیاسی زندگی کے 20 سال جمہوریت کیلئے جدوجہد میں گزارے، روٹی، کپڑا اور مکان پیپلز پارٹی کا بنیادی فلسفہ ہے، ہم عوام کی امنگوں پر پورا اتریں گے۔ جناب آصف زرداری کی ساری باتیں اپنی جگہ درست ہیں لیکن ان سے گزارش ہے کہ پنجابی کا محاورہ ہے کہ برے کو نہ مارو اس کی ماں کو مارو۔ برے کی ما ں کو مارنے سے ہی برائی جنم سے بند ہوگی۔ ججز کی بحالی کا بھی مسئلہ ایسا ہے کونکہ تمام بحرانوں کے پیدا کرنے کے ذمہ داروں کو کیفرکردار تک پہنچانے کیلئے ججز کی بحالی ناگزیر ہے۔ عوام اور وکلاء اب مزید انتظار نہیں کر سکتے،اور نہ ہی پی سی او ججز کو تسلیم نہیں کرتے ہیں۔ اللہ کرے یہ معاملہ سلجھ جائے۔ 12مئی کو اونٹ کس کروٹ بیٹھے گا یہ تو وقت ہی بتائے گا۔ تاہم اچھے کی امید رکھنی چاہیے کیونکہ قوم مزید کسی انتظار کی متحمل نہیں ہو سکتی۔ پی سی او ججوں کو قبول کرنا 3 نومبر کے غیر آئینی اقدامات کو قبول کرنا ہوگا ججوں کو ایک قرارداد کے ذریعے بحال کیا جا سکتا ہے ججوں کی بحالی کو آئینی پیکیج سے منسلک نہیں کیا جانا چاہئے۔ پہلے ججوں کو بحال کیا جائے اگر آئینی پیکیج لانا بھی ہے تو اس پر بعد میں بھی غور ہو سکتا ہے۔ اگر چوہدری اعتزازاحسن یہ محسوس کریں کہ ججوں کی بحالی کی کمیٹی وکلاء کی خواہشات کے تحت کام نہیں کر رہی تو ان کو اس کمیٹی سے علیحدگی اختیار کر لینی چاہئے۔ اس وقت ملک میں آئین کی بالادستی قائم کرنے کے لئے معزول ججوں کی بحالی بہت ضروری ہے تا کہ ملک ترقی کی راہوں پر گامزن ہو سکے۔ عوامی حلقوں میں یہ بھی واویلے ہورہے ہیں کہ عوام کی ججز کے حوالے سے توجہ ہٹانے کیلئے مصنوعی بحران پیدا کئے گئے ہیں تاکہ عوام ججز کا نام لینے کی بجائے آٹا اور بجلی کی بات کریں۔ جبکہ یہ بھی معلوم ہوا ہے کہ صدر پرویز مشرف کے رفقا میں موجود پاور فل اور اصلی اختیارات کے حامل بعض مہروں نے ججوں کی بحالی کے ایشو کو الٹ کر مہنگائی اور عام سماجی ایشوز کا واویلا کرنے کا لائحہ عمل تیار کرلیا ہے ۔ ذرائع سے معلوم ہوا ہے کہ اس ٹارگٹ پر عمل کرنے کیلئے ایک خصوصی چال کے تحت میڈیا کے بعض اہم افراد کے علاوہ اپنے ہم خیال سیاست دانوں اور دانشوروں سے بھی رابطہ قائم کرلیا گیا ہے تاکہ عوام کی توجہ ججوں کی بحالی کے ایشو سے ہٹائی جاسکے ۔ صدر کے رفقا کے ایک اور گروپ نے بھی اس چال کی حمایت کرتے ہوئے اسے مستقبل کے لئے ترپ کا پتہ قرار دیتے ہوئے کہا ہے کہ اگر مہنگائی ایشو کے پھندے کو مزید تنگ کر کے موجودہ حکومت کے گلے میں ڈال دیا جائے تو اس سے مستقبل میں صدر کے لئے نہ صرف کبھی بھی بڑا ایکشن لینے کی راہ ہموار ہوجائے گی بلکہ ماضی کی طرح بڑا ایکشن لینے پر مٹھائیاں تقسیم کرنے کا ماحول بھی بن جائے گا۔ پھر لوگ فوراً مان لیں گے کہ مہنگائی کو کنٹرول کرنے اور روپے کی گرتی ہوئی قدر کو روکنے کیلئے صدر کے پاس اس کے سوا کوئی چارہ نہیں رہ گیا تھا۔ صدر کے بعض دوسرے رفقا اس طرح کی تیز اندازی کو خود اپنے لئے خطرناک قراردیتے ہوئے کہتے ہیں کہ اس چال میں ہم خود پھنس کر رہ نہ جائیں ۔ اس گروپ کا کہنا ہے کہ اگر میڈیا پر مہنگائی، آٹے اور پیٹرول کی قیمتوں اور روپے کی قدر کے ایشو کو ابھارا گیا تو اس رونے دھونے کی ہر تان مشرف حکومت اور ان کی صوبائی حکومتوں، شوکت عزیز اور نگران حکومت پر جاکر ٹوٹے گی۔ اس گروپ نے یاد دلایا کہ بجلی کا بحران آپ کے دور حکومت میں بھی تھا جس کی وجہ سے لاتعداد کارخانے بند ہوگئے تھے۔ بعض رفقا نے صدر کو یہ بھی مشورہ دیا ہے کہ اسٹاک ایکسچینج کے وہ کرتا دھرتا جو شوکت عزیز کے پرانے رفقا میں سے ہیں،سے بھی رابطہ قائم کیا جائے تاکہ اسٹاک ایکسچینج کے ایسے چیمپئن اپنا کردار ادا کریں ۔