The architects of chief justice issue seems to have chalked out a plan and set their ‘target’ quite clearly and now it’s up to the ‘target’ to realize that whether he continues to be lured into all tempting traps or he holds his rigorously trained mind to break the shackles and think independently. Historically speaking the traps are hard to get away with and even the sharpest minds finds itself standing alone like a ‘Lone Ranger’ amidst all the target-setters. By the time the realization comes, the target is either nailed or booked for departure.

The political chess game laid out here is unfolding new dimensions and with every day the hand-picked political pygmies are proving their ‘worth’ for the creator--who on the other hand seems oblivious of the active and poisonous snakes in the lush-green lawns of his both offices.

There is no soft corner for anyone but the fact remains that it’s the third time in the past seven or so years that we have seen the designer neither being owned nor defended by his very own designed league. Be it the matter of mountain ranges of Baluchistan, or the matter of LFO and now the CJ, we have seen him braving the heat besides crafting his own escape route. But as opposed to war strategies, the corporate world and politics have its own dynamics, and in this context the master is not only being alienated but also being forgotten for his candid support during the steel mill, stock exchange or other private issues.

The never-die judicial-issue is spinning out of control and irony of the matter is that every player dealing with this is made to believe that he holds the trump card. Ironically, this chess board is no different from the one used throughout 80s and 90s. However, the homegrown content and contemplation, along with the ever-present satellite linking is the one added attraction of the on-going game.

The pawns are yet again set to take on the pawns from the other side, and the one king and one queen on both sides along with their rooks, bishops and knights are placed so strategically that everyone is fighting not only for its survival but also living with an eye on the ultimate role of the king.

Now the question is that will the king be able to duck all this on his own or will it rely on the same rooks, bishops and knights? Equally important, in this context is the fact that kings have always been surprised by a Brutus and out of such a hotchpotch of rooks, bishops and knights; it will be hell of a task to find one.
Coming back to the House proceedings of the day, an otherwise disoriented Opposition is just not letting this issue go and whenever they think that they are running out of fuel, they are provided a new canister either by the non-functional CJ or by the Gujrat Express and company. Their tantrum was quite noticeable throughout the proceedings on Wednesday as every now and then they kept throwing the CJ’s bait which eventually was seized by the ‘labeled’ law minister as he presented a resolution condemning the acts of the Opposition parties throughout the judicial crisis.

Finally, what the Achakzai has hoped for in the morning came to the fore and the House agreed to discuss the matter in detail during its Thursday’s sitting, instead of allowing the voting on the resolution. In an emotional outburst, the Pashtun from Baluchistan had asked for an open discussion about the roles politicians have been playing in this country to expose power-hungry characters which play in the hands of establishment.

His point of view was endorsed by all and sundry but will the politicians be able to see the mirror and find faults in them remains a million dollar question? In this unending chess game, politicians for the time being seems to be content with their role of ‘castling’, because they know for a fact that once they come out of the Constitution Avenue, they do not have much to sell to the people, as neither they have leaders in the country nor they have a character to show. If some of them are creation of deal-makers then others are always on the look for a deal and no matter how many Charters for/of democracy they sign, they remain rooks of the chess board always looking for the Castling option with the whosoever is the ultimate king.


F.P. Report

Islamabad: People across the country, especially Karachities would continue to brave the heat without enough electricity, as Wapda and KESC will be unable to bridge the gap between supply and demand of electricity until mid-2008, revealed the written replies of the federal minister for water and power, Liaqat Ali Jatoi presented before the National Assembly on Wednesday.

These replies came in response to questions asked by various law-makers. Replying to a plethora of questions from the opposition and treasury benches regarding the unscheduled load shedding throughout the country, federal minister had to admit that the chairman Wapda “did not listen to my advices” and thus continues to carry out unscheduled load shedding.

The speaker national assembly has to direct the minister to call the chairman Wapda to his office and let the House know why he is transgressing his limits and how quickly un-announced load shedding could be ended.

As per the reply of the federal minister Wapda is facing a shortage of about 1000 mega watts during the months of May and June and there is no quick-fix available for this. The written replies disclose that the earliest, Wapda could manage the load of demand will be by mid of 2008 when some private and public run projects, if completed as per given time-schedules, would start giving their input.
Regarding KESC, the minister replied that the corporation faces a shortage between 100 to 600 mega watts during the peak hours and any relief to the Karachities would not be possible before June 2008.




F.P Report

Islamabad: Federal information minister Mehmood Ali Durrani has said that opposition has so far been given free hand to pressurize and embarrass the judiciary, but government would no more tolerate this non-democratic and illegal attitude of opposition parties.

Talking to media men in the parliament cafeteria, he asked the opposition parties and the lawyers to refrain from besieging the Constitution Avenue during the hearings of the Supreme Judicial Council, otherwise government would be forced to take some action. He claimed that by converging on the gates of the Supreme Court, Opposition parties were trying to pressurize the judiciary and masses do not approve this at all.

To a volley of questions regarding the principled stance of the government not to take out processions on the issue of Chief Justice, Durrani replied that “government was forced into this.” He explained that by besieging the SC building, opposition is trying to split the judiciary and the government would never let someone play with the psyche of the judiciary. He clarified that government’s rally was not meant to have a clash with the opposition; because we stopped away from the SC building and we had come there to express our solidarity with the judiciary. He said that the workers carrying batons, laced with nails in the government held rally were not there to have any clash with the opposition supporters, rather they have brought those batons to hoist party flags and placards.

He said that government has full faith in judiciary and same should be expressed by the opposition parties. He asked the opposition parties to express their solidarity with the non-functional chief justice by holding a rally in Liaqat bagh, Mianr-e-Pakistan or Nishtar Park and not in front of the SC building. He said that it is highly immoral and illegal to hold any kind of protest in front of the SC building.
To a query regarding the issuance of notices to various TV channels, he assured that nothing will be done. However, he said that Pemra is an independent department and has issued the notices as per its policy to the concerned TV channels. He ducked the questions that government was pressurizing the media by using such departments but said that government is committed to providing full freedom to the media.