He had no Choice!

March 27, 2000

A LETTER FROM NAWAZ SHARIF

Prime Minister of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif has communicated to me through telepathy this message, asking me to post it on this thread for all Chowkwallas to read.

I, Nawaz Sharif, thank the Chowkwallas for their warm, active and tireless support during the recent ordeal with the democratically elected government, myself and my family. I am at a loss to find the right words to express my sincere appreciation for all of you for standing up against the illegal actions of a handful of overly ambitious individuals and being falsely accused of wrongdoing. Now that the dust has settled and we have been released and set free following Supreme Court’s decision branding coup of October 12, 1999 as illegal and extraconstitutional and the Sindh High Court decision calling hijacking case a mistrial.

Now that the President has called for the National Assembly Session, I fully expect to win the vote of confidence and be reinstated as your servant. The events of the past five months have really humbled me and my family and I intend to dedicate my new lease on life to serving the poor and downtrodden people of Pakistan. As a first step, I and my family will announce our Pakistani as well as overseas assets with utmost honesty. We will also announce the money we owe to the lending institution in addition to the taxes my family paid (or not paid) during the last ten years. If we owe any taxes, we promise to pay it alongwith the rightful penalties. All the members of my cabinet and National and Provincial Assemblies members must do the same. Any member found not fully and truthfully complying will be given the boot immediately.

Immediately following reinstatement, I plan to request the president to dissolve the National and Provincial Assemblies and announce midterm elections to obtain a fresh mandate from people of Pakistan based on the performance of our past Government and more importantly my agenda for the next PML Government, should we be reelected. From now on we will work very hard to dispel the cynicism and empathy of the people towards elections. Normal voting period will be raised to 36 hours so that as many people can vote as possible. The election in a particular constituency will be cancelled if the total voter turn out is less than 50%. The Election Commission will announce a reelection in such constituencies to be held within 30 days.

The President has intended to step down following election. We intend to ask Abdul Sattar Edhi to accept our demand to run for Presidency with our full support. However, if he chooses not to run, we will find an honest, honorable and a person of great integrity from Balochistan, preferably a woman.

All the individuals responsible for October 12, 1999 action and theirafter will be pardoned, and allowed to pursue their lives wherever they choose to live, in the best interest of the people and the country.

The PML platform for the next election, among other proposals will definitely include the followings:

1. Women, the largest segment of the society have been neglected throughout the history of Pakistan and we apologize to them for not including them proportionately in our previous governments. We want them to be the equal participant in the politics and the government of Pakistan. It will be the top priority of the PML government to alleviate the status of woman by increasing the women education and increasing the percentage of women in the central and provincial governments. To this end we will give 30% of the party tickets across the board to women and at least five cabinet posts will be awarded to women should people return us to the Government. To increase women in the government, there will be hiring freeze for men in the Central and Provincial Governments for one year, not applicable to women. A direct effect of raising the standard and status of women in our society will also be a plus towards our continuos efforts towards family planning.

2. A transparent accountability process requires an impartial, apolitical and permanent commission. We will table a constitutional amendment for the creation of a Permanent Accountability Commission to be under the total control of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. The Chief Justice will preside over a Council overlooking the affairs of the Pakistan Accountability Commission. Other members will include at least five more justices appointed by the CJ, President of Pakistan, Chief of Army Staff and Federal Interior Minister. The COAS and Interior minister will be bound by the law to provide logistics whenever necessary to implement the findings of the Accountability Commission.

3. The PML would continue towards devolution of power not just to the District level but to everybody’s doorstep. It will be done through lawful process of constitutional amendment. As a first step to this end, a District Council consisting equally of elected and nominated representatives and presided over by the District President who will be elected by the District Council. He/ She does not have to be from the elected members of the District Council. The unelected members will include local colleges Principals (both men and women), a Headmaster representing schools of the District, Police Chief, Representative of Businesss Community, a representative of the Labor and Deputy Commissioner. The Council will also select three more female members from the District based on their capabilities and services to the District. The District Council will have the authority over all the affairs of the District as described in the constitutional amendment.

4. The Economic Policy will be based on the goal of achieving self-sufficiency and balanced budget. This will be done by downsizing Central and Provincial Governments and creating more jobs in the areas of modernization of the infrastructure through construction of highways, bridges, clean water reservoirs and dikes to decrease the frequent monsoon flooding. On the industrial front three new industrial zones will be created in each Province with favorable treatments to the investors. The investment in the IT industry will be treated preferentially with tax exemption status for the first 7 years of operation. Special incentives will be provided to increase foreign direct investment in the economy, preferably from overseas Pakistanis and from other Asian Countries. The revenue collection procedure will be made more efficient through the creation of national database. The General Sales Tax will be implemented and 100% of the sales tax revenues will be redistributed to the Districts for development purposes only. The non performing industrial units will be sold in the form of stocks at the rate of floating 10% shares of a unit at a time with no investor or investment house eligible to own more than 10% of the outstanding shares. The shares of PIA, Steel Mills Corporation, other Corporations and major Banks will be floated in the market at the same level of 10% at a time.

5. In the energy sectors, the construction of Kalabagh Dam will start as soon as the necessary logistics are placed in. The WAPDA will be downsized and their disputes with Independent Power Producers will be settled through mediation to the satisfaction of IPP’s provided they promise to invest more in the energy sector.

6. The Shariat Bill will not be tabled again because it had created more questions than answers and caused unnecessary polarization among the various sections of the society. We apologize for the tensions it created.

7. In the Foreign Policy arena we will keep pursuing non-alignment policy. The signing of CTBT will be determined in the best interest of Pakistan. The support for rightful self determination of Kashmiri people will continue through peaceful means. Special emphasis will be given to developing better and economical relationships with China, Japan and ASEAN Countries. Three new Institutes will be created in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad to teach Asian Languages, Cultures and Values. These institutes will routinely invite guest speakers from the East and high-level Government officials, educators and business luminaries will be requested to attend such seminars and discussions.

Several major Parks and streets will be named after Japanese Emperor, Deng Xiao-Ping, Lee Kwan Yew and Yunus (Grameen Bank fame). PML will resist any name change for Faisalabad, however, if the District Council of Faisalabad and the people of the city of Faisalabad decide otherwise, we must accept the will of the people.

Last but not the least, we commit ourselves to deliver peace, harmony and prosperity to my fellow people of Pakistan.



Your Humble Servant,

Nawaz Sharif

In response to SameerJB (Reply # 843)

Dear Sameer:

Your statement: ``I could not believe that Justice Qayyum will change color so fast. He was considered very pro-NS. . . .``

Comment: If Pakistan is as corrupt as it appears, what else do you expect, particularly from most people of power and a hierarchy of sycophants. I do not know anything about Justice Qayyum. However, I think that the Pakistani state is basically despotic and autocratic where the basic human and citizenship rights of even Judges and their families could be violated easily without much consequence. So, a policy is passive compliance brings its fruits and a policy of even passive resistance brings personal misery. Now, think about the people of Karachi (including the MQM activitsts) who suffered intense form of brutality at the hands of Pakistani coercive state apparatus (headed by Nawaz Sharif as well). Yet, most people of Pakistan (especially in the Punjab) had/have shown little or none sympathy with the victims. Can we really save our Federation by acting as Punjabis, Sindhis, Pakhtoon, Baluchi, Mohajir, Saraiki only? Justice is a virtue that we normally seem to lack. How could a Judge be normally just in an unjust society?

Sincerely, Bilal Ahmad

In response to SameerJB (Reply # 843):

Dear Sameer:

Your statement: ``I do not know the definition of kafi. It is probably aarifana kalam sung by women. I have listened to Abida Parveen and she is very good.``

Comment: You are right Kafi is a folk mystic form of poetry recitation (singing). Kafis of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai are on the lips of almost every Sindhi (and anyone interested in Sindhi music). There are several schools of Sindhi music, such as the Waee fakirs, the classical Kafi school, the pure folk Kafi school, the Sadarangi school, etc. Please note that Kafi is currently sung by both men and women.

The Waee is a musical form without percussion that is sung at Shah Latif`s Shrine and credited to be his unique invention. In Waee, Shah`s verses are sung at different musical scales in harmony. It contains an intricate working of Leh, Sur and musical emotion. Allan Fakir is the greatest living exponent of the Waee form.

In classical Kafi, verses of Sufis (particularly Shah Latif) are sung in the arohi/amrohi of different ragas, with different classical and semi-classical Taals woven into its structure. Fakir Ghaffoor is considered the King of Kafi.

For additional details about Sindhi music, see Yusuf, Zohra (1988; ed). Rhythms of the Lower Indus: Perspectives on the Music of Sindh. Karachi: Department of Culture and Tourism, Government of Sindh, Pakistan. This book starts with a verse from Shah Latif:

``Oh God, may ever you on Sindh bestow abundance rare; Beloved! all the world let share thy grace, and fruitful be.``

Pretty good analysis by Najam Sethi (the guy Nawaz locked up in solitary confinement, without a trial, for around 3 weeks, for making a speech in India, at the invitation of Gujral) of Friday Times, in the editorial, regarding Ijaz-ul-Haq aspirations for power:

``Mr Ijaz ul Haq, MNA, has recently offered General Pervez Musharraf a rather self-serving ``formula`` for the ``restoration of democracy``. In effect, Mr Haq suggests that the assemblies should be restored; someone (Mr Haq?) from the PML should be given a perceptible nod by General Musharraf to lead a vote of no-confidence against Nawaz Sharif and get himself nominated as prime minister; then the national assembly and senate should indemnify the military`s various interventions (including locking up the Sharifs, Bhuttos and countless others), as well as authorise the establishment of a National Security Council which includes representatives of the armed forces and is headed by a president (General Musharraf?) with powers to sack governments (not assemblies) if they stray from the straight and narrow.

Despite Mr Haq`s vaulting ambition and non-entity status, the formula provides a road-map for the laudable objective of reviving constitutional democracy as quickly as possible. But there are many problems with this strategy. One, the current parliaments are thoroughly discredited, being chock a bloc with people who should have been disqualified from contesting the elections in the first place if we had had an independent and vigourous election commission. Two, these parliaments owe their existence to a trumped-up electoral-roll system gerrymandered by powerful vested interests in the past and a highly outdated system of constituency delimitation based on a population census taken twenty years ago. Three, such parliaments cannot be trusted because, more than other parliaments in Pakistani history, these have acted as immoral accomplices of Nawaz Sharif and Co by providing a ``legal and constitutional`` cover to their criminality. Finally, General Musharraf`s association with the ancien regime is likely to be a kiss of death since it will be interpreted by the people of Pakistan as a measure of status-quo weakness rather than as an act of bold wisdom, thereby militating against the popular sentiment that has afforded a degree of legitimacy to the new regime. No, far better to start afresh than to tie oneself to the dirty apron-strings of the past.....

Meanwhile, hardly anyone thinks that Nawaz Sharif should be convicted in the hijacking case when so many better and more credible alternatives are available.....

General Pervez Musharraf and his military colleagues must plan their strategic medium-term exit point even as they rush to develop their tactical short-term entry points into civil polity. This regime is abundantly sincere and fiercely motivated. But its limitations are becoming obvious and its shortcomings cannot be ignored.``

(The Friday Times, Pakistan)

Zeemax re:846

{Does anyone think the army`s endless ``agendas``, ``wish lists`` ``open ended goals``, are anything more

than an eyewash to perpetuate their power ? }

Yep.. I do. Well, I hope, anyway. I hoped when NS came into power the second time, too, and then got lost in motorways, the 15th amendment and banning dinner from weddings. Such is life.. I hope I`m not disappointed again.

His lack of condemnation of Oct 12 may be because he, like many (or, as you would have it, like very few), believes it falls under the category of the lesser-of-the-two-evils.. which does not mean that he believes in perpetuity of army rule. Or, perhaps Nawaz, being an upright sort, refused to pay him his bribes.

I wasn`t aware that we had a history of 52 years of army rule, btw.

Chief Justice re:844

Since you obviously missed the point.. it was earlier stated by others that the entire press of Pakistan is `yellow journalism`.. or at least, that part of it that doesn`t come out with anything less than a call for the General and co. to be thrown to the dogs.

Of course, you are one of thise who believes that `Mutt` is less of an ethnic slur than mutterwa.. or did I misunderstand YOUR earlier `edicts`?

I am happy that at least one person got the point.

Going back to history.

The struggle of people`s of Pakistan culminated with the agitation against Ayub Khan, when he treacherously transferred power to Yahya Khan and died a hero (for some). That struggle was given voice by Z.A.Bhutto in W. Pakistan and Mujeeb-ur-Rehman in East Pakistan. In fact the breakup of Pakistan was not a choice of East Pakistanis, who would be very willing to remain with Pakistan, but in a less oppressive and more democratic setup. West Pakistanis (elite) would only accept East Pakistan in a subjugated role.

Bhutto was a leader and gave voice to West Pakistan. While Mujeeb to East Pakistan.

And role of different leaders and parties in that crises reflect their true ideology.

The Bhutto regime, autocratic but still sticking to the principles of democracy to a little extent and paving the way for a forward looking nation after debacle of East Pakistan. The 1977 movement of PNA against Bhutto was a landmark movement, which if it would succeed (not in gaining power) would give a strong voice to the new stronger middle class (which was incidently brought up by Bhutto). But the coup of 1977 not only washed away all the struggle by the people, due to shortsightedness of PNA leaders, but it also strenghtened the REAL ruling elite. Hanging of Bhutto may be one reason for people`s apathy, but more important is shortsightedness of leaders at that time. It has carried back struggle and people never had a faith again in any leader.

Nawaz Sharif`s small struggle in 1993 made him a hero. But during his current stint in power, his policies has made people wary of our leaders.

People are doing struggle in their own way. Continuously.

The apathy is that there is no difference between a democratically elected government and dictatorship. The only difference is Saif-ur-Rahman can terrorize Jang not to publish stories about corruption of ruling elite because of HEAVY mandate and dictator do it in other ways. Cronies of NZ like Nawai-Waqt was given massive advertisement out of proportion to their circulation.

You know this democracy is a ``Behti Ganga`` Flowing Ganges whoever had a chance was washing his hands.

So we don`t need any dogma like Islam, Communism or Democracy. We need to have a new social contract. What its form should be is open to discussion but we don`t need divine ISMS.

Assad_K # 842

Okay I read this Dawn article. No it`s not yellow journalism. It`s just another silly analysis steeped in naive albeit well-meaning blah !

The author on one hand states :

[That democracy does not suit out genius. How can we say this when in the 52 years of our existence, half the time was usurped by dictators and during the other half 59 national and provincial assemblies were annulled before they could complete their term and all the 14 prime ministers were ignominiously dismissed. Obviously, under these circumstances democracy is not going to root well.]

Then he goes on about what the army regime ``should`` do; without condemning the action of October 12 and without an iota of practical wisdom acquired from the experience of 52 years that the army just will not and cannot do it.

Does anyone think the army`s endless ``agendas``, ``wish lists`` ``open ended goals``, are anything more than an eyewash to perpetuate their power ? Can the regime of army goons asisted by ``B`` teams of Peoples Party and Imran Khan`s Tehreek`e Insaaf sprinkled with some NGO pseudo intellectuals in the federal and provincial cabinets deliver anything ?

It`s just more of the same sh * *.

Interesting article from DAWN, Pakistan (Dec 10)

``US rights group blames Nawaz for Army takeover

By Azim M Mian

NEW YORK: For the first time, a human rights organisation has soft words for a military regime, saying: ``The October coup capped a year of increasing discontent with the Sharif administration stemming from its crackdown on opposition political activity and increasing encroachment on civil liberties, with the courts providing only occasional relief.``

Calling the Army takeover as `the most dramatic development during the year`, the US-based organisation `` Human Rights Watch`` in its annual Human Rights Report criticised the Nawaz Sharif government for its treatment of Human Rights and stated: ``By suppressing opposition-led demonstrations and strikes, curtailing civil liberties through repressive ordinances and persecuting NGOs and journalists, the (Nawaz) Sharif administration left civil society battered.``

Blaming Nawaz for offending the Army and his decisions leading to the Army takeover, the report stated: ``Sharif alienated important elements in the Army with his abrupt withdrawal of support in July for militants, who had occupied strategic peaks overlooking Kargil, in the Indian held portion of Kashmir. The subsequent retreat of the militants, who had seized their positions, reduced the danger of Pakistan`s diplomatic isolation; but engendered widespread domestic condemnation and proved to be final catalyst in prompting a military takeover.``

The annual Human Rights Watch Report contains 511 pages with few pages on each country, including the USA, has five pages allocated to Pakistan. The contents of the report on Pakistan clearly indicate that it has been re-written after the fourth Army takeover in Pakistan`s history on October 12, this year.

The report also refers to the intimidation of Jang Group of Newspapers and other media by the Nawaz Sharif government. ``The government`s intimidation of the media emerged as an issue of international concern, as authorities targeted a leading independent newspaper group and several journalists, who had collaborated with a BBC team producing a documentary about the government`s corruption in Pakistan.``

It stated that despite repressive measures by the Nawaz government against NGOs and human rights organisations, human rights activists continued their efforts. The annual world report 2000 also listed many incidents of human rights violations, including murders, arrests and torture during the civilian government of Nawaz Sharif.

It makes a mention of the Army rule and suspension of the Constitution, abolition of the National Assembly and provincial legislatures and formation of the National Security Council; but makes no judgement or condemnation, though it is a routine for Human Rights organisations to condemn every undemocratic government around the globe.`` (DAWN)

Another indication of how bad things were getting.

RE. Gnostics #837



This write-up must be the one that I had in mind in my post.

If it is ``our`` Umair Khan then, congratulations to him. I shall keep keep disagreeing with him where necessary.

If it`s not he, even then it is a piece of interest to all, I hope.

Gnostic

11/19/99- Updated 12:12 PM ET



Not just English spoken here

Businessman breaks online language barriers

By Janet Kornblum, USA TODAY

PALO ALTO, Calif. -- Back in 1997, Umair Khan, then an engineer

working in Silicon Valley, had a simple desire: to send e-mail to friends

and family in Pakistan.

Surprised he could find nothing on the World Wide Web to enable him to

write in his native language, Khan cobbled together a crude Web site to let

people type in Urdu. As with a lot of ideas born on the Net, the response

was amazing, even to him.

``I sent an e-mail to some friends and the next thing I knew, all of Pakistan

knew about this and the site was completely overloaded,`` says Khan, 29,

who found himself featured in Pakistani newspapers and TV shows. ``I

realized there was an incredible need among non-English-speaking people

around the world to see their language on the Web and to be able to

communicate in their language.``

So he`s added a second start-up, eGlyphs, which launches Friday. It

targets people who want to instantly turn their keyboard into a different

language to communicate over the Net. The first product, Everymail at

www.everymail.com, lets people type and send e-mail in 28 languages.

Eventually there will be 45 alphabets, plus chat and message boards.

While many sites offer translation of language, few let people type in one

different from their PC.

Khan, a former Intel engineer who left earlier this summer to start up the

Fremont, Calif.-based bookmark site Clickmarks, originally folded the

language idea into that site.

But he and his investors quickly decided to separate the e-mail service.

The idea behind Everymail, says technology investor and former Cisco

Systems executive Jeff Raice, ``is an intersection of two trends.`` One is

called server-based technology, in which a surfer uses a computer on the

Web rather than his own computer. The second is the globalization of the

Web. The Net ``really is the next communications infrastructure for the

world. To that end it has to include everybody, including the great majority

of the world that does not speak English,`` Raice says.

Khan came to the USA in 1988 to study math at Massachusetts Institute

of Technology. He got a master`s in computer engineering in 1995 and

went to Intel. He enjoyed being an engineer, but quickly found that he

wanted more than the Dilbert-like life of quality control and cubicles.

Though the timing wasn`t the best -- he and his wife just had their second

child -- Khan decided to take the risk.

``It`s been tough having your family here and having two kids and then

putting in 13-, 14-hour days,`` he says. ``My advice to entrepreneurs is to

do it early and do it often, certainly not to wait to have a second kid.``

While it was a financial risk, Khan quickly adds: ``The one thing that`s

risk-free for an entrepreneur is the experience. No matter what happens,

that`s always there.``

Of course, the goal is success. And investors say they were sold not just

on the products but on Khan himself. Says one, Michael Zaninovich: ``The

Internet is going to be global. What Umair is doing is making it easier to

communicate in any language, and that`s not easy to do.``

cc. MQ_RAHAT wrote in,`In Defense of Be... # 120

Appeal to Justice Shabbir Ahmed, Administrative Judge of the Anti-Terrorism Courts of the province of Sindh.

Nations die and live on decisions of such trails. A democratically elected and the constitutional Prime Minister of Pakistan, and his government was hijacked by a military dictator on 12 October 1999. No matter what they say, under the constitution of Pakistan, whose keepers are the judges, the present millitary set-up is illegimate. So an illegimate government is trying to kill its political opponent, the rightful constitutional prime minister of Pakistan, using the juduciary. This is a personnal vendetta of general Musharraf, and you should not be a party to it. By the constitution of Pakistan, army action of 12 October 1999 is illegal, and so is the basis of this case under hearing before you. If you are man enough raise before this unfairness and the nation will remember you as a hero. There were so many who lived and died to the will of their worldly masters, you please raise above them, and acquit all the elected representatives, please. Allah have Mercy on us.

Rahat

Sameer adds:

Dear Justice Shabbir Ahmad:

The destiny and your good fortunes have provided you with the opportunity of a life time to preside over the much publicised ``Tayyara Case`` hearings. Sir, as you must have already read, there is no way that the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif could order to hijack a plane more than an hour after his Government was overthrown and that he was already in protective custody. You also know that this is a charge framed against the elected Prime Minister of Pakistan after being forced out illegally, without the consent of the people of Pakistan. Moreover, none of the passengers, crew or the PIA registered any FIR. It was filed by a person who was niether directly or indirectly effected by the accusation. You have already seen the foot dragging by the Attorny General on minor issues of translated copies and audio/ video tapes of voice recorder of the plane. They do not want defense to defend the defendants. Sir, you have a choice to leave a legacy of fairness and justice by taking the right and just decision or be remembered as another Maulvi Mushtaq Hussain. I hope and pray that it is the former as any honorable person would choose and go down in the annals of history as a man who showed remarkable integrity despite being under heavy duress by the vested interest.

Sincerely,

sameer

Assad_K 842.

``Yellow journalism``, refers to a sensational, exaggerated, and a journalism of questionable ethetis and morality.

You designate the piece by Mian Ijaz Hassan (``In Defence of Politics``, e-Dawn, Dec. 9, 1999), as ``yellow journalism``, and:

1. Inform us tthat you agree with it, and,

2. invite our opinion about the piece!

What are you looking for? The following?

``Hairan houn dil ko rouon keh peetoun jigr ko main`` ?

One point by Hassan was anticipated by a post-er here long time ago. I reproduce it here without comment:

``I think that in view of his oulined agenda yesterday, he seems to intend to stay for a spell; perhaps a minimum of a century, since he has announced that the whole culture, the society, and personalities -- and, of course, the `institutions`, a term he seems to be quite fond of using without understanding as to what they are -- have to change before the `whole of Pakistan` will be out of armed forces` tassallat!

``To achieve and accomplish all in his agenda will require quite a few generations. Unlearning, relearning, that sort of thing. And here some thought, optimistically, that since he had not mentioned 90 days, he will be gone early. The reason he didn`t mention a timetable is that he really wishes to stay, as I say, for a spell.

``To outline goals and agendas to be accomplished, rather than a timetable, for his departure, he would remain safer, popular and unassailable. He has learned his lesson from zia-ul-haq which the nation has not.``

Source: Ess_doubleau

Post #92, on ``An Open Letter to General Pervaiz Musharraf`` , Oct 21, 1999

Dear Gnostics:

Sorry for not being able to reply earlier. No, I did not go away. I actually posted couple of short notes on `In Defense of .....` and at `The Case for De jure Legalization`. Do not try to read too much from my `In Defense` post. I actually got little angry that here people are burning their midnight oil and spending late hours writing their posts and this guy just lifted couple of short items from Indian Newspaper and posted one after another. Basically he was taunting Pakistanis. So I just wrote a short nonscensical stinging response to his succinct posts. The other one was not really about alcohols, it was more of a general nature. Last night I thought about responding to you but it was already too late at night. Anyway, I will definitely let my friends know if I plan to be away for any reason.

I have been reading yours, Zeemax`s and Dragon Slayer`s very fine posts. I will probably write something about the current situation over the weekend. I may not be able to say things as precisely as friends like Zeemax and others with Law background can say about the courts proceedings.

I could not believe that Justice Qayyum will change color so fast. He was considered very pro-NS and even recently (during NS rule) gave a ruling in favor of Saif-Ur-Rehman and Redco against UBL or some other bank and couple of days later reversed his own ruling. My concern right now is more about Justice Shabbir Ahmad than any other Judge. I know nothing about his background. I just hope that he does not turn out to be another Maulvi Mushtaq Hussain. I am also not sure what Rafiq Tarar, President of Pakistan is thinking and/ or playing any role. The Tayyara Case is evolved into such a black and white case with no middle ground. If court acquits NS, it will immediately be taken that mutt is a liar. A Justice, chosen by the military government is bound to favor mutt. I am much more hopeful about Supreme Court than ATA Courts.

Your previous post might be an autobiography for you but I learned a lots of new things and information about the icons of our culture. I really liked it. I would not mind at all reading more of it. I even felt envious that you have rubbed shoulders with so many towering figures in the arts and culture. Unfortunately, for me growing up in Islamabad, in a middle class family, did not have any such luxuries.

Yes, the ghazals in thumri and dadra gayeki by Begum Akhtar are superb. Khayyam composed the music of a lot of the ghazals she sang. I have read few articles about her. That is why I know little tidbits. I always read Saeed Malik`s articles in e.Nation. His articles are very informative and very well composed.It is true that she originally came from the kotha but I guess once one achieves a success as big as hers, the background is really not important. I think the case od Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan is a similar one. His dadra, thumris and bhajans singing were so good that many Pakistanis were regreting later for their treatment of him, practically forcing him to migrate to India. These days the cultural scene is almost dead. Most of the big name poets, singers and artists have either retired or passed away. On top of that Ziaul-Haque`s regime killed, what little was remaining of arts and culture.

I do not know the definition of kafi. It is probably aarifana kalam sung by women. I have listened to Abida Parveen and she is very good. I remember one old timer, Surriya Multanikar and her kafi something like, `sohniyo jo dildar yar munjho`. What do you think of Pathana Khan. He must be quiet old by now. Suggest to me some good books to read about Pakistani and Indian music and film industry. I have been very interested to know more but did not find a good source.

No match with Lahore, when it comes to producing artists and literary giants. Even now the stage drama artists are doing great job. I am talking about Sohail Ahnad, Buboo Baral, Aman Ullah, Shoki Khan etc. Singing and music is at its lowest in Pakistan right now.

Back to kikker story. I never read Saif-ul-malook myself, only heard from Alam Lohar. Besides as Zeemax rightly pointed out about mixing up and add ons. Let`s accept his point of view. I think Heer Waris Shah in present form also contains lots of non-Waris Shah poetry. Among these love stories, my favorite is Mirza Sahiban especially when it is sung in its typical rythum.

I am sorry, Gnostics, I am just not in a mood to write as you can see there is no flow in it. I will try again tomorrow or over the weekend to write something, sprinkled with poetry and in aryan (Punjabi, Urdu and English mix) language.

Dear Samir/r

You still haven`t replied to my question to you in # 825. I`m waiting.

Rgds

Illegal Detention Case of the Sharif Family :

Only in the land of the ``Pure`` is justice dispensed in this fashion.

Only a couple of days ago the judges in this case had asked the Attorney General of Punjab to provide the court with copies of official instructions ordering the police to detain the Sharif Family. Of-course these orders were not provided, rather the judge was asked to go on vacation so the case could not be heard for another three weeks. Lo and Behold ! It`s that easy.

In the meantime the illegal detentions continue !

Quote from today`s Dawn :

LHC adjourns Sharif family detention case to Jan 3

LAHORE, Dec 9: Lahore High Court today adjourned the hearing of Sharif family detention case to Jan. 3, with the directions to AG Punjab to arrange the detenues` meeting with their family once a week. The court order said as one of us (Mr. Justice Malik Muhammad Qayyum) is proceeding on ex-Pakistan leave from today, therefore, this petition shall now be listed for hearing on January 3 next at 11 a.m. It is pertinent to mention that the various petitions were filed by Kulsoom Nawaz, Nusrat Shabaz, Mustansar Asad, Nisar A Kausar and other advocates against the detention of Sharif`s family and restoration of Nawaz Government. (APP) (Posted @ 19:10 PST)

Any comments on todays piece of yellow jornalism, `In defence of politics` by Prof Mian Ijazul Hasan, in the Dawns features section? I think he`s pretty much right in his statements.