Saturday, March 17, 2018
Pakistan court ruling against Ahmadiyya Muslim minority draws criticism
Zohra Yusuf
Rights activists in Pakistan are expressing concern over a court ruling that would require people to declare their religion on all official documents, saying it could lead to the persecution of minorities, particularly adherents of the Ahmadi faith.
The Islamabad High Court ruling on Friday also requires that citizens take a religious oath upon joining the civil service, armed forces or judiciary.
Zohra Yusuf, a board member at the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, on Sunday called the ruling "very dangerous." She said her group would issue a statement in the coming days.
The ruling appeared to be aimed at Ahmadis, who revere the 19th century founder of their faith as a prophet. Pakistan declared Ahmadis non-Muslims in 1974. They already face widespread discrimination and are often targeted by extremists.
Rights activists in Pakistan are expressing concern over a court ruling that would require people to declare their religion on all official documents, saying it could lead to the persecution of minorities, particularly adherents of the Ahmadi faith.
The Islamabad High Court ruling on Friday also requires that citizens take a religious oath upon joining the civil service, armed forces or judiciary.
Zohra Yusuf, a board member at the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, on Sunday called the ruling "very dangerous." She said her group would issue a statement in the coming days.
The ruling appeared to be aimed at Ahmadis, who revere the 19th century founder of their faith as a prophet. Pakistan declared Ahmadis non-Muslims in 1974. They already face widespread discrimination and are often targeted by extremists.
#Pakistan - Ambushing democracy
Afrasiab Khattak
The brazen manipulations, corruption and intervention by intelligence agencies in the recent Senate elections has exposed the hollowed and farcical nature of the current “ republic “ which doesn’t qualify anymore to be called even a mere facade of democracy. On the one hand the creeping coup going on for the last few years has now culminated into a blatant and direct control of the upper echelon of military and civil bureaucracy over not only the internal and external state policies but also over the electoral processes to an extent where the system has turned into a mere selection process. On the other hand the real rulers have also been able to successfully exploit political feuds among major political players for pitting them against each other by using carrot and stick. The de fact seems to have defeated the de jure. From overthrowing of provincial government in Balochistan through a parliamentary coup orchestrated by the prime Intelligence agency of the country in January for paving ground for election of a group of “independent “ senators, to using pressure and dirty deals for getting a little known and totally inexperienced senator elected as chairman Senate, everything smacked of mala fide. There is nothing secret about it as some political parties publicly accused a senior intelligence operative by name for his involvement in the rigging of recent Senate election but nothing happened as the bosses of the concerned institutions decided to ignore such demands and the civilian government is too weak to make the concerned guy accountable.
As if all that wasn’t enough COAC General Qamar Javed Bajwa had a detailed interaction with a large group of journalists, tv anchors and analysts. Among other things he advised the Parliament to revisit laws such as the Police Act ( passed in 1861 by Colonal rule) and the 18th Constitutional Amendment that was passed by consensus in 2010. Reforming the Police Act of colonial period is something that everyone agrees upon but call for rolling back the 18th Amendment is like calling for the rolling back of federal system in the country. It has raised eyebrows for many reasons. First this statement has given special meaning to the recent manipulation in the senate election. The purpose seems to be not only controlling Senate for blocking legislation in future by any “ undesirable “ elected government but also to create conducive atmosphere for rolling back of 18th Amendment. Senate being the custodian of the federation plays very important role in protecting the federal system. Second, such a demand by a sitting army chief is direct intervention in the country’s politics, something which is not permitted by law. A government servant , even after his/her retirement has to wait for two years before joining political activities. Three, provincial autonomy is a very sensitive subject. The population wise smaller provinces have struggled/sacrificed a lot and have achieved the present quantum of provincial autonomy after a prolonged struggle. Some of the nationalists from these provinces are even not satisfied with it. But rolling it back would certainly open a flood gate for centrifugal movements. Four, such statements also raises questions about army as a national institution. How can it take a position that is a challenge to the interests of the the three federating units? Insistence on such a position will give the impression as if the army represents only the population wise biggest province.
Be that as it may, but the question is what is the problem with the 18th Amendment and why is it opposed by the generals? The basic thrust of the 18th Amendment was to restore the original federal, democratic and parliamentary 1973 Constitution by cleaning it of distortions and deformations imposed on it by General Zia’s Martial Law and General Pervez Musharraf’s military rule. Although some of the “land mines” ( like Gen Zia’s Article 62 and 63) could not be taken out because of the lack of political consensus but substantial reforms were implemented. Presidential power to dissolve assemblies were taken away and given back to elected Parliament. Concurrent list of legislative powers was abolished and powers were devolved to the federating units as envisaged by framers of the 1973 Constitution. Eighteenth Amendment was supported by fourteen political parties and groups, practically by every political party present in Parliament at that time. But this Amendment is a thorn in the side of authoritarian circles for many reasons. Like it has done away with the authoritarian instruments inserted in the Constitution by military dictators for subverting the democratic process ( dissolution of assemblies by the President) that were used time and again by putschists in the past. The emergence of stronger provinces makes the undemocratic intervention more difficult. Although the prolonged existence of the Apex Committees has some what diluted it but even than greater access to financial resources has given edge to the federating units.
But the most important aspect in this whole thing is a competition for share the national financial cake. The National Finance Commission ( NFC) Award decides the formula for distribution of resources between the federation and the federating units. Under the NFC Award of 2009 declared by elected government the share of provinces was raised to 57 per cent ( unlike 45 per cent under General Musharraf in 2006 Award) and Constitutional protection was given to the provincial share in the 18th Amendment. This formula was agreed upon in 2009 and the 18th Amendment was passed in 2010 ( it was implemented in 2011). In the CCI meeting in June 2011 it was agreed that the federation would provide financial resources to the provinces for health and education as provisional arrangement till the next NFC Award which was to be declared in 2014. It’s pretty clear that provinces will demand further rise in their share on the basis of the logic of 18th Amendment. This will further reduce the quantum of federal resources putting constraints on allocation to all federal ministries including defense. That’s why the present government hasn’t declared a new NFC Award in the last four years. This is the actual reason of the attack on 18th Amendment.
But this isn’t a zero sum game. There can be debates about national priorities, about requirements of national security and human security. But using “ political engineering “ for rolling back the 18th Amendment by constitutionally and legally questionable means would send a very wrong message to the population wise smaller provinces. Undermining the sanctity of the Senate which is the house of federation doesn’t augur well for the future of the country.
#Pakistan - Official of interior ministry transferred amid debate over placing Sharifs on ECL
The PML-N led federal government has transferred an official of interior ministry, who has been serving as additional secretary, to Economic Affairs Division amid growing debate over placing names of Sharif family members on Exit Control List (ECL), a private television channel reported on Saturday.
Sher Afgan Niazi, an additional secretary at the interior ministry, has been transferred to Ministry of Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs. A notification of his transfer has also been issued. According to sources, there was dissension within the interior ministry over inclusion of Sharif family members’ names on no-fly list.
The sources further said the officer had dissented from other officials and recommended implementation of request made by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
On February 14, the anti-graft body had written a letter to the interior ministry to place former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Captain (retd) Muhammad Safdar.
Moreover, a 21-grade officer at Federal Education and Professional Training Division, Imran Ahmed, now will replace Niazi as additional secretary at Interior Ministry.
On Friday, the matter about inclusion of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his family members’ names on the ECL was raised at parliament. Responding to a question, former Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said the Interior Ministry’s committee was answerable for decisions on recommendations for including names on the no-fly list.
Speaking at the floor of National Assembly, the estranged PML-N leader said, “If a decision to not include the names of Sharif family members on the list has been finalised, it must have been made somewhere else.” He was responding to PPP lawmaker Syed Naveed Qamar’s question about delay on the NAB recommendations about placing Sharifs on the ECL. Nisar went on saying that he had changed the policy of placing names on the ECL and minimized the role of ministry during his tenure as Interior Minister.
“A committee under the ministry was assigned with the task to deal with requests to place the names on the ECL during my tenure,” he said.
He further said the committee was free to take decisions on merit during his tenure, besides the NAB recommendations were always taken seriously.
On the occasion, Nisar wondered about the double standard of placing names on no-fly list.
Bilawal Bhutto strongly condemns killings and kidnapping of polio workers in Mohmand Agency
Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has strongly condemned killings and kidnapping of polio workers in Mohmand Agency and urged the concerned authorities to arrest the culprits and recover the kidnapped polio workers without any further delay.
In a press statement, the PPP Chairman said that those attacking, killing and kidnapping the polio workers were enemies of a healthy Pakistani nation pledging that no elements would be allowed to challenge and stop brave efforts to protect the nation’s future generations from the crippling disease of polio virus.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari expressed sympathies with the martyred polio workers and stated that nation won’t forget and forgive the terrorist elements who are challenging and blocking the efforts to raise a healthy nation free from any physical disabilities through preemptive vaccination and medical treatment.
https://mediacellppp.wordpress.com/2018/03/17/bilawal-bhutto-strongly-condemns-killings-and-kidnapping-of-polio-workers-in-mohmand-agency/