Friday, October 9, 2020
In Pakistan, ‘Modi ka jo yaar hai, woh ghaddar hai’ mood is on
If Pakistan continues the onslaught of giving out ‘traitor' and 'Indian agent’ certificates, then the day is not far when Indian population will increase by about 22 crore.
Winter is coming, but in Pakistan, the season of ‘Modi ka jo yaar hai, woh ghaddar hai’ is setting the mood. Yes, whoever is Narendra Modi’s friend in Pakistan is a traitor. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government is telling opposition leaders that when they criticise Prime Minister Imran Khan and his policies, they tend to make India happy. And when you make India happy, you make Indian Prime Minister Modi happy. That’s not all. According to this new doctrine, anyone happy on this side of the border is making Modi happy. Makes no sense, right?
However, in all this happiness, the ‘Prime Minister’ of Pakistan’s Kashmir has been made unhappy. Raja Farooq Haider just became the latest victim of the government’s hobby of declaring every opposition politician an agent of India and by virtue, a traitor. Haider was named in the mysterious sedition FIR against 40 leaders of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). He was in the august company of two former Pakistani prime ministers, Nawaz Sharif and Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, three retired army officers, former Sindh governor, and former defence, interior and law ministers.
The FIR stated that Nawaz Sharif’s speech was aimed to indirectly “benefit his friend Indian Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi.” The complainant believed Sharif supported the policies of India and his speeches were to divert world’s attention from Indian atrocities in Kashmir. Also, Sharif wanted to isolate Pakistan globally and defame Pakistan Army as “an anti-democratic institution”.
Kashmir cause with a bias
So, what did PM Haider do that made him ‘Raja Hindustani’? He heard Nawaz Sharif’s fiery speech on Zoom, then raised his hands in solidarity — and the rest, as they say, is history. So much for the ‘Kashmir cause’ that an elected prime minister is booked for raising hands while watching an online speech. A self-goal for a government that claims to be the loudest voice for the Kashmiris living in India but takes a U-turn when it comes to Kashmiris at home. But let’s focus on the bigger issue of making Modi happy.
Looking at this performance of PM Khan, the self-proclaimed ambassador of the Kashmiris, even Sharif took a dig at him saying that Iske sar mein bhoosa bhara hua hai (his head is full of hay).
After facing harsh criticism on the obnoxious sedition case and labelling others as traitors, the Imran Khan government first distanced itself from the complaint and then the complainant, a PTI labour wing office-bearer with a criminal record. While the sedition charge can’t be registered without the State’s compliance, it was said that PM Imran Khan was unhappy over such a case. Also, that the government doesn’t know who was behind the case. Now that is hardly surprising anymore since the PTI government also doesn’t know who runs it. As a great leader once said, “Doing a U-turn to reach one’s objective is the hallmark of great leadership.” The U-turn of social distancing from the sedition FIR was taken. After all, it is the hallmark of the PTI government.
It’s difficult to understand, though, why such a U-turn would be taken. PM Khan is what he calls ‘100 per cent convinced’ that Nawaz is working on India’s behest and foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi says India and its media are happy over Sharif’s revelations. What, then, stopped the government from pursuing the sedition case? Or is it difficult to measure Indian happiness?
PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz clapped back that India gets happy when a three-time elected former prime minister is booked for treason, and when the ‘Fall of Kashmir’ takes place. India becomes happy when you present Kashmir on a tray to them or when elections are rigged in Pakistan. As a result, a selected government weakens the country, then India gets happy.
بلوچستان کی بیٹیاں: جبری طور پر گمشدہ افراد کے خاندانوں کا نوحہ
کل کوئٹہ کے سڑکوں پر،کڑکتی دهوپ کے چهاؤں تلے،اداس چہروں میں ایک امید لے کے بلوچستان کی دو بیٹیاں سراپا احتجاج تهیں۔ ان میں سے ایک اپنے بهائی اور دوسرے اپنی شوہر کی بازیابی کے لیے آئی تهی،دونوں میں خاص خاندانی و علاقائی فرق نہیں تها۔ ایک شبیر بلوچ کی بہن اور دوسرا شبیر بلوچ کی بیوی تهی.
شاید آنے والے حکمرانِ وقت ان سے کچھ سیکھ جائیں،شاید بلوچستان کی محرومیوں کا خاتمہ انکی بدولت ختم ہو،شاید ان کی بدولت کل کا بلوچستان “پسمانده” نہ ہو۔
https://urdu.nayadaur.tv/47262/
عدم اعتماد اور استعفوں کا آپشن ہے، قمر زمان کائرہ
پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی کے سینئر رہنما قمر زمان کائرہ نے کہا ہے کہ ہم اداروں کی سیاست میں مداخلت کے خلاف ہیں، ہمارے پاس عدم اعتماد اور استعفوں کا آپشن ہے۔
جیو نیوز کے پروگرام ’آج شاہزیب خانزادہ کے ساتھ‘ میں اظہار خیال کرتے ہوئے قمر زمان کائرہ نے کہا کہ اگر ہم حکومت کو ہٹادیتے ہیں تو تمام جماعتوں کو پہلے سے زیادہ ووٹ پڑیں گے۔
انہوں نے مزید کہا کہ اگر دوبارہ الیکشن ہوں تو ہمیں پہلے سے زیادہ ووٹ ملنے کا امکان ہے، بتائیں تو ہم کیوں نہ استعفے دیں؟
قمر زمان کائرہ نے یہ بھی کہا کہ اداروں کی سیاست میں مداخلت نہیں ہونی چاہیے، ہمارا مطالبہ ہے کہ شفاف انتخابات ہوں اور تمام ادارے آئین کے تحت کام کریں۔
https://jang.com.pk/news/829906
چیئرمین بلاول بھٹو زرداری نے جزائر کے متعلق صدارتی آرڈیننس فی الفور واپس لینے کا مطالبہ کردیا
پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی کے چیئرمین بلاول بھٹو زرداری نے جزائر کے متعلق صدارتی آرڈیننس فی الفور واپس لینے کا مطالبہ کرتے ہوئے کہا ہے کہ موجودہ صورتحال میں ہم اِس معاملے پر وفاقی حکومت سے مزید کوئی بات نہیں کریں گے۔ آج رات کے اندھیرے میں صدارتی آرڈیننس جاری کرکے جزائر پر قبضہ کیا جا رہا ہے، کل اِس طرح شہروں پر بھی قبضہ کرلیا جائے گا۔ ان خیالات کا اظہار انہوں نے کراچی میں میڈیا سیل بلاول ہاوَس میں پریس کانفرنس سے خطاب کرتے ہوئے کیا۔
پی پی پی چیئرمین نے کہا کہ ہم نیک نیتی سے کام کر رہے تھے، ہمیں اندازہ ہی نہیں تھا کہ وفاقی حکومت اس طرح رات کے اندھیرے میں صدارتی آرڈیننس جاری کرے گی۔ کوئی پاکستانی اسے برداشت نہیں کرسکتا کہ ایک صدارتی آڈیننس کے ذریعے سندھ یا بلوچستان کے جزائر پر قبضہ کرلیا جائے۔ ہم مطالبہ کرتے ہیں کہ اس تضحیک آمیز و غیر آئینی آرڈیننس کو واپس لیا جائے۔ انہوں نے کہا کہ پورے صوبے نے ایک آواز ہوکر اس قدم کی مذمت کی ہے، حکومت اپنی غلطی مانے اور آرڈیننس واپس لے، ہم کسی بھی صورت میں اپنی زمین کے ایک بھی ٹکڑے پر بھی غیرآئینی طریقے سے قبضہ نہیں کرنے دیں گے۔ پی پی پی چیئرمین نے کہا کہ جب ایک کرکٹر کو جب وزیراعظم بنایا جاتا ہے تو اس کو سمجھ نہیں آتا کہ اِس قسم کی حرکتوں سے وفاقی نظام کو کیا نقصان ہوگا۔ بلاول بھٹو زرداری نے کہا کہ عمران خان کو اپنے سیاسی مقاصد کی خاطر ریاستی اداروں کو استعمال کرکے متنازعہ نہیں کرنا چاہیئے، فوج کسی ایک پارٹی نہیں، بلکہ پوری قوم کا ادارہ ہے۔ ایسا نہیں کہنا چاہئیے کہ فوج آپ کے ساتھ ہے، جبکہ کرپشن کو دیکھنا فوج کا کام نہیں ہے۔
انہوں نے مزید کہا کہ اندرونی و بیرونی فورمز پر ہمارا ملک اس لیے ناکام ہورہا ہے کیونکہ ایک نالائق و نااہل سلیکٹڈ وزیراعظم کے عہدے پر برجمان ہے جسے میں کام کرنے کی صلاحیت ہی نہیں ہے۔ انہوں نے کہا کہ ملک سلیکٹڈ حکومت کا مزید بوجھ برداشت نہیں کرسکتا، وقت آگیا ہے کہ اب عوام کو نہیں، بلکہ عمران خان کو گھبرانا پڑے گا۔ سلیکٹڈ حکومت کی الٹی گنتی شروع ہو چکی ہے۔ بلاول بھٹو زرداری نے کہا کہ موجودہ حکومت کا رویہ غیرجمہوری ہے، مخالفین کے بغض میں انتقامی سیاست پر اتر آتی ہے اور آزاد کشمیر کے وزیراعظم پر بغاوت کے الزامات لگا دیتی ہے۔ انہوں نے کہا کہ عوام اب سلیکٹڈ حکمرانوں کا ظلم برداشت نہیں کرسکتے، جو ہر روز نیا ظلم کرتے ہیں۔ دن بدن بجلی کی قیتموں میں اضافہ ہوتا ہے، صوبے کو اس کے آئینی حق کے مطابق گیس نہیں دی جارہی، جبکہ گیس کی لوڈ شیڈنگ کا بھی سامنا کرنا پڑ رہا ہے۔ موجودہ حکومت نے عوام کو دیوار سے لگا دیا ہے۔
بلاول بھٹو زرداری نے کہا کہ پاکستان پیپلزپارٹی پہلے دن سے موجودہ حکومت اور اس کے سہولت کاروں کے خلاف آواز اٹھاتی آئی ہے اور آج تک اپنے مؤقف پر قائم ہے۔ انہوں نے کہا کہ ملک میں عوامی حکومت اور جمہوری نظام کو واپس لانا ہوگا۔ جمہوری نظام میں عوام کا اسٹیک ہوتا ہے، انہیں سنا جاتا لیکن اِس نظام میں ایسا کچھ نہیں ہے، پارلیمینٹ کو ربر اسٹیمپ بنا دیا گیا ہے، اسپیکر اسمبلی نے حکومت کے کہنے پر آمرانہ طریقہ کار اختیار کیا ہوا ہے۔ ایک سوال کے جواب میں پی پی پی چیئرمین نے کہا کہ گلگت بلتستان میں آئندہ انتخابات صاف و شفاف ہی ہوں گے، اگر نہ ہوے تو اس کے نتائج کو سلیکٹڈ حکومت اور اس کے سہولتکاروں کو بھگتنا پڑے گا۔ ہم کب تک برداشت کریں گے کہ کوئی ہمارے ووٹوں پر ڈاکہ ڈالتا رہے۔
https://www.ppp.org.pk/pr/23880/
په پاکستان کي د زيارتونو، پیرانو او ځاى ناستو سیاسي ګټې
ژباړونکى: ح حقوېش،
دا وخت په پنجاب کي د زيارتونو شمېر 598 دى، په دې کي د 64 زيارتونو مينجور(ملنګان)، متوليان او پیران مستقماً په سياست كي برخه لري. سرګوده (سرګودھا)، جنګ (جهنګ)، پاکپتن، ساهیوال، وهاړي، منډي بهاوالدین، اوکاړہ، حجرہ شاہ مقیم، ملتان، چشتیان او د خیرپور ټامیوالا ګدۍ نشين مستقيماً په ټولټاکنو کي برخه اخلي. د دې ځاى ګدۍ نشين لومړى ځل د ازادۍ په جنګ کي د مجاهدينو د ځپلو لپاره د ختیځ هند (ايسټ انډيا) کمپنۍ سره لاس يو کړ او د انګريزانو په حق کي يې فتوې ورکړې جنګ يې بغاوت ياد کړ او په امتياز کي يې مځكي ترلاسه کړې. همدا لامل وو چي دا ګدۍ نشين انګريزانو د نوې آبادي د واک سره په پاور سټرکچر کي ورګډ کړل او د کورټ آف وارډز له لارې هغوى ته مستقل سیاسي طاقت ورکړل شو، د کورټ آف وارډز سسټم له لاري چي کومو ګدۍ نشینو ته مځكي ورکړل شوې د هغوى تفصیلات په لاندي ډول دي:
په 1930ز کال کي د شاہ پور غلام محمد شاہ، ریاض حسین شاہ ته 6423 ایکټره مځکه، د اټک سردار شېر محمد خان ته 25185 ایکټره، د جهنګ د شاہ جیونا کورنۍ خضر حیات شاہ، مبارک علي، عابد حسین ته 9564 ایکټره، د ملتان سید عامر حیدر شاہ، سید غلام اکبر شاہ، مخدوم پير شاہ ته 11917 ایکټره، د ملتان ګردیزي سید جن کي سید محمد نواز شاہ، سید محمد باقر شاہ، جعفر شاہ ته 7165 ایکټره، د جلالپور پیر والا سید غلام عباس، سید محمد غوث ته 34144 ایکټره، ګیلاني سید آف ملتان په هغه كي سید حامد شاہ او فتح شاہ په نوم 11467 ایکټره، د دولتانه کورنۍ اللہ یار خان آف لډھن ته 21680 ایکټره، د ډیرہ غازي خان میاشاہ نواز خان آف حاجي پور ته 726 ایکټره، د مظفر ګړ د ډیرہ دین پناہ کورنۍ ملک اللہ بخش، قادر بخش، احمد یار او نور محمد ته 2641 ایکټره او د ستپور مخدوم شیخ محمد حسن ته 23500 ایکټره مځكه ورکړل شوه. نن ددې کورنيو ځاى ناستي او اولادونه د ولايتي شورا(صوبائي اسمبلي) او ولسي جرګې(قومي اسمبلي) په څوکيو ناست دي او د ولسواکي دفاع کوونکي دي.
بریتانیايي استعمار د مځکو ورکولو سره سره د درباريانو ګدۍ نشينو کورنيو ته د ذیلدار(چي يوڅه سيمي يې تر واک لاندې وي) عهدې هم ورکړې، په دې کي د مظفر ګړ څخه دیوان محمد غوث، سید باندې شاہ، خان صاحب مخدوم محمد حسن، سید تراب علي شاہ، سید عامر احمد شاہ، سید غلام سرور شاہ، سید جندوډا شاہ، د میانوالې څخه سید قايم حسین شاہ، غلام قاسم شاہ، د شاہ پور څخه پیر چن پیر، سید نجف شاہ، فیروز دین شاہ، پیر سلطان علي شاہ، علي حیدر شاہ، د جهنګ څخه محمد شاہ، اللہ یار شاہ، محمد غوث او بهادر شاہ ته د ذیلدار عهده ورکړل شوه.
په هندستان د برتانيې له تسلط څخه 180 کاله وروسته په 1937ز کال کي محدود جمهوري انتخابات ترسره شول چي په یونینسټ ګوند کي شامل همدا مځکوال، ګدۍ نشین او پیران انتخاب شول. د 1946ز کال په انتخاباتو کي بيا هم دغه کورنۍ واکمنۍ ته ورسېدلې، د جنوبي پنجاب څخه ګیلاني، قریشي، د ډیرہ غازي خان څخه پرته د منځني پنجاب څخه پیر نسیر الدین شاہ آف کمالیه، شاہ جیونا آف جهنګ، مخدوم سید علي رضا شاہ آف سندھلیانوالي، مخدوم ناصر حسین شاہ، پیر محی الدین لال بادشاہ آف مکهد شریف له اټک څخه په نښه وو. دې کورنيو د یونینسټ ګوند پرېښود په آل انډیا مسلم لیګ کي ورګډ شول او خپلي ګټي يې د پاکستان د حمايت سره وتړلې.
د پاکستان له جوړېدو وروسته دا ګدۍ نشينه پيران د قومي جمهوري او مارشال لا په سياست کي په مستقل ډول ورننوتل. د ایوب خان د ولسواکۍ له فکر څخه رانيولې د ضیاء الحق په مجلس شوریٰ کي د اسلامائزیشن فکر ته وده ورکول او د جنرال پرویز مشرف د روشن خیال فکرونو څخه په حمایت کي دا ګدۍ نشین له هر چا څخه لومړي وو.
په ملي او ولايتي سياست کي د درباري نمايندګانو د همدې اثر لرونكي ګدۍ نشينو او پيرانو حلقې که وڅېړل شي، نو دلته به د تعليم کچه په بوږنونکي ډول سره کمه وي. د دربارونو همدا مذهبي نمايندګان د خپلو مُریدانو څخه نظرانې، خوړې او خيراتونه اخلي. او د اوقافو په ادارې هر وخت ددوى کنټرول وي، څه موده وړاندي د پنجاب اسمبلۍ ته د اوقافو وزير راپور ورکړ چي د ادارې تر انتظام لاندې د 544 زيارتونو څخه د کال څه باندې 150 ميليارده روپۍ د حکومت ماليې ته د مُریدانو او سيلانيانو له خوړې او نظرانې څخه ورکول کيږي. او ددې مځکوالو مځكي سلګونه ايکټره دې، د ځينو زيارتونو ګدۍ نشين په اصل كي اوس په جانشين اوښتي دي، او هغوى د ګدۍ نشينو يا متوليانو په مټ د کلني عرُس لمانځغونډې جوړيږي.
https://www.taand.com/
Thursday, October 8, 2020
Poll: Majority believe Harris won VP debate against Pence
Nearly 6 in 10 voters who watched Wednesday's vice presidential debate between Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) and Vice President Pence came away with the impression that Harris had outperformed Pence, according to a poll.
In the CNN/SRSS poll of registered voters who watched Wednesday's matchup, 59 percent said that Harris had performed better onstage while 38 percent said that it was Pence who had outperformed his opponent.
Perceptions of the debate were split along gender lines, with 69 percent of female debate watchers saying they thought Harris had won, compared to 30 percent for Pence, while 48 percent of male debate watchers said that Harris had performed better, with 46 percent siding with the vice president.
Pence's favorability among respondents, who skewed Democratic according to CNN, remained at 41 percent after the debate while Harris's favorability rose from 56 percent to 63 percent.
While 55 percent of voters added that the outcome would likely have no effect on their vote, a majority of those who said it would have an effect reportedly indicated that the debate made them more likely to vote for former Vice President Joe Biden (D), Harris's running mate.
The CNN/SRSS poll contacted 609 registered voters in the hours after the debate, and the margin of error is 5.3 percentage points.
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/520162-poll-majority-believe-harris-won-vp-debate-against-pence?__twitter_impression=true
Opinion: The Plot Against Gretchen Whitmer Shows the Danger of Private Militias
These groups have no constitutional right to exist.In the swirls of disinformation that now pollute our political discourse, one is particularly dangerous: that private militias are constitutionally protected. Although these vigilante groups often cite the Second Amendment’s “well regulated militia” for their authority, history and Supreme Court precedent make clear that the phrase was not intended to — and does not — authorize private militias outside of government control. Indeed, these armed groups have no authority to call themselves forth into militia service; the Second Amendment does not protect such activity; and all 50 states prohibit it. The danger of these groups was brought home on Thursday with the announcement that the F.B.I. had thwarted a plot by people associated with an extremist group in Michigan to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and overthrow the government. Court documents say that the group discussed trying the governor for treason and murdering “tyrants.” Six men now face federal kidnapping conspiracy charges, but unauthorized militia activity continues in Michigan and elsewhere. The unnamed militia involved in the kidnapping plot is part of a growing number of private paramilitary groups mobilizing across the country, wholly outside of lawful authority or governmental accountability. These organizations — some of which openly refer to themselves as “militias,” while others reject the term — often train together in the use of firearms and other paramilitary techniques and “deploy,” heavily armed and sometimes in full military gear, when they deem it necessary. Sometimes they want to fight against the perceived tyranny of the states, as when they stormed the Capitol in Lansing, Mich., this spring to demand the end of the governor’s pandemic shutdown order, egged on by President Trump’s tweets to “LIBERATE MICHIGAN!”
Sometimes they want to usurp the functions of law enforcement, as they’ve done in Kenosha, Wis., and elsewhere, purporting to “protect” property during racial justice protests, often in response to false rumors about leftist violence, rumors stoked by the president’s calls to designate “antifa” as a terrorist organization.Most alarmingly, some of them are planning their own poll-watching and openly training in preparation for the post-election period. Whatever their stated purpose, their conduct is unlawful and not constitutionally protected. Even before the adoption of the Constitution, the colonies recognized the importance of a “well regulated” militia to defend the state, in preference over standing armies, which they perceived as a threat to liberty. The militia consisted of able-bodied residents between certain ages who had a duty to respond when called forth by the government.But “well regulated” meant that the militias were trained, armed and controlled by the state. Indeed, 48 states have provisions in their constitutions that explicitly require the militia to be strictly subordinate to the civil authority.Likewise, state constitutions and laws then and now generally name the governor as the commander in chief of its armed forces — and only the governor or a designee has the power to call forth the able-bodied residents for militia service. Emerging from the American Revolution, the founders reasonably were wary of insurgencies that could threaten the stability of the new Union. Shays’ Rebellion and other early armed uprisings against the states only solidified those fears. Thus, the “well regulated militia” in the Constitution’s Second Amendment refers to the militia once called forth by the government, not by private vigilante organizations deciding when and under what circumstances to organize and self-deploy. The federal and state government control of the militia has also been confirmed by the Supreme Court. In 1886, the court upheld the constitutionality of a state criminal law that made it unlawful for “any body of men” outside state or federal governmental authority to “associate themselves together as a military company or organization, or to drill or parade with arms in any city or town of the state.” This criminal statute and others were enacted after the Civil War and are on the books of 29 states. The Supreme Court said without question that states had authority to control and regulate military bodies and associations as “necessary to the public peace, safety and good order.” The court’s 1886 decision was reaffirmed in 2008 in Justice Antonin Scalia’s majority opinion in District of Columbia v. Heller. That case established that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to bear arms for self-defense, but “does not prevent the prohibition of private paramilitary organizations.” Although there are many gray areas about Second Amendment rights, this is not one of them. Which brings us back to the authority of the states. In addition to state constitutional and statutory schemes by which only the governor may activate “able-bodied” residents for militia service, other laws also forbid paramilitary activity and the usurpation of law enforcement and peacekeeping authority. Twenty-five states prohibit teaching, demonstrating or practicing in the use of firearms or “techniques” capable of causing injury or death for use during a civil disorder. Eighteen states prohibit either the false assumption of the duties of public officials, including law-enforcement officials, or the wearing of uniforms similar to military uniforms. All these laws point to a single conclusion: There is no right in any state for groups of individuals to arm themselves and organize either to oppose or augment the government. Now, more than ever, state and local officials must enforce these statutes. In battleground states like Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, as well as other hotbeds of militia activity like Oregon, Idaho, Virginia and Texas, they must ready themselves for unlawful private militias showing up at the polls and on the streets during ballot counting and beyond.Those groups, like the Three Percenters, Oath Keepers and others that claim to be “patriots” but answer to their own interpretation of the Constitution, are likely to hear the president’s unsupported claims about election fraud as their license to deploy to the polls to “protect” or “patrol” the vote. Their armed presence not only would violate state anti-paramilitary laws, it would likely violate laws against voter intimidation as well. State attorneys general, secretaries of state, local prosecutors, law enforcement officers and election workers must know about these laws and be prepared to enforce them. They should announce this in advance and consider taking pre-emptive action through attorney general legal opinions, cease and desist orders, and prosecutions or civil litigation. These efforts must continue after the election, when the threat of civil unrest could be at its greatest. State and local leaders, in both parties, must denounce armed militia activity, whether from the right or the left. These leaders may also have to take swift action to protect public safety and preserve constitutional rights. But the law is on their side — private armed militias find no support in the U.S. or state constitutions or in American history. They must not be tolerated in our society.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer Links Kidnapping Plot To Trump’s Hate Rhetoric
By Sara BoboltzWhen leaders “encourage or fraternize with domestic terrorists, they legitimize their actions, and they are complicit,” Whitmer said.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer drew a strong line between an alleged plot to kidnap her and the rhetoric of President Donald Trump, whose recent comments have been interpreted by right-wing militia groups as encouragement.
“Just last week, the president of the United States stood before the American people and refused to condemn white supremacists and hate groups,” Whitmer, a Democrat, said at a press conference Thursday afternoon.
Six men involved with a militia group called Wolverine Watchmen are facing federal charges of conspiracy to commit kidnapping, and an additional seven people are facing state charges in connection with the alleged scheme. The men wanted to “storm” the state Capitol in Lansing with 200 men to take hostages including the governor, court documents say.
Whitmer said Thursday that the suspects aimed to “possibly kill” her.
Trump failed to speak out against hate groups during his first presidential debate with Democratic contender Joe Biden last Tuesday. Pressed to condemn the Proud Boys, a group of violent right-wing extremists, Trump replied: “Proud boys, stand back and stand by.” Members of the Proud Boys quickly turned the president’s words into a T-shirt and other merchandise.
Trump also deflected criticism at the debate by claiming ― against the analysis of his own top law enforcement officials ― that the problem comes mainly “from the left wing, not the right wing.” The FBI warned as recently as two weeks ago that right-wing militia groups pose a “violent extremist threat,” particularly as the election approaches.
“Hate groups heard the president’s words not as a rebuke, but as a rallying cry — as a call to action,” Whitmer said.
She continued: “When our leaders speak, their words matter. They carry weight. When our leaders meet with, encourage or fraternize with domestic terrorists, they legitimize their actions, and they are complicit. When they stoke and contribute to hate speech, they are complicit.”
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany responded to Whitmer in a statement claiming that Trump “has continually condemned white supremacists and all forms of hate,” and that the Michigan governor was “sowing division.”
Trump has danced around hate groups that profess to support him throughout his presidency; it took him two days after the debate to say the words “I condemn all white supremacists,” which he eventually did on Sean Hannity’s Fox News program.
Whitmer had been attacked by the president at the start of the coronavirus crisis for issuing strict lockdown orders that are credited with preventing statewide outbreaks. In April, Trump reacted to news of Michigan lockdowns by tweeting, “LIBERATE MICHIGAN.” Heavily armed Michiganders began showing up in Lansing around that time to intimidate lawmakers and demand an end to lockdown measures.
When asked by reporters whether he thought Trump’s tweet had influenced militias like Wolverine Watchmen, Biden responded Thursday afternoon, “Yes, I do.”
“Why won’t the president just say ‘stop. Stop, stop, stop,’” Biden said.
One of the men charged with plotting against Whitmer, Adam Fox, called her a “tyrant bitch” in a private Facebook group, according to the FBI.
“Snatch and grab, man. Grab the fuckin’ Governor. Just grab the bitch,” Fox allegedly wrote. He is currently facing life in prison.
Whitmer called the decisions she has had to make in the pandemic “gut-wrenching,” adding that “2020 has been a hard year for all of us.”
“It’s been hard for the teachers, students and parents. Hard for those who have had to stay isolated to stay safe. But here’s what I know. We are Michiganders. We have grit. We have heart. And we are tough as hell,” she said.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/michigan-gov-gretchen-whitmer-connects-kidnapping-plot-to-trump_n_5f7f6546c5b664c95bd6cb58
#Book - The Nine Lives of Pakistan by Declan Walsh review – first-rate reportage
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/oct/08/the-nine-lives-of-pakistan-by-declan-walsh-review-first-rate-reportage
پی ڈی ایم کی تحریک کو منطقی انجام تک پہنچاکر دم لیں گے، بلاول
پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی کے چیئرمین بلاول بھٹو زرداری کا کہنا ہے کہ پی ڈی ایم کی تحریک کو منطقی انجام تک پہنچا کر دم لیں گے۔
لاہور میں پیپلز پارٹی پنجاب کے صدر قمر زمان کائرہ سے ملاقات کے دوران بلاول بھٹو زرداری نے کہا کہ عوام کو پیغام دیں کہ اس حکومت کا خاتمہ بہت قریب ہے۔
بلاول بھٹو زرداری نے کہا کہ عوام کی امنگوں کے مطابق جلد نئی منتخب حکومت قائم ہوگی، عوام حکومت سے تنگ آچکے ہیں، پنجاب کے تفصیلی دورے پر آرہا ہوں۔
انہوں نے کہا کہ گوجرانوالہ اور ملتان کے جلسوں کو کامیاب بنانے کے لیے جیالے بھرپور شرکت کریں۔
قمر زمان کائرہ نے کہا کہ گوجرانوالہ جلسہ کو کامیاب بنانے کیلئے پیپلز پارٹی پنجاب تیار ہے، حکومت کے فاشسٹ ہتھکنڈوں کے خلاف جیالے پہلے ہی متحرک ہوچکے ہیں۔
قمر زمان کائرہ نے کہا کہ مزاحمتی تحریکوں کو کامیاب بنانے کا تجربہ صرف جیالوں کے پاس ہے۔
https://jang.com.pk/news/829463
پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی نے ایم آر ڈی اور اے آر ڈی کی طرح پی ڈی ایم کے قیام میں کلیدی کردار ادا کیا، چیئرمین پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی بلاول بھٹو زرداری
کراچی/اسلام آباد( – ) پاکستان پیپلزپارٹی کے چیئرمین بلاول بھٹو زرداری نے کہا ہے کہ پی پی پی نے ایم آر ڈی اور اے آر ڈی کی طرح پی ڈی ایم کے قیام میں کلیدی کردار ادا کیا، پاکستان ڈیموکریٹک موومنٹ عوام کی امید بن چکی ہے،
چیئرمین پی پی پی نے کہا ہے کہ عمران خان کی حکومت مکمل طور پر ناکام ثابت ہوچکی ہے، اب عوام نہیں بلکہ عمران خان کے گھبرانے کا وقت ہوچکا ہے، انہوں نے یہ بھی کہا کہ عوام دشمن حکومت کے پاس ماضی کی حکومتوں پر الزام دھرنے کے سوا بتانے کو کچھ بھی نہیں، چیئرمین پی پی پی بلاول بھٹو زرداری نے یہ گفتگو اپنی سربراہی میں بلاول ہاؤس کراچی میں ویڈیو لنک کے ذریعے ہونے والے ایک اجلاس میں کی، ورچوئل اجلاس میں پاکستان ڈیموکریٹک موومنٹ کے بیانئے کی تشہیر کے حوالے سے تفصیلی مشاورت کی گئی،
اس ویڈیو لنک اجلاس میں ڈاکٹر نفیسہ شاہ، مولا بخش چانڈیو، چوہدری منور انجم، پلوشہ خان، عاجز دھامرا، حسن مرتضی، سربلند جوگیزئی، روبینہ خالد، نوابزادہ افتخار، سعدیہ دانش، جاوید ایوب، سعید غنی، ناصر شاہ، شرجیل میمن، مرتضی وہاب، بیرسٹر عامر، سسی پلیجو، شاہین ڈار اور نذیر ڈھوکی موجود تھے۔
https://www.ppp.org.pk/pr/23874/
Wednesday, October 7, 2020
Pakistan: Kill And Dump In Balochistan – Analysis
By Sanchita Bhattacharya
On October 1, 2020, a bench of the Supreme Court (SC) of Pakistan, including the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Gulzar Ahmed, while hearing a petition at its Quetta registry seeking recovery of missing persons in Balochistan, categorically rejected the inquiry report submitted by the Police. The SC bench ordered that the person who prepared the inquiry report must be removed from service and sent back home. “Is this a report? Person who prepared [this] must be fired from service,” the CJP remarked.
The CJP observed, further, “Police officials do not know how to investigate cases. Missing persons’ cases were reported between 2017 and 2018 while the police performance in their recovery has been zero.”
The report was submitted to the bench by Senior Superintendent of Police, Crime Branch (Investigation), Muhammad Akbar Raisani. The Court remarked, “You are a PSP [Police Service of Pakistan] officer but you do not know how to investigate.”
The hearing of the case was adjourned for four weeks, with direction for the Balochistan Inspector General of Police Mohsin Abbas Butt to appear through video link in the next hearing to be held at the Supreme Court in Islamabad.
During the hearing, the Court also expressed concern over the plying of smuggled vehicles on roads, aerial firing and other illegal acts committed daily in Balochistan, and ordered the authorities concerned to take action in this regard.
On September 20, 2020, Mama Qadeer Baloch, the vice-chairman of the Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP) – a group which pursues and monitors cases of enforced disappearances – asserted that state-backed death squads had spilled the blood of the Baloch in several areas of Balochistan.
On October 3, two dead bodies were recovered in separate incidents from Panjgur District and Lasbela District of Balochistan. The body of a man identified as Muhammad Niaz was found in the Kahen-Zangi area of Panjgur. The dead body of a 56-year-old man, Sabir, was discovered close to a hill near the Sakran Attock Cement Factory in Hub city.
On September 10, the mutilated dead body of Hafizullah Mohammad Hassani, who had been missing for four years, was found at Pul-Choto in Dalbandain area of Chagai District in Balochistan. Hassani was a resident of Killi Qasim and a farmer by profession. He was forcibly disappeared on August 30, 2016. According to locals, the body was discovered due to the recent rains.
Fiveincidents were reported in August 2020:
August 28: The bullet riddled body of a man, identified as Ashraf Dadain (50), resident of Buleda, was discovered from the mountains of the Kulbar area in Kech District, Balochistan. According to the locals, the man was abducted by unidentified armed persons a few days earlier.
August 11: A missing person’s body was recovered from the Buleda area of Kech District in Balochistan. Rahim,son of Dad Baksh, was abducted along with two others about a week earlier, allegedly during a raid by the Security Forces in the Kuchag area of Buleda. The other abductees are still missing.
August 6: The body of a man was recovered from the Killi Gishkori area of Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan.
August 6: The body of an unidentified man was recovered from the Labour Colony area of Hub town in Lasbela District.
August 6: The body of man, identified as Hussain-ul-Deen, was recovered from Sibi District.
According to Pakistan’s Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances data, as on August 31, 2020, atleast 509 cases cases of alleged Enforced Disappearances have been registered from Balochistan since March 13, 2011, when the Commission was formed.
However, the VBMP stated in 2018 that, between 2002 and September 2018, at least 6,428 persons have gone missing in the Balochistan Province.
Indeed, on June 17, 2020, the Balochistan National Party (BNP) quit the Imran Khan-led Federal Government saying it was upset over unfulfilled promises of the Government to address Baloch grievances, including the worsening issue of the missing people. As reported on July 20, 2020, when he led the BNP into an alliance with Khan’s coalition about two years ago, Akhtar Mengal gave a list of 5,128 missing people. Since then, Mengal claimed, another 1,800 were reported to have disappeared.
Shockingly, Pakistan is now practising the method of enforced disappearance on the Baloch Diaspora abroad as well. On March 2, 2020, a Baloch journalist and activist Sajid Hussain was ‘disappeared’ from Sweden. His body was later found in a river in Uppsala on May 1, 2020. Earlier, another Baloch social activist, Rashid Hussain, was arrested and ‘disappeared’ from Sharjah, by UAE secret agencies on December 26, 2018. Rashid had been living and working in UAE for several years. After six months Rashid Hussain was illegally deported and handed over to Pakistani authorities by UAE.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s ‘kill and dump’ policy in the Province continues. Mutilated dead bodies, in different stages of decomposition and beyond recognition, dotting the roads of Balochistan are a common occurrence. These are part of the nefarious ‘kill and dump’ policy of the Pakistani state.
According to a March 2019 report, mass graves were found in Balochistan for the first time in 2014 in the Turbat District. Since then, every year, the people of the region have discovered similar graves in different areas. In each case the discovery follows the same pattern – the Army and intelligence agencies cordon off the area, keeping people away. Nobody really knows how many bodies are buried there or who they were. The report further states that, according to the Federal Ministry of Human Rights, since the year 2011, nearly 1,000 dead bodies have been found, mostly in the areas of Quetta, Kalat, Khuzdar, and Makran.
As reported on March 15, 2020, acknowledging the grievous situation, Nigel Adams, the British Minister of State Affairs at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development, noted,
We are aware of reports of mass graves in Khuzdar, Turbat and Dera Bugti in Balochistan. These would be of deep concern to the British government… The British government regularly raises its concerns about human rights at the highest levels of the Government of Pakistan.
Enforced disappearances and recoveries of dead bodies have become rampant in Balochistan. Though the Supreme Court’s latest observations highlight the existing lawlessness, it is highly improbable that Rawalpindi will make any changes in its practice of using unbridled force against Baloch nationals.
https://www.eurasiareview.com/06102020-pakistan-kill-and-dump-in-balochistan-analysis/