Pervez Musharraf appears on Rana Mubasher to confirm plans to return to Pakistan.

Also interviewed are Ahmed Raza Qasuri and Barrister Muhammed Ali Saif who recently met Musharraf in Abu Dhabi as suggested by the program.

Links:
1/4 Musharraf on Rana Mubasher show – May 10, 2010 – TV One
2/4 Musharraf on Rana Mubasher show – May 10, 2010 – TV One
3/4 Musharraf on Rana Mubasher show – May 10, 2010 – TV One
4/4 Musharraf on Rana Mubasher show – May 10, 2010 – TV One

Lawyer’s movement splits on 18th amendment – between pro-PPP lawyers and others (pro-Nawaz Sharif, pro-Jamaat-e-Islami groups ?).

Ali Ahmed Kurd and Akram Sheikh appear on News Beat with Meher Bokhari on Samaa TV – April 20, 2010.

Links:
1/2 Lawyer’s movement (Kurd, Akram Sheikh) split on 18th amendment – Samaa TV – April 20, 2010
2/2 Lawyer’s movement (Kurd, Akram Sheikh) split on 18th amendment – Samaa TV – April 20, 2010

Abdul Hafeez Pirzada (drafter of 1973 constitution) explains 18th amendment on Dawn TV.

18th amendment is being pushed by Zardari/PPP government in alliance with Nawaz Sharif (PML-N).

Interview highlights the inferior quality of journalism in Pakistan – journalist (Matiullah Jan) is unable to follow the thread of the discussion, and seems focused on one or two issues that are currently in vogue.

In keeping with similar behaviour on other channels, journalists seem to work on some pre-supposed one or two crude lines of questioning to the detriment of other subtler issues.

However to the journalist’s credit, he does tone that “attitude” down a bit by the middle when he realizes he has more to learn from what Pirzada is saying.

Hopefully we get a new crop of journalists to supplant the older crop from newspapers (tainted by influence peddling period). However on many TV channels the old guard has managed to secure managerial positions at these TV channels, which may hinder progress slightly.

Links:
1/4 Hafeez Pirzada explains 18th amendment – Dawn TV – April 21, 2010
2/4 Hafeez Pirzada explains 18th amendment – Dawn TV – April 21, 2010
3/4 Hafeez Pirzada explains 18th amendment – Dawn TV – April 21, 2010
4/4 Hafeez Pirzada explains 18th amendment – Dawn TV – April 21, 2010

Musharraf interview on Indus TV (pre-2007 election) – aired Apr 16, 2009

Links:
1/3 Musharraf on Indus TV (pre-2007 election) – Apr 16, 2009
2/3 Musharraf on Indus TV (pre-2007 election) – Apr 16, 2009
3/3 Musharraf on Indus TV (pre-2007 election) – Apr 16, 2009

Pervez Musharraf interview and Q&A on Dunya TV – April 10, 2010

Links:
1/5 Musharraf interview and Q&A – Dunya TV – April 10, 2010
2/5 Musharraf interview and Q&A – Dunya TV – April 10, 2010
3/5 Musharraf interview and Q&A – Dunya TV – April 10, 2010
4/5 Musharraf interview and Q&A – Dunya TV – April 10, 2010
5/5 Musharraf interview and Q&A – Dunya TV – April 10, 2010

Punjab Governor Salman Taseer (PPP) interviewed by Rana Mubasher – Mar 9, 2010 – NewsOne TV

Missing first part of interview.

Whether Salman Taseer and his son drink or not (which seems to be the main subject of most media coverage of him), or that he may support Benazir or Zardari (another red flag), however he makes some interesting revelations in this interview about Shehbaz Sharif’s extrajudicial actions:

- that the FIA center bombed a few days ago was a “non-official” torture center that was “outsourced” by Shehbaz Sharif

- that Shehbaz Sharif was running a private interrogation cell in a residential neighborhood at the Model Town building (which was bombed and media reported it as an “FIA interrogation center”). Other news reports have resident comments that prisoners were brought to this cell and they could hear their screams from the house.

- that Rana Maqbool (“famous encounter specialist” – which is a euphemism for extrajudicial killing arranger – who is “mafroor” in Sindh made “Secretary Prosecution in the Punjab Government) along with a Major Mushtaq (Retired probably) were running this cell.

- questions the competence of Rana Maqbool to be running the prosecution department if he is “mafroor” and running extrajudicial cells.

- Taseer makes apt comment that if top hierarchy advocates extrajudicial action, then it is no wonder that police is out of control – and this mirrors comments made here that lower level employees of police will feel they have immunity to do such actions for themselves if they have previously performed them at the request of the Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Note that Shehbaz Sharif has a well established reputation for “extrajudicial killings” (where police stage a fake “encounter” in order to justify killing an alleged criminal). This is indicative of the lack of trust in the judicial process (which maybe correct) – however given their recent support of Iftikhar Chaudhry, a CONTINUATION of this behaviour suggests they STILL do not trust the courts ! (which may also be correct). But there is serious disciplinary impact (let alone the human right aspect) on the discipline and morale of the police force, if officers who willingly participate in killing at the order of Shehbaz Sharif are given promotions and elevated over the heads of other police officers. Since the arrival of Shehbaz Sharif after extended stay in the land of the Saud family the media coverage suggests an escalation in extrajudicial killings again in Lahore and the Punjab.

- that Rana Sanaullah frequently touts his “rishtay daari” i.e. family relationship with “Chief Justice” Iftikhar Chaudhry – which might explain Iftikhar Chaudhry’s predilection towards Nawaz Sharif – although both Taseer and Rana explicitly avoid going in that direction (Chief Justice will probably call them to court if they do). A true test of Iftikhar CHaudhry’s “independence” will become clear once we see him start to act against Nawaz Sharif. Acting against the much hated (both within and outside the PPP) Zardari is the easy thing to do – to act against the Sharif brothers will be a true indicator of Iftikhar Chaudhry’s mettle.

- passing reference is made to recent revelations that Rana Sanaullah has close relationship with Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (a banned organization which advocates that Shia are “wajib-ul-qatl”). This relates to recent media coverage that Rana Sanaullah (and PML-N in general) is giving party tickets for leaders of banned “religious” organizations and that Rana Sanaullah has been leading rallies with heavy police escort for leaders who are “banned” (bad signal to the police as well). It should be noted that Lashkar-e-Jhangvi has variously been reported as having received funds from Iraqi intelligence (outcome of the Iraq-Iran war – with this being part of the proxy Arab/Israel/U.S vs. Iran war being waged in Pakistan). There were reports of initial Mossad involvement with this outfit as well, although that is not clear.

- reveals the numerous PML-N leaders involved in rape, cheating on exams (Rawalpindi), killing an army veteran and fleeing the scene (Lahore), the involvement with Lashkar-e-Jhangvi and Sipah-e-Sahaba (another banned outfit) and the participation and the recent abettment and participation of PML-N public representative in the public “chhittrole” of alleged criminals by police officials (widely reported in media recently).

- interesting discussion about how PML-N leadership “nay muaf kar dya hai” the PML-N elected representative who was found to have stolen jewelry from a women’s gym. Salman Taseer aptly observes that “muafee” is not the right of Shehbaz Sharif but those whose property was stolen.

- Rana Sanaullah plaza being “illegal” escapes destruction while others are prosecuted in Lahore.

Links:
1/3 Salman Taseer interview – Rana Mubasher – Mar 9, 2010
2/3 Salman Taseer interview – Rana Mubasher – Mar 9, 2010
3/3 Salman Taseer interview – Rana Mubasher – Mar 9, 2010
Short news report:
Sharif “extrajudicial” cells – Mar 9, 2010 – NewsOne TV

Host of the program “Awam Ki Awaz” on CNBC visits city courts in Karachi to see the improvements made by the much vaunted (by “civil society” and the “honorable lawyers”) Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry.

I guess it was a fair trade to give away Musharraf and 2 years of Pakistan, and get Iftikhar Chaudhry in return ?

To see normally “harami” lawyers portrayed as great saviours of “civil society” by Geo and AAJ TV.

Whoever thought up THAT script ? Could it be someone who was not familiar with the realities of Pakistani lawyers ?

Geo and AAJ happen to run programs made by foreign government agencies (Voice of America – VOA) and run them so they are indistinguishable from their own programming. Which media channel would tolerate that kind of brand dilution – especially in Pakistan where airing a U.S. propaganda channel would not exactly be a commercially profitable move.

How much are Geo and ARY “overpaid” for their services ?

In the same way that the USIS overpaid for printing material at the Jamaat-e-Islami printing presses in the 1960s – as a way to clandestinely (and “legally”) fund them ?

This video has lawyers fighting with the reporter instead of accepting realities (so that they can prepare themselves to fix them).

One lawyer lies by saying he has never seen a policeman take a bribe. The reporter says she has seen it already in her short trip to the city courts.

This is the result when lawyers refuse to condemn their own. Why ? Because they have a “lawyer’s biradari” (a term they seem to be quite proud of).

Which explains why a complaint against Iftikhar Chaudhry was not examined by the Supreme Judicial Council but was squelched by his colleagues on the Supreme Court. What was so damaging in the accusations against Iftikhar Chaudhry that they did not want to bring it up to scrutiny ? What were the reasons for refusing to look at the accusations ?

The Pakistani public still does not know if there ever was an analysis done of the accusations against Iftikhar Chaudhry – were they correct or were they incorrect ?

The public is split between people who could see what was happening, party workers (each supporting their own), and the rest were non-thinkers. Asma Shirazi on Geo TV is one of those. At least Hamid Mir knows why he hates Musharraf or why he wants to make it appear that he hates him. Yet it is presenters on TV like Asma Shirazi who cannot control their facial expressions – they are so SURE that the story told by the “media” is the correct one, and anyone supporting Musharraf MUST be mistaken.

Evidently she did not feel any sign of disgust when she glad-handed the many parliamentarians on her former show “Parliament Cafe” on Geo TV. Fine specimens of integrity those.

Asma has now been replaced by an equally naive and perhaps even more jahil lady presenter on Geo TV, who has her own show where she is utterly incapable of asking any incisive question of her guests.

Links:
1/3 Awam Ki Awaz – CNBC Pak – Oct 8, 2009
2/3 Awam Ki Awaz – CNBC Pak – Oct 8, 2009
3/3 Awam Ki Awaz – CNBC Pak – Oct 8, 2009

Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rahman vs. Mufti Popalzai – Jirga – Sept 20, 2009

Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rahman, leader of the Ruet-e-Hilal, Pakistan, and Mufti Popalzai, head of Masjid Qasim Ali Khan, Peshawar questioned over Eid controversy. Where Masjid Qasim Ali Khan is exposed as the main reason for dissension in the history of Eid mis-timing in Pakistan.

What has previously passed as dissension between mullahs, is now finally brought to the fore, thanks to the embrace offered by the ANP to the Mufti Popalzai of Masjid Qasim Ali Khan in Peshawar. Which turns out to be behind the majority of fitnas in Pakistan’s history of Eid fiascos.

In the same way that the ANP embraced Sufi Muhammed in Swat and thereby exposed him to the public (because he suddenly became legitimate and spoke too much to the media), in the same way the fitna elements of the “mullah” are going to be exposed (who in this case is a jaddi-pushti Mufti of Masjid Qasim Ali Khan – much like the Aziz brothers of Lal Masjid, who are gifted that “mansab” not because of “qabiliat” but because of their father).

What is interesting is that there is no realistic understanding that if no one sees the moon, and just 40 people in the employ of Masjid Qasim Ali Khan always see it, then these people should have been identified by name and exposed before the public.

However in previous years, the “mullahs” may have been keen to protect their “biradari” from the “secular” forces and thus avoided embarrassing each other.

However, once a “secular” force like the ANP “allies” itself with the most extreme and “kund nazar” of the religious forces, then the mainstream mullah begins to see the real danger and the need to curtail bad and promote the good becomes an immediate need.

This is what seems to have happened. As Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rahman, the head of the Ruet-e-Hilal, has for the first time come out and identified the culprits who confuse the Eid issue every year. It turns out to be the Masjid Qasim Ali Khan and the people behind the charade we have been seeing in Pakistan’s history of Eid mis-timing.

For this particular Eid, Muneeb-ur-Rahman has an especially strong case as the media exists (thanks to Musharraf), and the decision to hold Eid one day early is particularly idiotic, because Peshawar (and FATA) will be even less likely to see the moon if the lower parts of the country cannot see it. Additionally astronomical calculations indicate that the Moon would have set 2 minutes (or so) after the Sun, so all “testimonies” about the sighting of the Moon are probably lies, or misunderstandings.

And the possibility of misunderstandings can be true as well, since in a population of millions you are always going to find a couple who are able to seen the Moon by mistake or “they thought they saw it”.

This possibility is pointed out by one of the experts in the program – perhaps as a way of face-saving for the Masjid Qasim Ali Khan folks.

The second tack is the insistence on following Saudi Arabia (that is, the land of the Saud family). Which may be entertained, however when Masjid Qasim Ali Khan produces “witnesses” then there is an element of “shararat” in there. Or they wind up picking all the people who saw it by mistake. In any case, there is an absence of deliberation in the behaviour of this Masjid and that sheds a poor light on the administration of that Masjid, as well as this Mufti Popalzai figure (the jaddi-pushti leader of that Mosque).

A further argument going against Popalzai is the one given by some other maulvi, that if the country is willing to observe muslim calendar months according to the Ruet-e-Hilal, then why is Eid day so imposed upon by these elements.

Links:
1/4 Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rahman vs. Mufti Popalzai – Jirga – Sept 20, 2009
2/4 Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rahman vs. Mufti Popalzai – Jirga – Sept 20, 2009
3/4 Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rahman vs. Mufti Popalzai – Jirga – Sept 20, 2009
4/4 Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rahman vs. Mufti Popalzai – Jirga – Sept 20, 2009

Musharraf interview on Frontline with Kamran Shahid on Express News TV – Sept 13, 2009

Kamran Shahid, representing the younger, and possible more urbane (i.e. post-newspaper era) journalists, who has previously conducted reasonably combatitive interviews with other politicians, here tackles Musharraf.

This interview encapsulates nicely the disparate arguments given earlier in the series “Why Musharraf Was Removed” on this youtube channel (and on this blog).

The answer is that Musharraf was considered cooperative but not totally servile.

Servile observance is much more forthcoming from the feudal elements of Pakistan. They are used to that model of behaviour where their slaves are servile, while they themselves are servile to a bigger entity.

From expansion of drone bases to expansion of U.S. “diplomatic mission” to many acres of land right next to centers of power in Islamabad. And the proliferation of Blackwater (or whatever new name it has acquired) presence.

Also some well placed criticism of the “journalists” like Ahmed Rashid, who sit in the U.S. and act like all too keen advisors. They are akin to the native american scouts who helped Europeans to expand into North America to the detriment of their own people.

However even Ahmed Rashid is probably better than some of the wolf-in-sheeps-clothing “journalists” like Hamid Mir and some others, who are not presenters of truth, but presenters of controversy. Thus they did not highlight the real and budding problems for Pakistan ahead of time, and then wind up blaming Musharraf for them – for example the power crisis.

Although the power crisis is exacerbated by the PPP government’s refusal to pay the IPPs (independent power producers), and negotiation of newer power contracts at higher rates (perhaps is a way to strongarm the IPPs to pay “commission” to Zardari), there still was a (albeit smaller) crisis in the making because of all the consumer electronics (ballooning of airconditioners) which ramped up consumption.

Where were the big business interests (once again they demonstrate how big business in Pakistan has not graduated from the “Seth” mentality seeking political favour under one leadership or the other regardless of the overall policy impact for Pakistan), and where were the media in highlight the imminent power crisis.

Also the blind spot in the media to the reality of the “Lawyer’s movement”. Their lack of focus on why the Supreme Judicial Council failed to examine the accusations against Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry. The financial backing by Benazir to get better terms in NRO negotiations and after the departure of the PPP “former-Jiyala” lawyers, the resuscitation by Nawaz Sharif to a movement that mustered few lawyers, though it compensated with support from Nawaz Sharif voting base.

Add to this the presence of foreign funding to Geo and AAJ TV in the form of payments for airing VOA programs.

And you have the makings of a perfect storm of media coverage that covers one side of the story, but chooses to keep quiet about the moderating caveats in the story. This “movement” has been likened to the “mass uprising” in Iran against the Mossadegh government by Zaid Hamid (the Brasstacks defence analyst). The anti-Mossadegh movement was a CIA operation to remove a leader who was being seen as constraining for U.S. interest at that time.

Although realistically, in the case of Musharraf, even if there was a need for “regime change” by the U.S. it was probably a combination of getting better terms for drone flights, expansion of U.S. embassy as well as reintroducing the policial figures back into Pakistan.

This was a need probably realized by Musharraf himself – the removal of the political forces (which includes feudal and entrenched forces) had created a vacuum, which rather than being filled by educated youth and new idealistic leaders wound up being filled by the religious forces which were primed (with weapons) following the Afghan wars, Saudi funding (proxy war against Iran) and drug money to crimianl elements in FATA.

The corruption probes had mainly affected PPP and PML-N (and PML-Q some of who had been forgiven for exigency sake). Many cases were instigated by PPP or PML-N themselves against the other – and not Musharraf. The cases had languished in courts and the incompetent (and underpaid) legal system had not handled them well. In the absence of these political forces, the “religious” parties saw great opportunity (as if there can be such a thing in Islam – since what is a “religious” in a state full of muslims ?).

The fallout of 911 and the activated anti-U.S. sentiment did not help either – as the religious parties could make that their banner (even though when the time comes they would kowtow to the U.S. even more). Thus the religious parties used this time to foment domestic dissention at a time of great foreign threat to Pakistan.

On the other hand, it may have been used by Musharraf as well – NOT as media is prone to say to “bolster his own position” – but to argue for why Pakistan ‘could not do more”. Yet few in the media understood or bothered to care for these undercurrents.

Links:
1/5 Musharraf interview – Frontline with Kamran Shahid – Express News TV – Sept 13, 2009
2/5 Musharraf interview – Frontline with Kamran Shahid – Express News TV – Sept 13, 2009
3/5 Musharraf interview – Frontline with Kamran Shahid – Express News TV – Sept 13, 2009
4/5 Musharraf interview – Frontline with Kamran Shahid – Express News TV – Sept 13, 2009
5/5 Musharraf interview – Frontline with Kamran Shahid – Express News TV – Sept 13, 2009

Mohammed Mosaddeq

Dr. Danish interviews Musharraf on ARY TV – September 11, 2009.

Links:
1/6 Musharraf interview – Dr. Danish – ARY TV – Sept 11, 2009
2/6 Musharraf interview – Dr. Danish – ARY TV – Sept 11, 2009
3/6 Musharraf interview – Dr. Danish – ARY TV – Sept 11, 2009
4/6 Musharraf interview – Dr. Danish – ARY TV – Sept 11, 2009
5/6 Musharraf interview – Dr. Danish – ARY TV – Sept 11, 2009
6/6 Musharraf interview – Dr. Danish – ARY TV – Sept 11, 2009