PAKISTAN NEWS SERVICE
Vol.8 No.M064
13 Rabbi-ul-awal 1416 Hijri Thursday August 10, 1995
Editor: Asim Mughal PAKISTAN@ASUACAD.BITnet
SOURCES: The Nation Headline News (August 08, 1995)
Courtesy: IMRAN-Net
Received from Pakistan
Contents
- Nation Editorial: Benazir's
- Afghan FM supports Pak stance
- Conspiracies to form official
- Govt also seeks Shahbaz
- Begum Salma passes away
- Brown Amendment not end of the
from
IMRAN-Net/Nation
Nation Editorial: Benazir's self-reflection
In a wide ranging review of her government's policies and performance
during a talk with newspaper editors and columnists in Lahore the other
day, Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto expatiated on economics, foreign
policy and domestic politics. On the economic front, the PM painted a
picture that appeared rosier than the facts on the ground would tend to
support. For example, she claimed that exports had risen by 17 per cent
last year as compared to 1 2 per cent the previous year, despite heavy
floods and the troubles in Karachi. Of the $ billion MoUs signed with
foreign investors, financial closures of some $ 2 billion had been
achieved in the two years ending June '95.
The PM said machinery imports are up by 23 per cent, implying investment
is up, although how this can be reconciled with reports of factory
closures, particularly in the textile sector, now exacerbated by the
recent increase in electricity tariffs, is beyond comprehension. She
blithely explained a way the deadlock in negotiations with the IMF by
stating that there is no difference of opinion on the direction of
reform, only on the pace of change. The IMF had desired a lowering of
tariffs from 70 per cent to 55 per cent and of the budget deficit from
5.4 per cent to 4 per cent this year. But these conditionalities would
have required additional taxation of Rs 55 billion, which would have
been highly inflationary. Therefore, the government had opted instead
for a more gradual tariff reduction to 65 per cent and a target for the
budget deficit of 5 per cent. The PM claimed the withholding of the
IMF's tranche of $ 300 million was not worrying since the foreign
exchange reserves were healthy. The PM also claimed the rate of increase
in unemployment had slowed this year because of the government's
emphasis on vocational training in skills of which there was a shortage.
On foreign policy, Benazir pointed to the changed climate of opinion in
the US administration and Congress due to her government's lobbying
efforts and especially her visit to Washington earlier this year. She
explained away the seeming setback in efforts to forge a one-time waiver
to the Pressler Amendment because of the issue being postponed in the US
Congress to September as due to internal American politics over which
Pakistan had little control. She said Pakistan was on the verge of being
declared a terrorist state when she took over, but her government had
improved Pakistan's image internationally and brought the Kashmir issue
alive at every available international forum.
She presented a public visage of all being basically well in the PDF
coalition in Punjab, barring minor irritants not surprising in a new
experience of coalition government with the minority party's Chief
Minister in office. She felt her government's efforts for urban
development would reap political benefits to overcome her party's poor
showing in the cities in the 1993 elections. On Karachi, Ms Benazir
Bhutto was highly critical of the MQM as a militant organisation
believing in terrorism and violence. She was adamant that a political
solution through dialogue with the MQM could only come about when they
abandoned armed struggle and reverted to peaceful politics within the
parameters of the democratic system. She made a reference to India's
fishing in the troubled waters of Karachi but reiterated forcefully that
Pakistan could not be held hostage to a law and order situation in some
parts of Karachi. She therefore envisaged a solution of the problems
confronting Karachi as a long haul and said at least 12-18 months were
required before there could be any light at the end of the tunnel.
Clearly, while there could be many points in her review with which it is
possible to disagree, the crucial one is that the PM needs to be
reminded once again that no matter how much merit in her views on the
MQM, there is no escape from the necessity to continue the dialogue with
it. What she should consider perhaps is whether her stated views on
Altaf Hussain and company will help or hinder that effort. The political
objective of settling Karachi and the political will to bring that
about, no matter what the obstacles, should both not be lost sight of.
from
IMRAN-Net/Nation
Afghan FM supports Pak stance on Kashmir
ISLAMABAD (APP)-Pakistan has expressed its desire for an early and
peaceful settlement in Afghanistan based on the wishes of the Afghan
leaders and people.
This was stated in a joint communique issued after the visit of the
foreign minister Sardar Aseff Ahmed Ali to Afghanistan during which he
held extensive discussions in a cordial atmosphere with President
Burhanuddin Rabbani, Foreign minister Dr Najibullah Lafraie, Commander
Ahmad Shah Masood, caretaker Prime Minister Ahmad Shah Ahmadzai,
Planning Minister Syed Mohammad Ali Javed, Health minister Dr Barakzai
and Professor Sayyaf.
In the communique the foreign minister reaffirmed Pakistan's abiding
commitment to the unity, progress and prosperity of the fraternal people
of Afghanistan with whom the people of Pakistan were bound by ties of
faith, history and culture. This had been further reinforced by the
sacrifices of the Jehad which resulted in the restoration of Afghan
independence and sovereignty. Within this context Pakistan wanted an
early and peaceful settlement in Afghanistan based on the wishes of the
Afghan leaders and people.
from
IMRAN-Net/Nation
Conspiracies to form official MQM will fail: Altaf
LONDON-MQM leader Altaf Hussain has said that all conspiracies to form
'official MQM' will fail and the world will see that Altaf Hussain
cannot be separated from the people.
He said that entire Mohajir community is being subjected to atrocities.
"We don't get justice from courts, President is indifferent to us, where
should we go," he said. He said in this hour of trial, the Mohajirs will
have to help each other and make collective efforts to find out solution
to their problems.
He said that every Mohajir abroad should give one per cent of his income
to 'Mohajir Qaumi Fund'. He said this in a telephonic address to the
Mohajirs living in 19 cities of America and Canada. In his address,
Altaf Hussain announced the establishment of 'Mohajir Qaumi Fund' in
America and Canada, which was welcomed by the audience.
Altaf Hussain said that atrocities are being committed on Mohajirs since
June 19, 1992. He said several houses were destroyed, youth were killed,
women were molested and the whole Mohajir community was humiliated. He
said those Mohajirs who are living abroad should thank God that their
lives are safe but what is the fault of those Mohajirs who are being
crushed in their own country.
from
IMRAN-Net/Nation
Govt also seeks Shahbaz extradition from UK
LONDON-The Government of Pakistan, through a formal request to British
Home Department, has asked for the extradition of Central leader of PML
(N) and young brother of the Leader of the Opposition Nawaz Sharif, Mian
Shehbaz Sharif.
A responsible officer attached with British Home Department confided
that Government of Pakistan in its extradition request to the UK has
declared Shehbaz Sharif a proclaimed absconder against whom there are
cases of heinous nature, registered in Pakistan and the Pakistani
lawenforcement agencies are desirous of interrogating him.
from
IMRAN-Net/Nation
Begum Salma passes away
LAHORE---Renowned Pakistan Movement worker Begum Salma Tasaddaq Hussain
passed away here at 5:15 in the evening on Monday. She was 90. Her
funeral will be taken out from 54 Main Gulberg, the residence of her son
Justice Aslam Riaz Hussain after Asr prayers on Tuesday (today).
Begum Salma Tasaddaq Hussain remained a close associate of Quaid-i-Azam
Muhammad Ali Jinnah throughout the struggle for Pakistan. Taking an
active part in the Movement she attended a number of conferences which
were presided over by Quaid-i-Azam.
In 1958 she was made Provincial Minister. She also wrote four books.
During Pakistan Movement, Begum Salma Tasaddaq Hussain distinguished
herself by organising the women workers of Pakistan Muslim League. For a
consider able time she served as Chairperson Hilale Ahmar besides
patronising several other social and welfare organisations.
from
IMRAN-Net/Nation
Brown Amendment not end of the road for Pakistan
WASHINGTON-The Brown move to weaken and water down the obstructive
Pressler law failed as much due to the hostile and brazenly partisan
attitude of a few Senators as to the fractured and almost litigious
atmosphere that prevails in this Republican-run Congress where
everything is either black or white.
Anything supported by the Democratic administration is black and is
opposed out of a sense of duty, other things being equal. The chances of
a cloture - or closure without further debate - of the Defence
Authorisation bill to which the Brown amendment was attached are minimal
to the extent of being non-existent. The Brown amendment was tagged on
to the Defence bill because President Clinton had threatened to veto the
Foreign Aid bill if certain amendments were made to it by the
Republicans. The Brown initiative was originally to ride on that bill.
There are two things that can happen now. Either it will be introduced
as a free-floating, independent piece of legislation or it will be
appended to the Foreign Operations bill when Congress reassembles after
the fall recess in September. The great advantage of taking the second
course is that the Foreign Operations bill has to go through in modified
or unmodified form before the launching of the federal budget on 1st
October.
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| Pakistan News Service - Executive Board (Active) |
| ------------------------------------------------ |
| Nauman Kassim Mysorewala, Asim Mughal |
| Syed Irfan Ashraf, Syed Asim Ali |
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