Bilawal… or Bakhtawar?

KARACHI: Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari has decided to start practical politics in Pakistan very soon.

“Bakhtawar’s decision to enter into the politics of the country is a laudable act, which will bring a new socio-economic development for the democracy loving people, particularly women,” Advisor to Sindh Chief Minister Sharmila Farooqui said in a statement issued from her office on Thursday.

Farooqui said that Bakhtawar, by following the philosophy and wisdom of her mother Benazir Bhutto, would become the beacon of light for the downtrodden women and would struggle to ensure them a high status in society. Farooqui said that she will work parallel to the PPP government for the welfare of the people.

“Bakhtawar will revive her mother’s commitment and struggle for providing justice, freedom, social rights to the people besides raising the flag of her mother’s mission,” the advisor said.

Farooqui said “the time is not far when the daughter of a great mother Benazir Bhutto will rule the hearts of the Pakistani people by following her mother’s struggle to provide rights to the down-trodden people, strengthen democracy and lead the country towards real progress.”

Musharraf expected to return in September

LAHORE: Former president Pervez Musharraf is expected to announce his election manifesto in September on his return to the country.

This was announced by All Pakistan Muslim League Chief Coordinator Chaudhry Shahbaz during a press conference at the Lahore Press Club on Sunday.

He said the former president will face all charges against him, adding that the government is even free to probe Nawab Akbar Bugti’s assassination and the Lal Mosque carnage.

Shahbaz also disclosed the merger of the All Pakistan Muslim League and PML-Q in the days ahead.

Govt disowns hostile NAB missive

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Friday disowned a ‘hostile’ letter to the Supreme Court by an official of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), dubbing it the opinion of an individual and not the government.

Earlier this week, National Accountability Bureau’s prosecutor-general Irfan Qadir challenged the legality of an executive order, leading to the restoration of Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry and his fellow judges last year. The challenge was issued in a written rejoinder in a case regarding the Bank of Punjab scam currently being heard by the Supreme Court. But the advocate-on-record refused to file the same.

Political and legal experts saw the rejoinder as a veiled threat to an increasingly independent judiciary, which is currently hearing a multitude of cases against the government, its policies and the jewel in its crown, the 18th amendment. The apex court has also been insisting that the government implement its December 2009 verdict on the National Reconciliation Ordinance by reopening all cases of corruption closed by NAB, including  those against President Asif Ali Zardari. But on Friday, the premier shot down such speculation and insisted that the government doesn’t have any plans to go against the judiciary.

Fake degrees: 13 and counting

ISLAMABAD: The Higher Education Commission on Friday received objections on degrees of multiple senators and members of national and provincial assemblies.

The list of 13 fake degree holding parliamentarians now stands as follows:

1. PML-N MNA Syed Muhammad Salman Mohsin Gillani

2. PPP MPA Waseem Afzal Gondal

3. PML-Q MPA Samina Khawar Hayat

4. Senator Nawabzada Muhammad Akbar Magsi

5. MPA Rubina Zafar Zehri

Musharraf’s political party launched

KARACHI: With self-exiled retired General Pervez Musharraf as its chief, the All-Pakistan Muslim League was launched by his close aides here on Tuesday.

Equating the present situation with that of 1906 when the All-India Muslim League was launched, Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, a central leader of the new party, said that as the AIML overcame hurdles on its way to success, “God willing, ours would also become a popular political party and play its role in Pakistan’s progress.”

Speaking at a press conference at the Karachi Press Club with retired Major-General Rashid Qureshi, another central leader of the party, Mr Saif said the party was against hereditary politics and would carry out its politics in a democratic manner to serve the people.

Food for political thought

Even though he was widely dubbed as Mr 10% for most of the 1990s, President Asif Ali Zardari is now reportedly, a man of simple tastes.

According to a report published in The Express Tribune on May 31, Zardari has “a set choice of menu.”

“‘Asif Saheb takes toasted brown bread, a choice of egg with a glass of milk or a fresh juice for breakfast,’ according to an attendant. ‘For meals, he likes simple daal and rice with mixed vegetables.’ In case he has guests over, then special arrangements are made for meat items like chicken roast or fried fish.

Another staff member at Bilawal House said that depending upon his mood, Zardari has a taste for mushroom pizza which is usually ordered from the Marriott Hotel.

Bangladesh ‘blocks Facebook’ over political cartoons

Bangladesh has blocked access to Facebook after satirical images of the prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) and the country’s leaders were uploaded, say reports.

One man has been arrested and charged with “spreading malice and insulting the country’s leaders” with the images, an official told the AFP news agency.

Officials said the ban was temporary and access to the site would be restored once the images were removed.

It comes after Pakistan invoked a similar ban over “blasphemous content”.

A spokesman for the Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (BTRC) told AFP Facebook had “hurt the religious sentiments of the country’s majority Muslim population” by carrying “offensive images” of Mohammed (P.B.U.H).