Pakistan is in very difficult situation now. Its integrity is on stake. Powerful Pakistan is not acceptable to some foreign enemies and they have found support from inside of Pakistan, either by conspiracy or on remuneration to some. This is the time when patriotic people of Pakistan must stand up and speak up on any national or international forums.

Patriotism of some Pakistan’s political lords is questionable but Pakistan’s general public, its elite class, its writers, its poets, majority of media & TV anchors and the Pakistan armed forces are for sure very patriotic and very powerful.

Pakistani armed forces patriotism is unquestionable and they have the capacity to handle the situation playing their role within Pakistan’s constitution. What is required is to show them our love and support.

Your participation is much needed and is very crucial. FOP and all of its chapters world-wide are ready to play their role at these crucial moments and will announce an action plan very soon. Do not underestimate your power, your impact may not be very visible but will be very effective.

Stays unite and pray for the best.-Friends Of Pakistan

SANYA: Applauding China’s support and help to his country, President Asif Ali Zardari said here Friday that China was a sincere friend of Pakistan. Pakistan was devoted to promoting friendly relations with China, President Zardari said this during a meeting with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on the sidelines of Boao Forum for Asia.

In coping with the challenges of the global financial crisis, Zardari said Pakistan hoped the two countries would increase cooperation in economy, trade, finance and security, which would help strengthen confidence of the Pakistani people in overcoming current difficulties, the Xinhua news reported. Pakistan will keep coordination with China in regional affairs, he said.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said that consolidation and development of Chin?Pakistan relations serve as a priority of his country’s foreign policy. As an all?weather friend of Pakistan, China is ready to offer help for the country’s stability and development, and also welcomes the international community’s constructive role in this regard.

The Chinese premier called on both countries to implement large?scale energy and transportation cooperation projects already signed by leaders of the two countries, and explore new ways to expand bilateral cooperation and bring more benefits to the two peoples.

China is ready to work with Pakistan to safeguard regional stability and peace, Premier Wen added. President Zardari arrived here on Friday afternoon to attend the 2009 meeting of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) from April 17 to 19.-APP

TOKYO: President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday vowed to retrieve the country from various challenges including economic and security through home?grown strategies and by following the policy of reconciliation and dialogue. The President was addressing the Pakistani community here, after he arrived in Tokyo to attend the Friends of Democratic Pakistan (FODP) ministerial meeting and the donors’ conference being hosted by Japan.

He said whenever the PPP came into power it had to confront with different problems, but the party always faced the situation with great courage and took the country on forward path by converting the weaknesses into strength.

The President said the present PPP government despite the economic crisis it inherited from the previous regime conceived and implemented a home?grown strategy to save the country from the massive impact of global recession. He said the PPP government also engaged the world community to get them realize the problems faced by Pakistan, a front?line state in the fight against terrorism, and help the country.

The President said the concept of FODP initiative, launched by him in New York in September, was also part of this engagement which was aimed at helping Pakistan and the region, facing the menace of terrorism and militancy which could affect the peace of whole world. “As today’s world has turned into a globe, no country can avoid the impact of any happening in any part,” he added.

The President said there was a growing sense of realization in the world about the problems faced by the Muslim world, adding, whereas the Muslim countries were also alive of the situation and were striving to present the true image of Islam before the world contrary to what was being portrayed by the extremist elements.

He said as Islam is a religion of peace, tolerance, brotherhood and harmony, the forces who are portraying Islam in a wrong way by following the path of aggression, will face defeat. The President said with this approach the present government was talking to the world, telling them that the majority of people in Pakistan including in the tribal areas were moderate and peace?loving. “If the people in Wana vote for PPP candidates, it gives a message that if they cannot fight (with the militants) they can express their opinion by giving vote to moderate elements,” he said.

Referring to the peace agreement with Malakand Division (Swat), the President said that is not a Shariat Bill rather Nizam?e?Adl Regulation ? an agreement negotiated and reached between the provincial government and local people in Swat.

He said the regulation is aimed at providing speedy justice to the people of that area, which had their own views and opinion about resolving the problems faced by the people in that area. The President, however, added that now with this regulation in place, the people with whom the provincial government has reached the agreement are responsible for the establishment of peace in Malakand.

He further said that this agreement should not be taken as a weakness of the government or the state, rather is meant to resolve the issues through the policy of dialogue and reconciliation, which is hallmark of the PPP. “We talk about dialogue in Balochistan, in Wana and in the whole of Pakistan, as Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto also talked of reconciliation in her last book.”

The President said the PPP government wanted to get the world realize that the issues can be resolved through dialogue and in this way defeating those elements who want clash of civilizations.

He referred to the PPP government’s engagement with the world community to resolve the issues amicably and said it is always democratic dispensation which believes in dialogue and development for the benefit of people and country instead of individual benefits by the dictators. The President said the PPP government wants strengthening of institutions, poverty alleviation, as well as tackling all other challenges, adding, the FODP ministerial meeting is expected to come up with effective support from the international community for the democratic Pakistan.

He also referred to the appointment of special envoys for Pakistan by the major countries and it was a positive development and will help Pakistan get much needed assistance support for development and progress. “Our spirits are high. We have never accepted defeat and will Insha Allah take the country out of various challenges.”-APP

WASHINGTON – The CIA is decommissioning the secret overseas prisons where top Al-Qaida suspects were subjected to interrogation methods, including simulated drowning, that Attorney General Eric Holder , allied governments, the Red Cross and numerous other experts consider torture, the agency said Thursday.

In an e-mail to the agency’s work force outlining current interrogation and detention policies, CIA Director Leon Panetta also announced that agreements with the private security firms guarding the so-called black sites will be “promptly terminated,” and contractors no longer will be used to conduct interrogations.

Panetta, however, said that CIA officers who were involved in interrogations using “enhanced” methods authorized by the Justice Department during the Bush administration “should not be investigated, let alone punished.”

The Justice Department is investigating the destruction of CIA interrogation videotapes, while the Senate Intelligence Committee has launched an inquiry into the interrogation and detention program authorized by the Bush administration as part of its post-9/11 “war on terrorism.”

Sen. Patrick Leahy , D- Vt ., the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee , has called for the creation of a truth commission to investigate the Bush administration’s detainee policies, but so far the Obama administration has shown little appetite for the idea.

The steps announced by Panetta are consistent with a Jan. 22 executive order in which President Barack Obama directed the CIA to halt the use of its secret overseas detention facilities and use only interrogation procedures authorized by an Army Field Manual.

Panetta’s actions follow the leaking of a confidential February 2007 International Committee of the Red Cross report, made public this week by The New York Review of Books, that concluded that descriptions of the interrogation methods provided in interviews by 14 detainees who underwent them “amounted to torture and/or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment” under international law.

In his e-mail, a copy of which was released by the CIA , Panetta told his work force that he’d written letters to the Senate and House of Representatives intelligence committees outlining the agency’s “current policy regarding interrogation of captured terrorists.”

He said he wrote the letters because of ongoing “media and congressional interest” in the detention and interrogation procedures the CIA used from 2002 until Obama’s executive order, as well as questions about the agency’s use of contract interrogators.

“No CIA contractors will conduct interrogations,” Panetta wrote. Panetta said his agency’s pursuit of al Qaida and allied groups has continued “undiminished” in “strict accord” with Obama’s order. ” CIA officers do not tolerate, and will continue to promptly report, any inappropriate behavior or allegations of abuse. That holds true whether a suspect is in the custody of an American partner or foreign liaison service,” he continued, adding that the agency hasn’t detained any suspects since he became director in February.

The decision to terminate contract interrogators followed expressions of concern by lawmakers about the CIA’s use of such personnel, one of whom, David Passaro , was convicted in 2006 of abusing an Afghan detainee in 2003 at a U.S. base in Afghanistan . The detainee later died.

Panetta said the CIA “no longer operates” detention facilities and has developed a plan to “decommission” them that includes terminating the contracts with the private security firms that guard them.

“I have directed our Agency personnel to take charge of the decommissioning process,” he wrote. “It is estimated that our taking over site security will result in savings of up to $4 million .”

Critics of the Bush administration’s detainee policies welcomed Panetta’s e-mail. “I have long fought to ban the use of contractors in interrogations and detention operations,” Sen. Diane Feinstein , D- Calif. , the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee , said in a statement. “So, I am very pleased that Mr. Panetta has announced that contractors will no longer conduct interrogations.”

The CIA has refused to disclose the locations of its detention facilities. They reportedly are in Afghanistan , Jordan , Poland , Romania and Thailand , and CIA officials have said that they held fewer than 100 suspected terrorists.

Panetta said that the CIA is still allowed to hold terror suspects “on a short-term transitory basis,” but that, “We anticipate that we would quickly turn over any person in our custody to U.S. military authorities or to their country of jurisdiction, depending on the situation.”

The “enhanced” interrogation methods authorized by the Bush administration starting in 2002 included waterboarding, a procedure that simulates drowning. At least three detainees were subjected to the procedure, including Khalid Sheik Mohammed, the alleged chief architect of the Sept. 11, 2001 , attacks.

During his confirmation hearing, Holder departed from Bush administration policies by declaring that “waterboarding is torture” and that “no one is above the law.”

ICRC Report

Chairman Friends of Pakistan Srafraz Khan has said that This is the first step towards our goal to have ‘Right of Vote and Representation in Pakistani Parliament; . We are fully prepared for this noble task. According to details Pakistan Election Commission finally has decided to consider the election for overseas Pakistan who are out of Pakistan on request of Friends of Pakistan. Email received from the chairman Friends of Pakistan Srafraz Khan reveals that Election Commission is preparing for Expatriate’s Vote in Next Election.

Quoting Kanwar Mohammad Dilshad Secretary Pakistan Election Commission; email revealed that Expatriate would be able to Vote in Next Election. In this regard Election Commission is preparing for all necessary steps to hold election in overseas countries.

Chairman Friends of Pakistan Srafraz Khan has advised overseas Pakistanis to stay ambitious to get bigger goals. -FOP

Federal Minister for overseas Pakistanis Dr. Farooq Sattar on Tuesday said that Overseas Pakistanis would be given seats in the Parliament and the Senate. Addressing High Profile Pakistan International Council seminar organized by Pakistan’s Ambassador at Large, Mr. Javed Malik, held here, he said, “We agreed to prepare a piece of legislation which would create a few seats for overseas Pakistanis to our national assembly, to our senate and to our provincial legislature”.

“This exists in some of the most modern countries of the world like China, Germany and Italy, where overseas citizens have representation back home in their own parliaments”, he added. Appreciating the idea of formation of Pakistan International Council to play a key role in uniting the overseas Pakistani community, he said that the overseas Pakistanis would be given a status of a VIP when coming back home.

He said he was already working on ensuring that they were also given a right to vote in Parliament. Speaking on the occasion, Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad appreciated the efforts of Pakistan’s Ambassador at Large, Javed Malik and assured him of the full support of the government.

He called on the overseas based Pakistanis are an asset for Pakistan and the government will do all that it can to ensure that they are supported in every way. speaking on the occasion, Pakistan’s Ambassador at Large, Javed Malik appreciated the role being played by overseas Pakistanis and said that the government was working on a series of initiatives to recognize their contributions not only to support Pakistan but also in highlighting the positive image of the country.

He also paid rich tributes to Friends of Pakistan, and said ”in addition to the overseas Pakistanis, we will also recognize and appreciate the support of Friends of Pakistan, these are people who may not be Pakistani by nationality but have a great interest with Pakistan”.

“We appreciate the support of our friends. We will demonstrate this appreciation through Prime Minister’s Global Pakistani Awards which have been launched on directives of the Prime Minister of Pakistan to honour, recognize and appreciate the role of overseas Pakistanis and Friends of Pakistan annually”, he added.

Deputy Speaker of National Assembly, Faisal Karim Kundi, other Federal Ministers and Mayor of Karachi, and distinguished Middle East based Pakistanis, a large number of Arab personalities including members of the Royal family and leading businessmen were present on the occasion. -SANA

The Friends of Pakistan condemn Mumbai terror attack in which a number of innocent people have been killed. This was stated in brief statement issued by Friends of Pakistan here at Cerritos, California, USA. Statement further said that killing innocent people is prohibited in every religion and society and there is no justification at all. Our heart and souls are full of sorrow at this moment.

Pakistan is already fighting war against terror and thousands of innocent people have died inside Pakistan since last year only and we are the bigger victims of this menace, we as Pakistani expatriates always condemn all kind of terrorism. We offer sympathy with survival’s families and we pray for them.

We also mentioned here that living in Los Angeles area both community have an excellent relationship and have been engaged in several joint philanthropic projects. We urge Indian government not to put any blame on Pakistan without any solid evidence. Stable Pakistan is in favor of India and whole world as well. Stability of both countries will provide better chance to poor people in the region to live in prosperity and peace.

ISLAMABAD: Adviser to Prime Minister on Finance and Economic Affairs, Mr. Shaukat Tarin held a meeting with Ambassador of France, Mr. Daniel Jauanneau on Friday. Mr. Shaukat Tarin briefed the Ambassador on GOP’s Nine Point agenda that principally focuses Economic Stabilization Plan and over all restoration of economic health in view of ongoing global financial crisis that has regional overtones. Both the sides exchanged views on mattes relating to bilateral economic cooperation and expansion of trade related ties between the two friendly countries.

Currently Pakistan was working on enhancing tax-to-GDP ratio in order o meet domestic economic policy requirements. Pakistan has finalized its homegrown economic stabilization programme that has been endorsed by IMF and appreciated by Friends of Pakistan. Pakistan was working hard to gear up its domestic economic policies in a manner that (firstly) imbalances in domestic economy are addressed and (secondly) it is placed on a fast-tracked development pace, Mr. Shaukat Tarin added.

GOP was putting in place an indigenous revenue generation plan that brings all sectors of economy into tax net to increase the revenue earnings, simultaneously paying attention to education, health, and infrastructure development. Stabilization of macro-economic indicators was GOP’s another priority area. We are also bringing 7 million households into social safety net by providing them income support, health and education cover. Human resource development and skill development is another priority area. An integrated energy generation plan to meet energy requirements of commercial, domestic and industrial sectors was being put in place, Adviser added.

The discussion also focused on revamping of Planning Commission in Pakistan with an Overarching Policy Board that dynamically speeds up the implementation of all economic, development and social sector planning. Ambassador of France appreciated GOP’s political vision in fast-tracking its development agenda in sync with all stakeholders, adding that MOF may plan to meet its foreign development partners based in Islamabad in order to brief them on GOP’s ongoing economic development agenda, adding that MOF may make a presentation to zealous Pakistani investors based in Canada who were willing to be potential investors in Pakistan as he learnt it during his stay in Canada.

Adviser to PM on Finance agreed to go ahead with the proposal in weeks to come after necessary homework. Mr. Shaukat Tarin also briefed French Ambassador on rightsizing of state institutions in corporate sector in order to make them profitable units – a step that would help beef up domestic economy. Efforts were underway to shore up Pakistan’s forex reserve levels besides bringing the fiscal deficit down. Moreover, Pakistan has introduced a set of domestic policy framework to build its macro-economic indicators, Adviser explained.

Project financing was the major area wherein Pakistan and Friends of Pakistan are working together. The idea was to put in place a sustainable system of project-based development that was bilaterally beneficial to foreign investors and domestic partners, and ensure a system of development that was not lopsided. People of Pakistan, on 18th February, 2008, have mandated liberal political leadership into power that clearly reflects that people of Pakistan want to see their country, amongst comity of nations, as a liberal, progressive and fastly-developing Islamic state that pursues policies consistent with globally-accepted political norms. This was a key to Pakistan’s progress, Mr. Shaukat Tarin concluded.-SANA

MULTAN: Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Sunday said that the political wing of the ISI was disbanded and termed it a positive development. While talking to the media persons at the local airport Sunday, Qureshi pointed out that ISI is a precious national institution and it wants to focus fully on counter-terrorism activities.

He said that the government was making all out efforts for repatriation of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui from US to Pakistan and expressed the hope that these efforts would bear fruit. He announced that her son has already been brought back to Pakistan.

He dispelled the impression that agriculture income tax was among the conditions for IMF bailout plan, neither was it a condition nor this tax was under consideration these days, FM said adding that this tax was a provincial subject. He said that IMF package was meant to fill the immediate resource gap and to pursue an economic stabilization plan. He reiterated resolve to improve ties with India saying that his visit to the neighboring country will help remove misunderstandings between the two countries.

He said that he would meet his counterpart Pranab Mukherjee and Indian leadership and bilateral issues will be discussed during the interaction. He hoped that his visit to India will help bridge the gulf and end trust deficit between the two countries and will prove fruitful in strengthening ties with India.
Foreign Minister said that it is our desire that both countries should live like friendly neighbors. He said that he will talk to the Indian leadership on water issue and added that Kashmir issue, already being a part of the composite dialogue between the two countries, will also be discussed.

About the Indian cricket team’s forthcoming tour to Pakistan, he said that the government wishes that Indian cricket squad should visit Pakistan. He added that government wants to improve people-to-people contact with India and exchange of delegations such as cultural delegations and sports teams will help improve relationships. He said that intellectuals, authors and sports persons of the two countries should have frequent interaction through exchange of delegations. Chief operating officer PCB Saleem Altaf said that Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Ijaz Butt will visit to India this month.

To a question, Qureshi categorically said there was no possibility of martial law in the country stating that the government, the parliament and the armed forces have unanimity of views on national issues. People may have this view but we do not agree with it, FM said adding that we are moving forward to combat challenges with consultations and understanding.

Mehmood Qureshi disclosed that after the Jan 13-16 expert level meeting scheduled to be held in Islamabad, he will invite FoDP Foreign Ministers to Pakistan in February next to move ahead with the plan to combat economic and security challenges confronting Pakistan.

About the IMF bailout package that is expected to be approved on Nov 24, Shah Mehmood Qureshi said its approval will pave the way for more assistance from other international financial institutions like World Bank, Asian Development Bank (ADB), Islamic Development Bank besides the Friends of Democratic Pakistan (FoDP) Group and other countries.

It was interesting and heartening to note that our home-grown plan prepared by 16-member panel of country’s economic experts headed by Dr. Hafeez Pasha that has also been discussed by the federal cabinet and the talks with IMF had similarities in approach and experts believe it was the best suitable option Pakistan could avail under the given conditions, FM said.

He said that Rupee was gaining strength against dollar and capital flight has stopped and hoped that capital flight phenomenon will soon witness a reverse trend with the arrival of foreign remittances. FM said that an expert level meeting will be held in Islamabad from Jan 13 to Jan 16 during which projects will be identified and discussed in four sectors with the assistance promised by FoDP in its Nov 17 meeting in Abu Dhabi.-SANA

The Friends of Pakistan (FOP) issued a press release to congratulate president-elect Barack Hussain Obama for his historical victory in presidential race. In a statement released today at Friends of Pakistan’s headquarters here at Cerritos, California said, Barack Obama’s victory is a beginning to a ‘Real Change’ in the United States of America and it will be beneficial to all of Americans.

The Friends of Pakistan hopes that President-elect Obama will choose and follow the policy of dialogue and diplomacy over war and confrontation in Iraq, Afghanistan and other part of the world and we further hopes that bilateral relations between US and Pakistan will strengthen during Mr. Obama’s presidency