Entries for November 2007

Hundreds at students’ convention demand a free judiciary

Chairman Tehreek-e-Insaf Imran Khan Friday strongly reacting to Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman’s statement wherein he has said that Nawaz Sharif has been taken hostage by letterhead parties said had the PTI adopted same approach as Maulana did, it would have got sufficient share in the government.

SCBA, LBA hail APDM's decision to go against elections | Imran to address LBA today | Lawyers’ delegation to meet Benazir to persuade her to boycott polls | Lawyers' strike enters 23rd day | 50,000 cases’ proceedings deferred due to strike

Over 600 students of LUMS, FAST, PU, BNU shout anti-Musharraf slogans | Demand restoration of deposed judges | Vow to continue protests

It was unanimously agreed in the meeting of APDM high command held the other day at Lahore that in case all opposition parties agree to boycott the elections and decide to launch joint movement against the Musharraf regime, Lahore-capital of Punjab, would be made centre of the movement, as indicated by some APDM leaders who attended the meeting.

The economy of Pakistan has grown on average at seven per cent during last four financial years. But does this impressive growth rate mean that the country is well and truly on a solid footing with regard to socio-economic development? The answer is not so straightforward.

PTI Belgium held a protest outside the European Parliament. Mr Akram Dhareejah, President PTI Europe, told all members/protestors that he was priviliged to be in Belgium and thanked Mr. Majid Sheikh for organizing the chapter in Belgium in a professional manner.

Viewers in Pakistan can now watch GEO on dish, whereas overseas Pakistanis can continue watching it as before

All 33 members of the APDM, minus the JUI-F, on Thursday announced boycott of the upcoming general elections, saying the decision would only be reviewed if President Pervez Musharraf restores the deposed judges of the superior judiciary. “We have a one-point agenda, and we will not compromise on it at any cost. We will boycott the sham elections,” said Mian Nawaz Sharif, while briefing the media after the meeting.

Justice Wajihuddin said the defensive argument used by political parties that, “boycotting elections would mean leaving a ground open for other parties to contest,” does not carry weight when it is evident that the elections would be rigged.

In a joint meeting on Wednesday, the Rawalpindi District Bar Association (RDBA) and the Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) urged all the political parties to boycott January 8 elections under the emergency rule.

Pakistan Tahreek-e-Insaf (PTI) will launch a campaign to mobilise civil society for the restoration of deposed judges if it fails to convince All Parties Democratic Movement (APDM) for the election boycott until the pre-November 3 judiciary is reinstated, said PTI Central Information Secretary Javed Iqbal.

First Youth Convention of PTI Peshawar was held at Salateen Hotel on 27th November 2007. The event was attended by approximately 200 students from different Departments of Peshawar University and other colleges of Peshawar.

Imran Khan has urged the youth to stand up in this crucial time saying a movement could not be successful without the participation of youth.

Bradford University Chancellor Imran Khan has thanked Bradford students and residents for campaigning for his release.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan announced on Monday that his party would boycott the elections and would opt out of the All Parties Democratic Movement (APDM) if any of its components contested the elections.

The General Secretary PTI Shahid Zulfiqar informed yesterday Sunday, November 25 that Tehreek-e-Insaf has decided to firmly and totally boycott the sham elections. PTI will not be issuing any tickets for the elections drama being orchestrated by Pervez Musharraf. No one in the central leadership of PTI will file nominations.

تحریک انصاف کے سربراہ عمران خان سمیت پارٹی کے تمام امیدواروں نے احتجاجی طور پر اپنے کاغذات نامزدگی پھاڑتے ہوئے قومی انتخابات کے بائیکاٹ کا اعلان کر دیا ہے۔

"I am tearing my nomination papers publicly because I feel that to even file my papers will be a betrayal of our judiciary."

All political parties, except the PTI of Imran Khan, will file the nomination papers of their candidates on Nov 26, keeping the option of a delayed boycott open.

PTI will be holding a massive protest outside the UN headquarters in Manhattan New York on Dec 1, 2007 from 12 to 3.30 PM. If you are able to come, please make sure you attend.

The Swedish Foreign affairs ministry, in response to an initiative by PTI Sweden said that the state of emergency and restrictions on media should be lifted,  the independent supreme court should be reinstated, and members of the political opposition freed.

Chairman Tehreek-e-Insaf Imran Khan has condemned blasts in Rawalpindi on Saturday, while showing concern about Munir A Malik's health.

The opposition alliance All Parties Democratic Movement (APDM) Saturday announced it will boycott the up-coming elections.

If there is one politician who has emerged tall during the stormy events of this year it is Imran. To judge by the courage and keen judgment of events he has shown, he may well be coming into his stride.

THE great Imran Khan announced, while he was in jail, a hunger strike until the judiciary is restored, emergency lifted and the situation returns to normal which sadly reminded me of a statement he once made on the state of affairs of cricket in Pakistan.

Pakistan has been suspended from the Commonwealth because of its imposition of emergency rule, the organisation has announced after a meeting in Uganda.

Javed Chaudry's column about Imran Khan in Daily Express.

Pakistan must reinstate all the judges dismissed under emergency rule or endure a "twisted form of democracy" where the judiciary is utterly subservient to the executive, UN human rights boss Louise Arbour said on Thursday.

The University of Bradford said it was "delighted" at the release of its Chancellor Imran Khan from prison in Pakistan.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chief, Imran Khan, newly released from jail, called Thursday for a sweeping boycott of upcoming general elections to avoid legitimizing emergency rule.

Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) Chief Imran Khan condemned the emergency rule and demanded the release of all political detainees in the country.

Imran Khan released from prison, party preparing for his reception in Lahore on Thursday.

Free Imran Khan: Bradford Students Rally to Free Their Chancellor

Threek e insaf uk demo in Birmingham friday 23rd 2:30pm

Imran Khan alleged on Wednesday that President General Pervez Musharraf had expressed the fear of the country’s nuclear weapons falling into the hands of extremists to win the West’s support for his unconstitutional stay in power.

Supreme Court Justice (Retd) Wajeehuddin Ahmed has strongly supported the hunger strike of Mr Imran Khan for the restoration of the judiciary.  In a discussion with Dr Arif Alvi the Vice President of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf he said that the hunger strike is a most significant part of the noble struggle being waged by the nation.  He appealed to the Pakistani people to bring about a change and put pressure on the establishment to mend their ways and return to the pre-PCO status.

"Imran has stopped eating since yesterday. We can't leave him alone. It is not a token hunger strike, it is a serious one," she said.

Imran Khan's message from D.G Khan jail

Imran Khan is the latest senior figure to be arrested in Pakistan as the government cracks down on internal dissent. His ex-wife Jemima Khan argues that Pervez Musharraf is proving to be the most repressive leader in the country's history.

Police took into custody over a dozen PTI activists when they tried to stage a demonstration at Regal Chowk on The Mall. Led by former MNA Mian Sajid Pervez and Tariq Farooq Mirza, they were assembling at the venue when police caught them unaware.

Musharrafs regime is on verge of collapse, despite US involvement: Imran Khan

Imran Khan continues hunger strike

SOAS  EVENT ON DEMOCRACY AND JUDICIAL SYSTEM

Chief of Tehreek-e-Insaf Imran Khan has started hunger strike till death in the jail, party sources said.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has rejected the caretaker government under Muhammadmian Soomro, saying it has been installed to rig the general elections.

Addressing a press conference on Sunday, PTI acting Chairman Hamid Khan said the caretaker set-up was unacceptable to the PTI, as well as to other political parties. He said Senate Chairman Muhammadmian Soomro was a part of the rubberstamp government working under President Musharraf and had provided legal cover to all undemocratic measures of the government.