Benazir Bhutto Chair at KU launched

KARACHI: The launching ceremony of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Chair at the University of Karachi was held at the campus on Tuesday. Sindh Culture Minister Sassui Palejo was the chief guest on the occasion.

The culture minister also presented a cheque of Rs 25 million, which was announced by Chief Minister Sindh Qaim Ali Shah at a function held at the University of Karachi. She promised to arrange a further Rs 100 million for research and other expenses of the chair. She announced that an auditorium would also be built in the university, with the capacity for 2,000 people where the offices of the Chair would be constructed.

Palejo said the basic objective of the chair should be to delve deep into the oriental school of thought introduced to the West by Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto by her ideologies that helped in bridging the gap between the East and the West, as her main objective was to end the clash between the two polarities.

In a message read out on the occasion, President Asif Ali Zardari said that there was a vast treasure of the ideas, thoughts and philosophy of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto as well as on the life she lived so gloriously and vigorously.

Vice-Chancellor of Karachi University Prof Dr Pirzada Qasim, PPP leaders Prof ND Khan and Taj Haider appreciating the efforts of establishing the chair, said it was pertinent to research and redefine the political and democratic philosophy of Benazir Bhutto because academia could not be separated from democracy.

Pirzada Qasim said that establishing this chair at Karachi University was similar to organising and rejuvenating the history of Pakistan.

Sino-Pak relations: from Bhutto to Zardari

Since assuming office, President Asif Ali Zardari has declared relations with China as the cornerstone of Pakistan’s foreign policy. To enhance and cement the bilateral relations, Zardari decided to visit China quarterly. The recent visit of President Asif Ali Zardari to China is the 5th in a series of visits that started since assuming the office in 2008. Zardari’s visit came at a time when Pakistan faces a difficult economic situation because of war against terrorism and when China has embarked on a policy to redefine its economic objectives with Pakistan in particular and the world in general.

It is important to mention here that since President Zardari assumed office, Pakistan and China have concluded 60 agreements. The main focus of the recent visit was on the new economic initiatives that have been launched recently. It includes building hydro dams, expanding banking operations, transfer of hybrid seed technology, roads and communication networks, cooperation in the agriculture sector by focusing on optimal utilisation of water and development of new high yielding varieties of wheat and cotton, Thar Coal Project and dredging of Tarbela reservoir.

President Zardari has continued his policy initiatives that were taken with his first state visit of China in October 2009. During his first state visit Pakistan and China signed 11 agreements on trade and economic cooperation, infrastructure projects, agriculture, mining and communication. In order to realize his objectives and to give practical shape to his ideals president Zardari visited China again in 2009. Several MoUs were signed between China and Pakistan to promote political understanding and cooperation between the two ruling parties. Zardari’s efforts were hailed by Chinese media.

President Zardari highlighted the need to cooperate in economic and energy sectors. It is worth mentioning here that during his first state visit President Zardari was greeted with 21-gun salute presented to any Pakistani head of state after over a decade.

By focusing on China on a priority basis President Zardari has continued the policy initiated by Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, the founder of the PPP and the prime minister of Pakistan in the 1970’s. Bhutto as foreign minister during the Ayub regime convinced the latter to open up with China. Bhutto visited Beijing and signed trade and military agreements with the Chinese government. As a result of these agreements China offered help to Pakistan in a number of military and industrial projects. Sino-Pakistan boundary agreement was signed in 1963. In the 1970’s the PPP government under Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto kept close relations with China.

Shaheed Benazir Bhutto followed in the footsteps of her father and cemented close ties with China. Recognising the efforts of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto in cementing closer ties between Pakistan and China, President Hu Jintao on October 26, 2008 said, “Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto made prominent contributions to the initiation and development of the China-Pakistan relationship, which the Chinese people will never forget.”

President Zardari has continued the Bhutto legacy of maintaining close relations with China. He has reiterated time and again that Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was the person who founded Pakistan’s relationship with China at a time when China was ostracised from the international community. Zardari has given a fresh impetus to those relations by announcing to visit China every three months.

President Zardari wants to build a robust relationship with China. During his first visit, Asif Ali Zardari visited different regions of China to get an eye witness account of Chinese economic development. He hailed China as “the future of the world.” During his recent visit Zardari met business and energy leaders of China. The main focus of these meetings was joint economic projects, promoting regional connectivity, counter militancy and terrorism, harnessing new sources of energy and enhancing people to people contacts between the two countries. The president addressed a forum in Beijing whose main focus was energy security for Pakistan.

Since Pakistan is a neighbour of the resource rich countries in the Middle East, Central Asia and West Asia, the president emphasized the need to establish energy trade corridors among these countries. China has also announced 50 million Yuan grant to Pakistan to undertake new projects. The two countries also signed an agreement on economic and technical cooperation. In this regard four MoUs were signed by the two presidents. They include health, agriculture, and geological survey.

The two sides agreed to hold meeting of the Pak-China Joint Economic Forum in Islamabad to decide on a host of issues ranging from currency swap to opening of branches of Chinese banks in Pakistan and relocating industries in the industrial zones. The Chinese commerce minister will visit Pakistan in this regard.

In order to fulfil Pakistan’s energy needs the China National Energy Administration will work out with Pakistani authorities modalities of tackling Pakistan’s energy needs. In order to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Pak-China diplomatic ties both countries decided to set up a special committee for the purpose.

In order to enhance regional connectivity both sides discussed the 500 million dollars Karakorum Highway up gradation and the National Trade Corridor. Both countries agreed to modernise transportation and trade. In a meeting with the Chinese ministers for Water Resources and Agriculture, President Zardari reviewed progress on the hybrid seed and irrigation projects. China also decided to increase scholarships for Pakistani students.

China has responded to Pakistan’s one China policy with an assurance to support Pakistan at UNO and at other multilateral forums. China has also assured Pakistan of full support in war against terrorism. While describing Pak-China relations President Hu Jintao said, “China is a friend and a strategic partner committed to the promotion of stability and economic progress of Pakistan. The two countries will continue to work together to further deepen people to people contacts.” To this president Zardari said, “It is our belief that Pakistan can act as force multiplier for China and we will continue to work towards this end.”

In order to fulfil Pakistan’s energy needs China has announced to install two nuclear reactors in Pakistan. On this president Zardari said that both the countries will honour their non-proliferation obligations while installing the reactors.

While commenting on President Zardari’s visit to China, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang said, “We believe that this visit of President Zardari has consolidated and deepened the traditional friendship of the two countries as well as boosted friendly exchanges and practical cooperation between the two parties which made it very successful visit.”

Viewing by these developments which took place during Zardari’s visit to China it can be concluded that the visit was a great success. Pakistan can draw benefits from Chinese experience and development in the technological field. Pakistan needs China and China needs Pakistan as both are confronted by a hostile neighbour. The writer is a Provincial Minister Sindh & Secretary Information PPP Women Wing Sindh,

Jostling, jeering and jabbering

Hey, I have a question. Why does it always have to be the Bhutto/Zardari children who get to visit China? This truly hurts my feelings sometimes. I mean, what's wrong with my children? Why don't they ever get to fly a free flight to China? Trust me, my children are a good-looking lot too. They photograph very well, are entirely Pakistani, come from a lineage of taxpaying ancestors and, to top it all, one of them even looks Chinese! I am sure if somebody could teach them how to eat with chopsticks, they would literally shine in China. Don't you think it is a matter of human rights here? The VIP children are regular globe-trotters, whereas my poor kids haven't even seen the Karachi airport. Tusk tusk, and I thought we were a democracy.

Please don't think I have anything against the Bhutto children. Those of us who have grown up on Benazir Bhutto's politics, and find her life struggle hopelessly romantic, have sure followed the aspect of her life called motherhood. O sure we love the Bhutto/Zardari trio. Who wouldn't who has a heart? We still well up every time we see the baby pictures. But as BB's voters, what we sure don't understand is what exactly young Bilawal was doing sitting next to President Obama, or why his picture once appeared next to the Quaid's on a billboard, or why Asifa appears on a polio vaccine advertisement.

Hey, I have a question. When are they going to find something for Bakhtawar?

But then a very strong argument is: who cares? This seems to be a pretty weighty argument around here, this 'who cares?' business. Especially when there is so much going on inside the country, who really cares what the VIP kids clap at in China, or which governor they endorse on a billboard? The only people who care are the agents of the establishment, namely the J for journalists, constantly conspiring to discredit the government 24/7.

Hey, I have a question. Who was trying to discredit the government in the US when the Obama girls planned that trip to Indonesia along with their daddy? Although the trip was official with some tracing of familial roots thrown in, and was later cancelled; yet we did hear something that sounded like taxpayers' expense!

But then this is Pakistan where since time immemorial there has been a tradition of grooming the VIP children to become future leaders. So it is grooming that is happening in China these days. Hey, I have a question. Since it is OK to groom one's kith and kin while on job doing business for the country, what is wrong with Shahid Afridi's children? Why don't we allow him to groom his children on the field and rid ourselves of the cricket board? The only thing he will have to do is give them a cricket ball to chew, tie a blindfold around their heads, and let them loose around the field. The more they run around clueless, dropping catches, munching balls, and hurting their fingernails or earlobes, the more they will be groomed for the future of cricket in Pakistan.

You know, this suggestion of mine is quite a hit in the Punjab Assembly. All the MPs have decided to do some grooming and brooming while on job. The strategy is three 'J'ayed; focusing on the art and craft of jostling, jeering and jabbering. The learners can take notes if they want to. The only condition is that they will have to spell their journals with a G.

Or was it generals with a J? Hey, wait a minute, I have a question…

Jostling, jeering and jabbering

Hey, I have a question. Why does it always have to be the Bhutto/Zardari children who get to visit China? This truly hurts my feelings sometimes. I mean, what's wrong with my children? Why don't they ever get to fly a free flight to China? Trust me, my children are a good-looking lot too. They photograph very well, are entirely Pakistani, come from a lineage of taxpaying ancestors and, to top it all, one of them even looks Chinese! I am sure if somebody could teach them how to eat with chopsticks, they would literally shine in China. Don't you think it is a matter of human rights here? The VIP children are regular globe-trotters, whereas my poor kids haven't even seen the Karachi airport. Tusk tusk, and I thought we were a democracy.

Please don't think I have anything against the Bhutto children. Those of us who have grown up on Benazir Bhutto's politics, and find her life struggle hopelessly romantic, have sure followed the aspect of her life called motherhood. O sure we love the Bhutto/Zardari trio. Who wouldn't who has a heart? We still well up every time we see the baby pictures. But as BB's voters, what we sure don't understand is what exactly young Bilawal was doing sitting next to President Obama, or why his picture once appeared next to the Quaid's on a billboard, or why Asifa appears on a polio vaccine advertisement.

Hey, I have a question. When are they going to find something for Bakhtawar?

But then a very strong argument is: who cares? This seems to be a pretty weighty argument around here, this 'who cares?' business. Especially when there is so much going on inside the country, who really cares what the VIP kids clap at in China, or which governor they endorse on a billboard? The only people who care are the agents of the establishment, namely the J for journalists, constantly conspiring to discredit the government 24/7.

Hey, I have a question. Who was trying to discredit the government in the US when the Obama girls planned that trip to Indonesia along with their daddy? Although the trip was official with some tracing of familial roots thrown in, and was later cancelled; yet we did hear something that sounded like taxpayers' expense!

But then this is Pakistan where since time immemorial there has been a tradition of grooming the VIP children to become future leaders. So it is grooming that is happening in China these days. Hey, I have a question. Since it is OK to groom one's kith and kin while on job doing business for the country, what is wrong with Shahid Afridi's children? Why don't we allow him to groom his children on the field and rid ourselves of the cricket board? The only thing he will have to do is give them a cricket ball to chew, tie a blindfold around their heads, and let them loose around the field. The more they run around clueless, dropping catches, munching balls, and hurting their fingernails or earlobes, the more they will be groomed for the future of cricket in Pakistan.

You know, this suggestion of mine is quite a hit in the Punjab Assembly. All the MPs have decided to do some grooming and brooming while on job. The strategy is three 'J'ayed; focusing on the art and craft of jostling, jeering and jabbering. The learners can take notes if they want to. The only condition is that they will have to spell their journals with a G.

Or was it generals with a J? Hey, wait a minute, I have a question…

Benazir's muder probe completed: Ban Ki-moon

New York, Jul 14: United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon told that the UN probe into the assassination of former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Benazir Bhutto, was complete.

Ban Ki-moon rejected Pak's appeal to reopen the UN probe into the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.


The three-member United Nations commission, which was headed by Chile's former UN ambassador Heraldo Munoz, presented its report on 15 Apr 2010.

On Jul 2010 Pakistan raised objections to the report and appealed UN to reopen the probe.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi wrote a letter to Ban Ki-moon stating the objections over several aspects of the report, including the panel's observations implying a nexus between the Pakistan Army and the Taliban.

54 year old Bhutto was killed on 27 Dec, 2007 when a suicide bomber exploded himself close to her car in Rawalpindi while she was campaigning for the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) in parliamentary and provincial elections.

The report slammed the Musharraf government for both failing to protect Bhutto after she returned to Pakistan and for not properly probing the circumstances leading to her murder.

The report also found that some elements of Pakistan's spy agency ISI deliberately prevented investigations.

UN report on Benazir

THE government’s reaction to the report of the United Nations Commission on Ms Benazir Bhutto’s murder, as expressed in a letter to the UN Secretary General, is surprisingly negative considering that the PPP had virtually based its post-murder election campaign on the holding of a UN enquiry into the murder. The President himself, who had been made a widower by the murder, had called for the UN enquiry. The enquiry itself, by a Commission headed by Chiles former UN ambassador Geraldo Munoz, was obtained only after great effort and with the country bearing all the expenses.

Just because the Commission did not play the role of an echo chamber, and reflect the government’s views, should not be the reason for such a rejection. The reasons given all reflect precisely the findings of the Commission that caused the greatest controversy when the report was made. The Foreign Minister’s letter defends the official agencies which the Commission had pointed at, including the intelligence agencies, as well as the PPP individuals responsible for Ms Bhutto’s security, including those who have not just been included in the Federal Cabinet, but are characterised as being virtual representatives of the President.
Another reason given for the rejection of the report, implied by the strong criticism of the report by the Foreign Minister, is the Commission’s failure to question foreign heads of state, including Afghan President Hamid Karzai. The letter also says that Pakistan refuses to be bound by any of the Commission’s findings. The only states with an animus against Pakistan sufficient to use the findings against it are India and the USA, both of which are unduly favoured by the present

government.
Before sending the letter, the PPP should have thought about its next step, now that its main plank in the 2009 election turned out to be a damp squib. If the Commission report does not lead to the arrest of the guilty, then what will. And that too with the PPP in power?

UN rules out reopening Benazir assassination inquiry report despite Pak's objection

The United Nations (UN) has ruled out reopening of the inquiry report over former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's assassination following Islamabad's objection.

Talking to journalists here, Farhan Haq, associate spokesman for the UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon said that the agency would soon reply to Pakistan's objections over the commission's report.

"We're working on the reply," Haq said, adding that the report will be given a shape of a legal document.

He said Ki-Moon had full confidence in the commission, and that he would soon respond to Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi's letter in which he had raised objections over the probe concerning Bhutto's murder.

Qureshi's letter states that the UN commission's observations about the Pakistan Army and the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) were not based on evidence.

"Comments and observations about the Pakistan Army, the Inter-Services Intelligence or the so-called establishment, are only the opinions of the members of the commission. They do not represent authenticated determinations based on any fact or evidence," Qureshi wrote in his letter, which has been made public by the UN.

Qureshi stated that the report has a serious flaw because the commission has failed to approach third party states or to provide some reliable information to unearth, if any, international linkages perpetrating, planning, financing or abetting Bhutto's assassination. (ANI)

Chinese exhibition prominently display Bhutto, Benazir pictures

Beijing, July 8 (APP): President Asif Ali Zardari inaugurated here on Thursday an exhibtion of Moenjodaro and Gandhara Civilisation at Tsinghua University in Beijing which prominently displayed Z.A.Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto pictures alongwith Mao Tse Tung painting.Pictures of the relics and artifacts of Moenjodaro and Gandhara civilisations and some rare pictures of Z. A Bhutto, Mao Tse Tung, Benazir Bhutto Shaheed, are also on display in week long exhibtion that is organised by Tsinghua Centre for Pakistan Culture and Communication.

Speaking on the occasion President Asif Ali Zardari said “China and Pakistan have great civilzational, cultural, historical similarities since we are part of same civilisation.”
He said we enjoy rich history of sharing knowledge as generations of chinese scholars, travellars, historians and Budhists monks have been engaged in learning at Taxila university of Gandhara Civilisation. Our heritage and civilzation has fascinated people of the world.
President Asif Ali Zardari was accompanied by his daughters Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari and Aseefa Bhutto Zardari. President said he would like that his daughters also study at this prestigious University.
President on his arrival was received by President of the Tsinghua University. President Zardari met faculty members of the University.
President Zardari in his remarks in the visitor book wrote” It is real pleasure to visit Tsinghua University which is Centre of academic Excellence in China and a nursery of outstanding scientists , engineers and Scholars who have steered China’s path to its progress and modernity today.
It is no less a tribute to its accomplishments that Chinese President Hu Jintao has been a student at this distinguished university and is now leading this great nation. It is my hope that the Pakistan Study Centre established at this University will help bring acedemic communities of the two countries closer to each other and take our time tested, all weather friendship from generation to generation.