Governor Ebad wants to lead Karachi operation

The News Tahir Hasan Khan Wednesday, September 18, 2013 From Print Edition KARACHI: The federal government has asked the disgruntled Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan to keep on hold his decision to resign from the office till the return of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif from Turkey later this week, MQM sources said on Tuesday. Ebad, the longest-serving governor in the history of Pakistan who is in office since December 2002, has expressed his displeasure over the command of the ongoing targeted action against criminals in Karachi. According to sources familiar with the situation, Ebad has conveyed to the federal government that being a representative of the federation, he should be commanding the operation instead of Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah and that he would only take back his decision to quit if his demand is considered seriously. “The governor has conveyed to the federal government that he would return to office only if his demand is met and the command of the operation is handed over to him rather than the chief minister,” said a senior leader of the MQM, requesting not to be named Sources also said that the leadership of the MQM, both in London and in Karachi, has also asked the governor to exercise his influence and build pressure on the federal government with regards to the ongoing operation. A top MQM leader Khalid Maqbool was also quoted as saying by some media reports that Governor Ebad may not return to his office. The MQM has raised serious reservations about the ongoing operation, saying that it was not across the board and was being used to target the party in an attempt to push it to the wall. The situation took an ugly turn last week with the arrest of Nadeem Hashmi, a former member of the Sindh Assembly belonging to the MQM, after which the governor also departed for Dubai. Hashmi was released on Tuesday. The MQM officially says that the governor had gone to Dubai because of the sickness of his wife, though sources say the main issue was the displeasure over the way the so-called targeted action was being conducted in Karachi. Prime Minister Sharif, meanwhile, is also unwilling to let Ebad leave the office of the governor, and has expressed the intention of resolving the issue.“The prime minister wanted the Sindh chief minister to accompany him to Turkey so that he could discuss the situation after the start of the operation as well as the issue of the governor’s resignation with him,” said a senior Sindh government official. “However, the chief minister declined the invitation politely, saying that as the captain of the operation he would want to stay back,” said the official.The demand by the governor to command the ongoing operation is likely to further widen the rift between the MQM and the Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP), the ruling party in the province. The two parties have been in a coalition in the previous government, both at the federal and the provincial level, though the relationship had remained far from being cordial.On several occasions the MQM decided to quit the coalition, only to rejoin later after assurances from the then government and the PPP leadership. However, after the May general elections, the MQM decided to part ways with the PPP and sit on the opposition benches in the Sindh Assembly.The PPP leadership has also denied allegations from the MQM that the ongoing operation is targeting the latter, exposing the differences between the two on important issues.

MQM wants Ebad replaced by Khalid Siddiqui London Group prevails on party leadership

The News 16 September 2013 LONDON/KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) wants Governor Sindh Ishratul Ebad Khan replaced by its newly-elevated Deputy Convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, but this desire has left two factions of the MQM pitched against each other, The News has learnt. Highly credible sources within the MQM’s UK and Pakistan chapters have disclosed to The News the inside story of what made the Governor Sindh to leave for Dubai with his family in a hurry, with the media speculating that Ebad had tendered his resignation in protest against the Karachi operation. It is true, confided the a top source, that Governor Ebad had presented his resignation despite the reservations of several people within the party but it has not been accepted yet and the party remains divided over it. It is believed that the federal government has conveyed the message that it is keen on keeping Ebad as the Governor Sindh. “Governor Ebad’s departure from Pakistan for Dubai has nothing to do with the operation by the Rangers. It has everything to do with the desire of a group within the MQM to get him replaced at all costs,” said the senior MQM source, privy to the party’s internal politics. The source said it was decided at the “top most” level in the party – on the initiative of the London Secretariat – that Governor Ibad should resign and then the MQM will get Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui in the Governor House. The source said: “Ishratul Ibad Khan is a widely respected figure who, through his untiring efforts, has advocated the case of the MQM in most hostile circumstances and has been successful. It’s his cool and calm demeanor and realism that has made him acceptable to all sides. He has always stood against radicalism but these qualities are hated by a faction within the MQM. Some hawks within the MQM don’t like him.” The source said that the MQM had sharply divided recently on various issues and there was an increasing feeling in the party that a “select group from London, oblivious of the ground realities in Pakistan” uses its physical closeness to the party leader to get its desired objectives met. This is not the first instance that the MQM leader has tendered his resignation and left for Dubai. He resigned several times before but withdrew his resignation on the insistence of Altaf Hussain and almost in all instances his resignation was not accepted by the federal government. His consistency and acceptability by all parties have earned him enemies within the party who think that Ibad doesn’t take a hawkish line. The MQM has said that the Karachi operation is “one-sided” being run by the Sindh government. The party has agitated widely after its former MQM lawmaker Nadeem Hashmi was nabbed by the Rangers.

Neither CJ, COAS want extensions,nor is government mulling over them Information minister

The News Ansar Abbasi Sunday, September 15, 2013 ISLAMABAD: Categorically refuting speculation and reports about a possible extension in the service period of Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, Information Minister and government spokesman Pervaiz Rashid on Saturday said those involved in such rumour-mongering were not only trying to malign the honourable CJP and the COAS, but also hurting the national interest. Talking to The News here, Pervaiz said both the CJP and the army chief were highly respected for their roles and contribution to the motherland but some elements were trying to drag them into unnecessary controversies. “Neither of the two has hinted, directly or indirectly, or shown any keenness to get extensions, nor is the government considering any such proposal. But these revered personalities are still being dragged into this controversy,” he said. Pervaiz Rashid said the army chief was not interested in getting any extension. “Even in the past, it was the PPP government that compelled him to get the extension,” the minister said, adding that the incumbent army chief had never hinted, directly or indirectly, to seek an extension. The minister said a person recently approached him saying that there were reports that the CJP would be given an extension by the government for the period he was put under illegal suspension. “I asked that person to kindly spare the country’s heroes from such controversies,” he said, adding that neither has the CJP approached the government for this, nor has the government any such option in mind. Even otherwise, those talking about the CJP’s extension do not know that the retirement age for judges of high courts and the Supreme Court is set in the Constitution and no executive authority or court could extend it. “The retirement age of judges can be reduced or increased only through a constitutional amendment, he added. During the Dogar court’s era a decision was taken to extend the post-superannuation service of a few police officers for the period they were made OSD while in service. But it was the Supreme Court under the incumbent CJP that reviewed the same judgment and overturned it. As the two respected chiefs are nearing their retirement date, speculation is going on about their continuation in their respective offices one way or the other. This speculation started even before the elections. A few months ago, the army chief while talking to this correspondent, had lamented how he was maligned by some media commentators on a matter that did not exist, was never discussed and was not even in his mind. Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry is widely acclaimed and is even appreciated the world over for his role in upholding the Constitution and the rule of law in Pakistan. Dragging such a person into anything that is not in line with the Constitution is nothing but a sinister campaign against Pakistan’s national interest and its heroes, as has the information minister feels. Pervez Rashid said some people here were hell-bent on vilifying everything and everybody connected with Pakistan to besmear the name of our homeland internationally. Ch Nisar, Qaim agree to speed up Karachi operation Interior minister phones Sindh CM, governor, MQM leadership; assures Muttahida of addressing its concerns; governor reaches Dubai with family; Ebad had reservations over Karachi operation; says resignation option still there; Dar denies asking Ebad to withdraw resignation KARACHI: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Saturday telephoned Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah to discuss the law and order situation in Karachi. During the conversation, both the leaders agreed to further expedite the operation in Karachi. The interior minister and the chief minister also expressed satisfaction over the effective coordination and cooperation between the Rangers and the police. Ch Nisar Ali also contacted Sindh Governor Ishratul Ebad in Dubai over the phone. Speaking from Dubai, Dr Ebad explained to the interior minister the reasons for visiting the Gulf. Nisar also consulted him on the Karachi situation. The interior minister also talked to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Babar Ghauri. Ghauri complained of a raid at the MQM office. The minister assured MQM leaders that their reservations would be considered seriously. Earlier, Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan left for Dubai along with his family on Friday night without intimation to the President House, giving rise to widespread speculation that he had tendered his resignation in protest against the Karachi operation. Dr. Ishratul Ebad Khan reportedly faxed his resignation to the President House on Saturday and left for Dubai. However, sources in the Presidency said the governor had proceeded to Dubai without prior leave and that the Presidency had not received his resignation. According to some sources, Dr Ebad was unhappy at the launching of the operation cleanup in Karachi and the arrest of former MQM MPA Nadeem Hashmi. He felt he had been sidelined in the operation, which is being handled by Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah. Sources close to Governor Ebad quoted him as saying that the resignation option was still there. MQM workers have been holding protest demonstrations against the ongoing operation, claiming that it is one-sided and only MQM workers, activists and office-bearers are being targeted. Dr Ebad was appointed on Dec 27, 2002 and is the longest-serving governor of the province. According to sources, the governor will also go to Singapore. Speaker Sindh Assembly Agha Siraj Durrani will officiate as the acting governor. Meanwhile, there were reports that Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar had contacted Dr Ebad and requested him to review his decision. However, a spokesman for the finance minister denied that the minister had approached Dr Ebad or spoken to him to withdraw his resignation. The spokesman said the news report had no foundation.

Sindh Governor Dr. Ishratul Ebad Khan on Saturday resigne

KARACHI: Sindh Governor Dr. Ishratul Ebad Khan on Saturday resigned from his post over the concerns regarding the targeted operations against criminals in the Karachi, the financial hub of the country. The governor had flied off to Dubai with his family on late Friday night. The local media reported Ebad, the longest serving governor in the country’s history, had been stepped from from his post while a copy of his resignation had also been sent to the country’s president. The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) had expressed concerns over the operation being carried out against the criminals saying the operation a “political motivated”. Sources said that the MQM’s concerns over the targeted operation was the major reason behind his resignation. Ebad, appointed on December 27, 2002 in the ear of former military dictator Pervaiz Musharraf, was the youngest one to hold this post. See Link http://www.thenewstribe.com/2013/09/14/ishratul-ebad-steps-down-from-governorship/