The United States today provides extensive economic, scientific, and military assistance to Pakistan.[4] <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistan%E2%80%93United_States_relations#cite_note-LA-4> The United States is the second-largest supplier of military equipment <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_equipment> to Pakistan after China, and is Pakistan's most generous donor of foreign aid[5] <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistan%E2%80%93United_States_relations#cite_note-5> [6] <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistan%E2%80%93United_States_relations#cite_note-6> [7] <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistan%E2%80%93United_States_relations#cite_note-7>
After the September 11 attacks <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_11_attacks> in 2001 in the United States, Pakistan became a key ally in the war on terror <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_on_terror> with the United States. In 2001, US President George W. Bush <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_W._Bush> pressured the government into joining the US war on terror <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_on_terror>. Pervez Musharraf <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pervez_Musharraf>acknowledges the payments received for captured terrorists in his book: We've captured 689 and handed over 369 to the United States. We've earned bounties totaling millions of dollars — Former President of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf In 2003, the US officially forgave US$1 billion in Pakistani debt in a ceremony in Pakistan in turn for Pakistan joining the US 'war on terror'. "Today's signing represents a promise kept and another milestone in our expanding partnership," US Ambassador Nancy Powell said in a statement, "The forgiveness of $1 billion in bilateral debt is just one piece of a multifaceted, multibillion dollar assistance package." The new relationship between the United States and Pakistan is not just about September 11,' Powell said. "It is about the rebirth of a long-term partnership between our two countries." However Pakistan support of the U.S. and its war has angered many Pakistanis that do not support it. In the 1980s, Pakistan agreed to pay $658 million for 28 F-16 <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-16> fighter jets from the United States; however the US congress froze the deal, citing objections to Pakistan's nuclear ambitions. Under the terms of the American cancellation, the US kept both the money and the planes. In 1979, a group of Pakistani students burned the American embassy <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1979_U.S._Embassy_Burning_in_Islamabad> in Islamabad <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamabad>. The Reagan administration and Reagan himself supported Pakistan's military regime, American officials visited the country on a routine basis.[11] <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistan%E2%80%93United_States_relations#cite_note-Hamid_Hussain_.2C_Defence_Journal_of_Pakistan-11> On Wednesday, March 9, 2016 at 6:12:19 AM UTC-6, Travis wrote: > > > ---------- Forwarded message ---------- > From: Travis <[email protected] <javascript:>> > Date: Wed, Mar 9, 2016 at 5:49 AM > Subject: Fwd: [grendelreport] 'The punishment for blasphemy is death - > there is no alternative' > To: > > > > > > > > > > *Tuesday, Mar 8th 2016* > <http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/weather/index.html> > > *'The punishment is death – there is no alternative': The powerful > alliance of Islamic Pakistani lawyers who are behind a huge surge in > prosecutions for blasphemy * > > - *Group of lawyers offers free legal advice in blasphemy cases * > - *Leader was the defence lawyer for Mumtaz Qadri, executed on Monday* > - *Qadri killed liberal governor of Punjab over his criticism of > blasphemy law* > - *Number of criminal blasphemy cases in Punjab has tripled to 336* > > Published: 15:34 EST, 7 March 2016 | Updated: 19:05 EST, 7 March 2016 > > A little-known alliance of hundreds of lawyers in Pakistan is behind the > rise in prosecutions for blasphemy, a crime punishable by death that goes > to the heart of an ideological clash between reformers and religious > conservatives. > > The group, whose name translates as The Movement for the Finality of the > Prophethood, offers free legal advice to complainants and has packed > courtrooms with representatives, a tactic critics say is designed to help > it gain convictions. > > [image: Description: Leader of the Khatm-e-Nubuwwat Lawyers' Forum, a > conservative alliance of lawyers offering free legal advice for anyone > filing a blasphemy case, Ghulam Mustafa Chaudhry] > > +7 > > Leader of the Khatm-e-Nubuwwat Lawyers' Forum, a conservative alliance of > lawyers offering free legal advice for anyone filing a blasphemy case, > Ghulam Mustafa Chaudhry > > The stated mission of the Khatm-e-Nubuwwat Lawyers' Forum and its leader > Ghulam Mustafa Chaudhry is uncompromising: to use its expertise and > influence to ensure that anyone insulting Islam or the Prophet Mohammad is > charged, tried and executed. > > 'Whoever does this (blasphemy), the punishment is only death. There is no > alternative,' Chaudhry told supporters crammed into his small office behind > the towering red-brick High Court building in the eastern city of Lahore. > > The campaign could complicate the government's tentative efforts to reform > blasphemy legislation, a tough task in a country where support for the law > is widespread. > > Chaudhry was the defence lawyer for Mumtaz Qadri, executed on Monday for > gunning down the popular governor of Punjab province in 2011 over his > criticism of the blasphemy law. > > Chaudhry argued, ultimately unsuccessfully, that the bodyguard was > justified in killing Salman Taseer, because he committed blasphemy by > publicly questioning the law. > > In death, Qadri was a hero for many. Tens of thousands of people gathered > in a park in the city of Rawalpindi for his funeral on Tuesday, showering > his casket with flowers. > > [image: Description: Executed: Relatives gather around the body of Mumtaz > Qadri after he was executed in Rawalpindi] > > +7 > > Executed: Relatives gather around the body of Mumtaz Qadri after he was > executed in Rawalpindi > > 'He lives! Qadri lives!' supporters around the coffin cried. 'From your > blood, the revolution will come!' > > Even discussing blasphemy is a challenge in Pakistan, and officials and > activists say accusations can be used by complainants to settle personal > scores and intimidate liberal journalists, lawyers and politicians. > > At the same time, authorities are seeking to reduce room for abuse by > insisting senior police officers are involved in cases and ruling that > criticising the law does not constitute blasphemy itself. > > Qadri's execution was seen as a sign itself that the government was > determined to take firmer action, and it coincides with a nationwide > crackdown by the powerful military on Islamist militants and their > religious allies. > > Since Khatm-e-Nubuwwat was founded 15 years ago, the number of criminal > blasphemy cases filed in Punjab, the group's home base and Pakistan's most > populous province, had tripled to 336 by 2014, according to police figures. > > [image: Description: Qadri was hanged in a move that risks angering > Islamist supporters who had feted him as a hero and threatened violence if > he was executed] > > +7 > > Qadri was hanged in a move that risks angering Islamist supporters who had > feted him as a hero and threatened violence if he was executed > > It fell to 210 in 2015 as stricter provincial rules were applied, but > critics said the number was still too high. > > Chaudhry told Reuters he had personally been involved in more than 50 > criminal blasphemy cases, and said his group had grown to 700 lawyers in > Punjab, where the majority of blasphemy cases are heard. > > 'If they hear of a complaint, the lawyers will come to the person and > offer to take the case for free,' said a policeman, who asked not to be > named to avoid reprisals. > > 'Sometimes they arrive with people and encourage them to make a complaint.' > > Chaudhry said his group represented almost every complainant in cases > across Punjab province. Reuters could not independently confirm this. > > Reuters was also unable to determine if the movement has funding or any > other form of backing from a specific group or groups, but Chaudhry said > its motivation was not financial. > > 'Everyone knows that we are the forum that does these cases voluntarily,' > he told Reuters. 'So they contact us and tell us that there is a case to > do.' > > [image: Description: Civil society activists light candles on the > anniversary of the death of the governor of Punjab province Salmaan Taseer, > in Lahore] > > +7 > > Civil society activists light candles on the anniversary of the death of > the governor of Punjab province Salmaan Taseer, in Lahore > > He said member lawyers investigated cases to ensure they were genuine, > although they had not found an unjustified blasphemy complaint yet. > > The law dates back to colonial times, but was rarely implemented until > about 20 years ago. > > It states that anyone found to have defiled the name of Prophet Mohammad > in writing or speech, including by 'innuendo or insinuation, directly or > indirectly', should be punished with life imprisonment or death. > > In 1990, that was strengthened to 'death and nothing else'. > > No one in Pakistan has been executed for blasphemy so far, but jails are > filling up with those sentenced to death, and there have been sporadic > assassinations of the accused and people involved in their defence. > > At least 65 people, including lawyers, defendants and judges, have been > murdered over blasphemy allegations since 1990, according to figures from a > Center for Research and Security Studies report and local media. > > [image: Description: Riot police were deployed in the nearby capital > Islamabad as officials braced for protests from hardliners] > > +7 > > Riot police were deployed in the nearby capital Islamabad as officials > braced for protests from hardliners > > Some recent blasphemy cases made headlines around the world, including > that of Christian woman Asia Bibi, whose conviction drew international > attention including from the Pope. Her case was prosecuted by the > Khatm-e-Nubuwwat. > > Reema Omer, legal adviser at the International Commission of Jurists, an > advocacy group of lawyers and judges, said the rise in blasphemy cases was > deepening fears of speaking out. > > 'After the launch of our report (into blasphemy legislation), we were told > by hosts of TV talk shows that they have been cautioned against 'going too > far' in their critique of the blasphemy law, especially after recent cases > of blasphemy allegations against anchor persons and media houses,' she > said. > > Chaudhry and his colleagues sometimes arrive in court with dozens of > lawyers and supporters, say defence attorneys. > > 'Their conduct in these cases is ... intimidatory, 100 percent,' said > defence lawyer Saif-ul-Malook, who said he had defended blasphemy cases in > courtrooms full of supporters of the forum. > > [image: Description: Qadri's father Bashir Awan said he was 'proud' of the > martyrdom of his son, adding that he was ready to sacrifice all five of his > other sons 'for the honour of the Prophet'] > > +7 > > Qadri's father Bashir Awan said he was 'proud' of the martyrdom of his > son, adding that he was ready to sacrifice all five of his other sons 'for > the honour of the Prophet' > > In one case, a crowd of lawyers left him barely any space to stand and > shouted slogans when he spoke to the judge to present his case. > > Chaudhry denied the accusations, saying that he was the victim of > intimidation by human rights groups, though he did not elaborate. > > 'We have never had any complaints,' he said. > > Family members of some blasphemy defendants disagreed. > > 'From our side there would be one or two lawyers, but from their side > there were eight or nine lawyers, 10 or 12 clerics,' said Muhammed Aman > Ullah Khan, whose wife is being prosecuted for blasphemy by a complainant > whose team of lawyers is led by Chaudhry. > > 'They said it in exactly these words: 'If you want to be shot, then sit > behind her [in court]. And if you don't want to be shot, then may you never > be seen here again.'' > > Chaudhry denied the accusation. > > [image: Description: Pakistan Rangers stand guard as protestors block a > road linking to Islamabad, to protest the execution of bodyguard Mumtaz > Qadri] > > +7 > > Pakistan Rangers stand guard as protestors block a road linking to > Islamabad, to protest the execution of bodyguard Mumtaz Qadri > > 'This has never happened. We respect the families (of the accused).' > > That case is being heard at the Lahore High Court. > > Last year, Punjab passed laws requiring blasphemy accusations to be > investigated by a senior police officer. > > But some police sources said some senior officers were reluctant to be > drawn into cases, and many were still being handled by more junior staff. > > 'People become so emotional when blasphemy is mentioned that they want to > take justice into their own hands,' said Punjab law minister Rana Sanaullah > Khan. > > He said some blasphemy accusations were made for ulterior motives, > including the theft of land from religious minorities in the overwhelmingly > Muslim-majority country of 190 million. > > 'The matter is often exploited ... You cannot say that this (law) is > exploited all the time, but it is very common,' he told Reuters. > > Also last year, the Supreme Court ruled that criticism of the law did not > constitute blasphemy. In January, one of the country's most senior clerics > told Reuters that he may be willing to review the law. > > However, Khatm-e-Nubuwwat's leaders oppose change, saying it could > encourage violence. > > 'If, God forbid, this law is finished,' said forum secretary general Tahir > Sultan Khokhar, 'then obviously people have been given the right to decide > with their own hands, to kill.' > > > Read more: > http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3480995/The-punishment-death-no-alternative-powerful-alliance-Islamic-Pakistani-lawyers-huge-surge-prosecutions-blasphemy.html#ixzz42JYykjeH > > > > > . > > [image: Description: > http://geo.yahoo.com/serv?s=97359714/grpId=11648958/grpspId=1705447214/msgId=228049/stime=1457440781] > [image: Description: > http://y.analytics.yahoo.com/fpc.pl?ywarid=515FB27823A7407E&a=10001310322279&js=no&resp=img] > > > > __._,_.___ > ------------------------------ > Posted by: "Beowulf" <[email protected] <javascript:>> > ------------------------------ > > > Visit Your Group > <https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/grendelreport/info;_ylc=X3oDMTJmY3U5YzZyBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzIwMTk0ODA2BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTMyMzY2NwRzZWMDdnRsBHNsawN2Z2hwBHN0aW1lAzE0NTc0ODEyMzc-> > > > > [image: Yahoo! Groups] > <https://groups.yahoo.com/neo;_ylc=X3oDMTJlajRsdjBqBF9TAzk3NDc2NTkwBGdycElkAzIwMTk0ODA2BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTMyMzY2NwRzZWMDZnRyBHNsawNnZnAEc3RpbWUDMTQ1NzQ4MTIzNw--> > > • Privacy <https://info.yahoo.com/privacy/us/yahoo/groups/details.html> • > Unsubscribe <javascript:> • Terms of Use > <https://info.yahoo.com/legal/us/yahoo/utos/terms/> > > __,_._,___ > > > -- -- Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups. For options & help see http://groups.google.com/group/PoliticalForum * Visit our other community at http://www.PoliticalForum.com/ * It's active and moderated. Register and vote in our polls. * Read the latest breaking news, and more. --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "PoliticalForum" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
