H.Res.823: Congressman Acherman (D-NY) & Congressman Delahunt (D-MA)

November 14, 2007: Mr. Ackerman (for himself and Mr. Delahunt) submitted the following resolution (Text PDF) ; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

Resolved, That the House of Representatives--

(1) condemns the imposition of a state of emergency in
Pakistan by General Pervez Musharraf on November 3, 2007;

(2) commends members of the legal profession in Pakistan as
well as opposition politicians, human rights activists, and
independent journalists for their courageous opposition to the
state of emergency and their principled leadership in defending
the Constitution of Pakistan and promoting the rule of law;

(3) calls on General Musharraf to rescind ``Provisional
Constitutional Order No. 1 of 2007'', and restore the
Constitution of Pakistan;

(4) calls on General Musharraf to restore to their
positions all Supreme Court and high court justices and other
members of the legal profession in Pakistan who have been
removed from office and to respect the independence of the
Pakistani judiciary;

(5) calls on General Musharraf to rescind the ``Press,
Newspapers, News Agencies and Books Registration (Amendment)
Ordinance, 2007'' and allow independent media to re-open;

(6) calls on General Musharraf to release the hundreds of
opposition politicians, lawyers, journalists, and human rights
activists recently arrested;

(7) expects General Musharraf to step down as Chief of Army
Staff as he has repeatedly promised to do;

(8) urges that free and fair elections be held before
January 15, 2008, as previously scheduled; and

(9) urges President George W. Bush to suspend all military
assistance including the sale and transfer of military
equipment to the Government of Pakistan until the conditions
described in paragraphs (3) through (8) have been met.

S. RES.372: Senator John Kerry (D-MA)

November 8, 2007 - Senator John Kerry (D-MA) introduced S.RES.372 ( Text of the resolution PDF WORD) which expresses the sense of the Senate:

Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate—

(1) to condemn the decision by President Pervez Musharraf
of Pakistan to declare a state of emergency in Pakistan,
suspend the Constitution of Pakistan, dismiss the Supreme Court
Justices refusing to take a loyalty oath, and initiate a
nation-wide crackdown on political opposition, the media, and
the courts in Pakistan;

(2) to call on President Musharraf to revoke the state of
emergency, respect the rule of law and immediately release
political detainees, restore the Constitution of Pakistan,
restore freedom of the press and judicial independence in
Pakistan, and reinstate all dismissed members of the Supreme
Court of Pakistan;

(3) to call upon President Musharraf to honor his
commitment to relinquish his position as Chief of Army Staff of
Pakistan, allow free and fair parliamentary elections in
Pakistan in accordance with the schedule mandated by the
Constitution of Pakistan, establish an independent commission
to guarantee that such elections are free and fair, and permit
full and unfettered independent monitoring of such elections;

(4) that the Government of the United States should provide
whatever assistance is necessary to facilitate such free and
fair elections, including by supporting independent election
monitoring organizations and efforts;

(5) to call upon the Government of Pakistan to conduct a
full investigation into the attempted assassination of former
Prime Minister of Pakistan Benazir Bhutto and provide her and
other political leaders with all necessary security to ensure
their personal safety; and

(6) that United States military assistance to Pakistan
should be subjected to careful review, and that assistance for
the purchase of certain weapons systems not directly related to
the fight against Al Qaeda and the Taliban should be suspended
if President Musharraf does not revoke the state of emergency
and restore the Constitution of Pakistan, relinquish his
position as Chief of Army Staff of Pakistan, and allow for free
and fair elections to be held in Pakistan in accordance with
the announced time frame.

The Resolution was co-sponsored by:

Senators Joseph Biden (D-DE),
Barack Obama (D-IL),
Robert Casey (D-PA) and
Richard Durbin (D-IL).

The Resolution was referred to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

H.RES 810: Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX)

November 8, 2007: Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX) introduced H.RES.810 (click here for text of resolution PDF WORD) which:

Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate—

(1) to condemn the decision by President Pervez Musharraf
of Pakistan to declare a state of emergency in Pakistan,
suspend the Constitution of Pakistan, dismiss the Supreme Court
Justices refusing to take a loyalty oath, and initiate a
nation-wide crackdown on political opposition, the media, and
the courts in Pakistan;

(2) to call on President Musharraf to revoke the state of
emergency, respect the rule of law and immediately release
political detainees, restore the Constitution of Pakistan,
restore freedom of the press and judicial independence in
Pakistan, and reinstate all dismissed members of the Supreme
Court of Pakistan;

(3) to call upon President Musharraf to honor his
commitment to relinquish his position as Chief of Army Staff of
Pakistan, allow free and fair parliamentary elections in
Pakistan in accordance with the schedule mandated by the
Constitution of Pakistan, establish an independent commission
to guarantee that such elections are free and fair, and permit
full and unfettered independent monitoring of such elections;

(4) that the Government of the United States should provide
whatever assistance is necessary to facilitate such free and
fair elections, including by supporting independent election
monitoring organizations and efforts;

(5) to call upon the Government of Pakistan to conduct a
full investigation into the attempted assassination of former
Prime Minister of Pakistan Benazir Bhutto and provide her and
other political leaders with all necessary security to ensure
their personal safety; and

(6) that United States military assistance to Pakistan
should be subjected to careful review, and that assistance for
the purchase of certain weapons systems not directly related to
the fight against Al Qaeda and the Taliban should be suspended
if President Musharraf does not revoke the state of emergency
and restore the Constitution of Pakistan, relinquish his
position as Chief of Army Staff of Pakistan, and allow for free
and fair elections to be held in Pakistan in accordance with
the announced timeframe.

The Resolution was co-sponsored by Representatives:

Rep Bilirakis, Gus M. (R-FL)
Rep Burton, Dan (R-IN)
Rep Butterfield, G. K. (D-NC)
Rep Chabot, Steve (R-OH)
Rep Crowley, Joseph (D-NY)
Rep Cummings, Elijah E. (D-MD)
Rep Delahunt, William D. (D-MA)
Rep Ellison, Keith (D-MN)
Rep Green, Al (D-TX)
Rep Hastings, Alcee L. (D-FL)
Rep Honda, Michael M. (D-CA)
Rep Meeks, Gregory W. (D-NY)
Rep Pascrell, Bill, Jr. (D-NJ)
Rep Rush, Bobby L. (D-IL)
Rep Sanchez, Linda T. (D-CA)
Rep Towns, Edolphus (D-NY)
Rep Van Hollen, Chris (D-MD)
Rep Watson, Diane E. (D-CA)
Rep Woolsey, Lynn C. (D-CA)
Rep Wu, David (D-OR)

The Resolution was referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs

ANAA Congressional Guide

Find Your Congressional Representative:


From Your Zip Code, click here , AMA Resource,
Congress Database





Know Your Congressional District, click here








Find Congressional Bill and their sponsors, click here







Who is funding your congress member click here

Support Congressman Trent Franks (R-AZ) Initiative for Supreme Court Judges in Pakistan

Dear Friends of Pakistan and ANAA Members,

Pakistan is passing through tough times. For the first time in Pakistan history "Judiciary" has boldly stood with the people of Pakistan. All Martial laws in the past were given a legal cover by the Supreme court but this Judiciary has boldly defied. Civil society in Pakistan and abroad have supported Chief Justice Chaudhry Iftikhar and other supreme court judges who have refused to take oath under PCO. Our national heroes like Chaudhry Aitizaz, president of supreme court bar assosiation, Munir A Malik and all others who are incarcerated, so that Pakistan can get a new start, need our support.



My Congressman Trent Franks (R-AZ) has taken a bold stand for the supremacy of judiciary and rule of law in Pakistan. He will soon be tabling a resolution that would be urging the government of Pakistan to immediately restore the rule of law by reinstating the constitution and members of supreme court of Pakistan. He would ask that all charges against the human right defenders should be ended and all of them should be released immediately from detention and house arrest. He would ask to restore the independence of media.

Congressman Trent Franks is interested in getting more co-sponsors for his resolution.

Please ask your congressional representative to endorse this initiative. You can reach your representative by clicking here.

If you congressional representative is interested in co-sponsoring the resolution then their office can contact Tina Ramirez -email Tina.Ramirez@mail.house.gov and get the copy of actual resolution.

Please make this call today. This is one positive thing we can do for people of Pakistan.

Regards-
Zaffar Iqbal
ANAA President
928-550-0062
website: http://www.4anaa.org/
Blog: http://www.anaavoice.org/

Media coverage: Congressman Trent Franks (R-AZ) blasted Pakistan's crackdown on human right defenders. full report

Guide to Contact Your Congressional Representative

Dear Concerned Citizens,

Please Call your Congressman/woman and Senators' office.

For their number click here

Ask to be connected to the staffer who deals with Foreign Relations in Washington Office.

Once you get connected to that person, introduce yourself and show your concern for Emergency in Pakistan.

Ask them:

1. To attend the "Day on the Hill" arranged to show solidarity with Chaudhry Iftikhar Ahmed and all the judiciary that refused to take oath under the new PCO. ANAA is a co-host in the "Day on the Hill" which is organised on Wednesday, 5th December, 2007 from 1-3:00PM at 2105 Rayburn building. If your staffer is interested and will attend the program or/and bring Congressional Representative please contact us so that we know about their approximate time.

2. Ask them to co-sponsor Congressman Trent Franks (R-AZ) resolution. Click here for directions to co-sponsor.

3. To issue a statement in line with Senator Kerry, Senator Biden, Congresswoman Lowey and inform them about the 3 house resolutions and 1 senate resolution. Tell them that you will forward them congressional statement and the resolution. - click here for the resolutions and statements.

4. Ask them to mention restoration chief justice Iftikhar A Chaudhry and all other judges who refused to take oath under PCO. Forward them Harvard Law School "Medal of Freedom" ( click here for link ) award to Chief Justice Iftikhar Ahmed for his principled stand. This medal was given in the past to Nelson Mandela.

5. Ask for an appointment with the Staffer. It is important to build relationship with your Congress office.We have volunteers in DC who would meet them.

Please call me 928-550-0062 or email: ziqbal71@gmail.com if you want to volunteer to be part of the team to meet these Congress representative OR if you have an appointment with them and need volunteer teams to meet them. OR for any other question/concern about this Congressional initiative.

Lets all work together for a better and democratic Pakistan for independent Judiciary and Media, two institutions, on which the wrath of establishment is on.




Regards-
Zaffar Iqbal
President ANAA
http://www.4anaa.org/

Senator John Kerry and Senator Jo Biden Resolution for Pakistan

Nov8, 2007: Washington, DC -- Sen. John Kerry (D-MA), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near East and South and Central Asian Affairs, which includes Pakistan, and Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE) today introduced a resolution, urging President Musharraf to end Pakistan’s state of emergency and reinstate the Constitution.

“It is important to send a strong message to Pakistan that we will hold them to their word when it comes to getting back on the path to civilian democracy,” said Sen. Kerry, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near East and South and Central Asian Affairs. “The Resolution I have introduced with Senator Biden today provides a real incentive for General Musharaff to restore the rule of law and move forward with crucial democratic reforms while preserving our core interest in fighting terrorists in Pakistan.”

Below is the text of the Kerry-Biden resolution:

Expressing the Sense of the Senate on the declaration of a state of emergency in Pakistan.

Whereas, a democratic, stable, and prosperous Pakistan that is a full and reliable partner in the struggle against Al Qaeda and the Taliban and a responsible steward of its nuclear weapons and technology is a vital national security interest of the United States and essential to combating international terrorism;

Whereas, General Pervez Musharraf became the President of Pakistan following a military coup in October 1999;

Whereas, President Musharraf dismissed Pakistan’s Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry on March 9, 2007, resulting in massive street protests and a unanimous decision by the Supreme Court of Pakistan to clear him of any wrongdoing and reinstate him on July 20, 2007;

Whereas, the Government of Pakistan announced on September 18, 2007 that if re-elected president, General Musharraf would resign his position as Chief of the Army by November 15, 2007;

Whereas, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shaukat Aziz, called this announcement “a clear reflection of President Gen. Pervez Musharraf’s firm belief in democracy.”;

Whereas, an amendment to the Constitution of Pakistan allowing President Musharraf to hold the Government of Pakistan’s top civilian and military leadership positions expires on December 31, 2007;

Whereas, President Musharraf and former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto conducted extensive negotiations on a power-sharing arrangement that would allow Ms. Bhutto to return to Pakistan and lead the Pakistan People’s Party in parliamentary elections scheduled for January 15, 2008;
Whereas, President Musharraf was elected to another term by the parliament of Pakistan on October 6, 2007;

Whereas, the Supreme Court of Pakistan has been reviewing the constitutionality of this election and intended to issue a ruling in November 2007;

Whereas, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif returned to Pakistan on September 10, 2007, and was immediately forced to leave the country in contradiction of a ruling by the Supreme Court;

Whereas, former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto returned to Pakistan on October 18, 2007 after more than eight years in exile, and was immediately targeted in a suicide bombing by extremists that left at least 140 people dead and over 500 injured in Karachi, Pakistan;

Whereas, on August 10, 2007, United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice personally requested that President Musharraf refrain from suspending the Constitution, and on November 1, 2007 again reiterated to President Musharraf U.S. opposition to any “extra-constitutional” measures;

Whereas, over the past six years the United States has provided more than $10 billion in aid to Pakistan, of which approximately 60% was Coalition Support Funds designed to reimburse Pakistan for counter-terrorism efforts, 15% was for security assistance to the military, 15% was for general budget support, and approximately 10% was for humanitarian assistance; and

Whereas, Admiral William Fallon, the senior U.S. military commander in the Middle East and Southwest Asia, advised General Musharraf on November 2, 2007 that emergency rule might place that aid at risk;

Whereas, on November 3, 2007, General Musharraf, in his role as Chief of the Army, declared a state of emergency, suspended the Constitution, dismissed Pakistan’s Chief Justice Chaudhry, and initiated a nation-wide crackdown on political opposition, the media, and the courts of Pakistan resulting in the arrest of over one thousand political opponents;

Whereas, the White House declared that imposition of emergency rule was “deeply disturbing,” and Secretary of State Rice said that the United States would “have to review the situation with aid” in light of these developments.

Whereas, on November 7, 2007, President George W. Bush spoke with President Musharraf and conveyed the message that “we believe strongly in elections, and that you ought to have elections soon, and you need to take off your uniform.”

Whereas, on November 8, 2007, the Government of Pakistan announced that parliamentary elections would be held by February 15, 2008, and that President Musharraf would relinquish his position as Chief of the Army prior to being sworn in as President.

Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate—

(1) to condemn the decision by President Musharraf to declare a state of emergency, suspend the Constitution, dismiss the Supreme Court, and initiate a nation-wide crackdown on political opposition, the media, and the courts;

(2) to call on President Musharraf to revoke the state of emergency, respect the rule of law and immediately release political detainees, restore the Constitution, freedom of the press and judicial independence, and reinstate all dismissed members of the Supreme Court;

(3) to call upon President Musharraf to honor his commitment to relinquish his position as Chief of the Army, allow free and fair parliamentary elections in accordance with the schedule mandated by the Constitution, establish an independent commission to guarantee that such elections are free and fair, and permit full and unfettered independent monitoring of such elections;

(4) that the Government of the United States should provide whatever assistance is necessary to facilitate such free and fair elections, including by supporting independent election monitoring organizations and efforts;

(5) to call upon the Government of Pakistan to conduct a full investigation into the attempted assassination of former Prime Minister Bhutto and provide her and other political leaders with all necessary security to ensure their personal safety; and

(6) that United States military assistance to Pakistan should be subjected to careful review, and that assistance for the purchase of certain weapons systems not directly related to the fight against Al Qaeda and the Taliban should be suspended if President Musharraf does not revoke the state of emergency and restore the Constitution, relinquish his position as Chief of the Army, and allow for free and fair elections to be held in accordance with the announced timeframe.

full resolution

Congresswoman Nita Lowey (NY) Warns Musharraf

Congresswoman Nita M. "Lowey is currently serving her tenth term in Congress. Lowey has been described as "courageous" by The New York Times, "terrific" by Newsday, and one of "New York's key Members of Congress" by the New York Daily News. The Journal News called Lowey "one of the most influential Members of Congress." She is a member of the powerful House Appropriations Committee, where she serves as Chairwoman of the State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee, and the House Homeland Security Committee." Shaheryar Azhar, moderator, The Forum






Nov 2007: WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-Westchester/Rockland), Chair of the State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee, today released the following statement condemning President Pervez Musharraf's effective house arrest of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, mass arrests, and continued violent crackdown, and warned him that his actions threaten to make a restructuring of aid to Pakistan inevitable.

"Continued mass arrests constitute a dangerous escalation of President Musharraf's deliberate and calculated clampdown on Pakistani civil society. President Musharraf's desperate tactics to preserve his own power come at the expense of the Pakistani people and inhibit his ability to be an effective partner in the war on terror. His continued arrests, imprisonments, and suppression of civil society are threatening to bring the situation quickly to a point of no return.

"Unless there is an immediate halt to President Musharraf's crackdown and a dramatic reversal in course, the restructuring of foreign assistance to Pakistan by the U.S. Congress will become inevitable. I call on the Administration to suspend immediately cash transfers to Pakistan until President Musharraf ceases his violent crackdown. Once again, I call on Musharraf to free the political prisoners that he has arrested, to restore the Constitution and independent judiciary, and to release his stranglehold on Pakistani civil society. Failure to take these steps immediately is sure to come at a steep cost."

Senator Jo Biden: A True Friend of Pakistani People

Washington, DC – Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (D-DE) called today for a new U.S. approach to Pakistan.

Sen. Biden argued that while Pakistan has a strong moderate majority, if that majority is denied a voice in the system and free and fair elections, it could be forced to make common cause with fundamentalists, as the Shah's opponents did in Iran three decades ago.

“To prevent that nightmare from becoming a reality, I believe we need to do three things. First, deal pro-actively with the current crisis. Second, and for the longer term, move from a Musharraf policy to a Pakistan policy that gives the moderate majority a chance to succeed. And third, help create conditions in the region that maximize the chances of success, and minimize the prospects for failure," said Senator Biden.

“To help defuse the current political crisis, we must be far more pro-active, not reactive and make it clear to Pakistan that actions have consequences,” said Sen. Biden. “President Bush’s first reaction was to call on President Musharraf to reverse course. Given the stakes, I thought it was important to actually call him – which is exactly what I did. I also spoke to opposition leader Benazir Bhutto.

Sen. Biden believes we must beyond this transaction relationship – the exchange of aid for services – to the normal, functional relationship we enjoy with all of our other military allies and friendly nations.

“We’ve got to move from a policy concentrated on one man – President Musharraf – to a policy centered on an entire people, the people of Pakistan,” said Sen. Biden.

Sen. Biden proposes a new U.S. approach to Pakistan rooted in four-parts:

1. The U.S. must triple non-security aid, to $1.5 billion annually for at least a decade. This aid would be unconditioned. It would be the U.S.’s pledge to the Pakistani people. Instead of funding military hardware, it would build schools, clinics, and roads.

2. The U.S. must condition security aid on performance. We should base our security aid on clear results. The U.S. is now spending well over $1 billion annually, and it’s not clear we’re getting our money’s worth.

3. The U.S. must help Pakistan enjoy a “democracy dividend.” The first year of democratic rule should bring an additional $1 billion – above the $1.5 billion non-security aid baseline. Sen. Biden supports tying future non-security aid – again, above the guaranteed baseline – to Pakistan’s progress in developing democratic institutions and meeting good-governance norms.

4. The U.S. must engage the Pakistani people, not just their rulers. This will involve everything from improved public diplomacy and educational exchanges to high impact projects that actually change people’s lives.

“In addition, a “democracy dividend” – additional assistance in the first year after democratic rule is restored – would empower Pakistan’s moderate mainstream.

And it would enable the secular, democratic, civilian political leaders to prove that they—more than the generals or the radical Islamists—can bring real improvement to the lives of their constituents,” said Sen. Biden

Redoubling our efforts in Afghanistan – not just with more troops but with the right kind, and with a reconstruction effort that matches President Bush’s Marshall Plan rhetoric would embolden Pakistan’s government to take a harder line on the Taliban and Al Qaeda,” said Sen. Biden.

“All this talk of war with Iran, however, is totally counter-productive to achieving our ends in Iran – but also in Pakistan. In Iran, it allows President Ahmadinejad to distract the Iranian people from the failures of his leadership and adds a huge security premium to the price of oil, with the proceeds going from our consumers to Iran’s government. And in Pakistan and also Afghanistan, anything that fuels the sense of an American crusade against Islam puts moderates on the defensive and empowers extremists.

“History may describe today’s Pakistan as a repeat of 1979 Iran or 2001 Afghanistan. Or history may write a very different story: that of Pakistan as a stable, democratic, secular Muslim state. Which future unfolds will be strongly influenced—if not determined— by the actions of the United States. I believe that Pakistan can be a bridge between the West and the global Islamic community.

click here

Senator Jo Biden on Pakistan

Nov 5: Senator Jo Biden (D) Chair of Foreign Relation Committee warns General Musharraf of consequences.

Congressman John Tierney (D-MA): Is US effectively Confronting International Terrorism?

May 2007: Congressman John Tierney (D-MA), chairman of subcommittee National security and foreign affairs, who visited Pakistan in 2007, held the hearing entitled “Extremist Madrassas, Ghost Schools, and U.S. Aid to Pakistan: Are We Making the Grade on the 9/11 Commission Report Card?”, in part, because of the low marks given to the Administrations’ policies in preventing extremism in Pakistan on the 9/11 Commission Report Card and how that affects U.S. national security interests.

Congressman opening statements were, "We begin with the 9/11 Commission, whose report cautioned us of a “generational struggle” whose “long-term success demands the use of all elements of national power: diplomacy, intelligence, covert action, law enforcement, economic policy, foreign aid, public diplomacy, and homeland defense.”

The 9/11 Commission also warned that “[i]f we favor one tool while neglecting others, we leave ourselves vulnerable and weaken our national effort.” The Commission stressed the importance that any offensive efforts “…be accompanied by a preventative strategy that is as much, or more, political as it is military.”

Hearing looked at an important question, "What is the effect of Extremist madrassas and dysfunctional Education system in Pakistan on US National security in long term?"

Now some facts :

1. Almost all 911 terrorists spent some time in Pakistan, travelled to north south nexus of Kandhar-Quetta-Karachi and 911 commission report reminded of extremist madrassas as incubators of violent extremism.

2. In Afghanistan, senior U.S., NATO and Afghan military officials told the congressional delegation of their forces being continually attacked by Taliban foes, who plan and stage their insurgent operations in Pakistan before pouring across the border to kill our troops.

Then Congressman Tierney briefed the threat given by mullahs at Lal Masjid if any efforts were made to stop them from imposing shariah in Pakistan.

Then Congressman looked objectively to the root of the problem:

Extremism and jihadi curriculum at madrassas are only one side of the problem, however, as Pakistan’s public school system has utterly failed to provide a viable alternative for millions of poor Pakistani families.

He then compared US assistance to Pakistan: $974m for military and mere $61m for education.

Administrative have asked for 33% reduction in development assistance that includes education assistance to Pakistan.

Then Congressman quoted some numbers:

a. Pakistan has 55 million school-aged children
b. Only 13 million out of 27 million between 5-9 yrs attend any school.
c. 50% of these 13 million will drop out before finishing primary school.

Pakistan itself only spends a minuscule two percent of its gross domestic product on education. Untrained, unmotivated and absenteeism-plagued teachers have led to the phenomenon of so-called “ghost schools” – where buildings sit idle or filled with students chaperoned by “minders” rather than educators.

All of us hope to support the Pakistani people in their efforts to achieve for themselves a stable, prosperous and free nation. But our national security interests in the future of Pakistani children are much more acute. Will we be safe over the next 5, 10, or 20 years as thousands – perhaps millions – more kids learn jihad at extremist madrassas instead of learning real-world skills to become productive citizens in their communities?

full report