Pakistan president's 'recorded' speech shown live by PTV
Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday ordered an inquiry into the mess created by state-run Pakistan Television (PTV) during his address to the nation after the suicide attack outside Marriott Hotel in Islamabad that claimed 53 lives and injured over 250 people on Sept 20, Pakistan daily Dawn reported.
Pakistan’s Minister of Information has been told to initiate an inquiry into the incident by the Pakistan president, who is leaving for the US to attend the UN General Assembly session, the Pakistan daily has learnt. Following the orders of the president, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has constituted a team to investigate the matter.
PTV Chairman & MD, Dr Shahid Masood, who was to accompany Zardari on his US visit was ordered to stay back in Pakistan till the inquiry into the incident was completed, according to the Dawn .
According to the newspaper’s sources, soon after the Pakistan president decided to address the nation after the attack on the Marriott hotel, the Information Ministry directed the PTV authorities to make arrangements for the speech. After the PTV team reached the Pakistan president’s residence, it was decided that the speech would be recorded rather than broadcast live and clear instructions were provided to the PTV chief to organize recording equipment accordingly, Dawn’s sources added. After approving the draft of the address, the President, as a part of the routine exercise, took a few minutes to rehearse the speech.
The PTV cameras and recording systems were activated to monitor the rehearsal. However, what was conveyed to Zardari as a ‘recording’ of the rehearsal was actually the live broadcast of the rehearsal. The Pakistan president's rehearsal was telecast live by PTV and this live feed was picked by two other private networks. Dr Shahid Masood was present on the scene throughout the episode, Dawn’s sources confirmed. “The PTV Chairman was clearly directed that the speech would be recorded and the President does not wish a live broadcast but the PTV chairman organised live telecast and the state media even provided clean feed to two other channels demonstrates the length to which Dr Masood can go to damage the government,” a source at president Zardari’s residence told the Pakistan daily.
Shock over Pakist
an terror bomb
There is shock across the papers at the scale of the suicide bombing of the Marriott hotel in Pakistan.
A huge crater pictured on the front page of the Daily Telegraph reveals the devastation in the capital Islamabad.
The photograph, also in the Guardian and the Daily Mail, shows tiny-looking figures picking through a lunar landscape of dirt and concrete.
At least 53 people were killed, writes the Telegraph, and local commentators have called it "Pakistan's 09/11".
'Staring into abyss'
The leader column in the Independent says that Pakistan is staring "into an abyss" following the explosion.
The paper is concerned that in the past few months terrorists have succeeded in several large-scale suicide bombings.
It lists Pakistan's ambivalence towards radical Islam, its weak economy and growing sectarian violence as factors.
The Times says it is a "shocking blow" to Pakistan, especially as the hotel was destroyed even though the lorry and explosives had been stopped outside.
============== =
Pakistan’s 9/11’ kills 60
* Injures 200;Nation mourns
*Terrorists hit back hours after Zardari’s warning
* US national among the dead, several foreigners injured
* Nearby Frontier House, Chief Justice’s House, IT Towers and PTV building damaged
* Rehman Malik says government received intelligence reports two days ago
A massive suicide truck bomb Saturday devastated the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad, Pakistan, killing at least 40 people and wounding hundreds of others in what was believed to be the bloodiest terrorist strike ever in the Pakistani capital.The bodies of doormen and security guards, stripped naked by the force of the blast, lay outside the flame-blacked hotel. Dozens of guests and staff were feared trapped inside amid worries that the five-story structure could collapse.The attack on the hotel, which is favored by foreigners and the Pakistani elite despite being previously targeted by extremists, came as diners packed the restaurants to break the day-long fast of the Muslim month of Ramadan with the traditional Iftar evening meal.
================
analysis: Rush to victory?
The US is in the grip of what is being billed as the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression and we may yet see the Bush administration as well as the next regime looking at the war in the region as a useful diversionIn addition to other things, this also seems much like a case of sheer bad timing.
The war in Pakistan’s tribal areas was always going to be a formidable enterprise given the mistakes that have been made all around, particularly in the form of gravely flawed US policies in the region.But what has made matters worse is the impending US presidential election. Sorely in need of some foreign policy success that could possibly tip the balance in the electoral race, the Bush administration is now focusing on Pakistan’s tribal areas.
Declaring success in Iraq on the basis of lower casualty figures over the last few months, it has now turned its attention to Afghanistan and effectively declared Pakistan’s tribal areas of a piece with the theatre of war in Afghanistan.Effectively this means US forces have the right of hot pursuit within Pakistani territory. While a pronouncement to this effect was made recently by the US Chairman Joint Chiefs Admiral Mike Mullen, it turns out that President Bush had already signed a ‘finding’ in July sanctioning such operations in Pakistan. There also does not appear to be any significant difference in perspective with regard to the issue of formally extending the war to Pakistan between the Republican and Democratic presidential candidates.It could be argued that Pakistan over the years has refused to recognise the nature of the very serious problem that it confronts in the area.
But now that a new elected government is finally in place, what would be the point of putting it under extreme pressure with actions that will inevitably create more enemies in the area, alienate public opinion and make the government’s position untenable?Going by media reports, the prime minister, the newly inducted president and the chief of army staff have, in their recent interactions with US officials at the highest level, sought more time to address the issue. There is certainly no quick and easy solution in sight, which is something that the US administration also recognises.But this is where the election imperative kicks in. Presumably, the view is that getting some leading Al Qaeda figures in the closing stages of the campaign may just swing an increasingly close race in favour of the Republican candidate. Hence the frequent use of missiles launched by Predator drones and, now, ground operations by US forces on Pakistan’s side of the border. But what about the high cost in terms of innocent lives?After Pakistan’s protest at the Angur adda raid by US forces on September 3, a drone incursion was repelled by Pakistan Air Force jets. In another incident denied by both sides, Pakistani troops reportedly fired at US commandos seeking to cross the border.
Shortly thereafter, Mullen, on an unscheduled visit, pledged that US forces will fully respect Pakistan’s sovereignty but within hours there was another missile attack by US forces.Once again after Pakistan’s protest we have the US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte declaring that “Unilateral actions are not a durable or a viable solution...the best way forward for both of our countries is to try and deal with the situation in that border area on a cooperative basis...”Given the election imperative, however, this is unlikely to represent a policy shift.This election-driven US pressure is clearly proving to be counterproductive also with regard to the process of a gradual adjustment of the civil-military imbalance critical to the democratic transition in Pakistan. Consider the fairly elaborate statement declaring that Pakistan’s sovereignty will be defended at all costs, effectively putting US forces on notice. It came not from the president or the prime minister but from the COAS. Similarly it was the Pakistan Air Force chief, Air Marshal Tanvir Mahmood, who told a television interviewer that he had the capacity to deter incursions by Predator drones but could not go ahead in the absence of orders to act from the government.Meanwhile, it is not quite clear just what was achieved by President Asif Zardari’s trip to the UK after he cancelled his visit to China — twice. But more significantly, it is the COAS General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani who will be visiting China next week for a five-day trip and along with his counterpart is also scheduled to meet Chinese President Hu Jintao.Discarding both appeasement as well as the use of indiscriminate firepower we have to tread a difficult path in the area. The writ of the state must be asserted over territory within our borders and violations of sovereignty resisted. But, whatever strategy we are to adopt it cannot possibly succeed if there is a sense that the key players are pulling in different directions.To make matters worse, the US is in the grip of what is being billed as the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression and we may yet see the Bush administration as well as the next regime looking at the war in the region as a useful diversion when difficult economic conditions at home push many to ask awkward questions pertaining to systemic failure and accountability.
Meanwhile, Russia may also take a tougher line in the region that could lead to a more aggressive US stance, with the people of Pakistan and Afghanistan losing the most. Equally, there is a broad-based popular movement in Kashmir that could be used by hawks in both India and Pakistan for their own ends, further undermining our ability to deal with the crisis on our western border. Not least, it is not just the US elections we have to keep in mind, elections are due in both India and Afghanistan in 2009 and that may not be of much help either.In other words it is time to get our act together.
Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday ordered an inquiry into the mess created by state-run Pakistan Television (PTV) during his address to the nation after the suicide attack outside Marriott Hotel in Islamabad that claimed 53 lives and injured over 250 people on Sept 20, Pakistan daily Dawn reported.
Pakistan’s Minister of Information has been told to initiate an inquiry into the incident by the Pakistan president, who is leaving for the US to attend the UN General Assembly session, the Pakistan daily has learnt. Following the orders of the president, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has constituted a team to investigate the matter.
PTV Chairman & MD, Dr Shahid Masood, who was to accompany Zardari on his US visit was ordered to stay back in Pakistan till the inquiry into the incident was completed, according to the Dawn .
According to the newspaper’s sources, soon after the Pakistan president decided to address the nation after the attack on the Marriott hotel, the Information Ministry directed the PTV authorities to make arrangements for the speech. After the PTV team reached the Pakistan president’s residence, it was decided that the speech would be recorded rather than broadcast live and clear instructions were provided to the PTV chief to organize recording equipment accordingly, Dawn’s sources added. After approving the draft of the address, the President, as a part of the routine exercise, took a few minutes to rehearse the speech.
The PTV cameras and recording systems were activated to monitor the rehearsal. However, what was conveyed to Zardari as a ‘recording’ of the rehearsal was actually the live broadcast of the rehearsal. The Pakistan president's rehearsal was telecast live by PTV and this live feed was picked by two other private networks. Dr Shahid Masood was present on the scene throughout the episode, Dawn’s sources confirmed. “The PTV Chairman was clearly directed that the speech would be recorded and the President does not wish a live broadcast but the PTV chairman organised live telecast and the state media even provided clean feed to two other channels demonstrates the length to which Dr Masood can go to damage the government,” a source at president Zardari’s residence told the Pakistan daily.
Shock over Pakist
an terror bombThere is shock across the papers at the scale of the suicide bombing of the Marriott hotel in Pakistan.
A huge crater pictured on the front page of the Daily Telegraph reveals the devastation in the capital Islamabad.
The photograph, also in the Guardian and the Daily Mail, shows tiny-looking figures picking through a lunar landscape of dirt and concrete.
At least 53 people were killed, writes the Telegraph, and local commentators have called it "Pakistan's 09/11".
'Staring into abyss'
The leader column in the Independent says that Pakistan is staring "into an abyss" following the explosion.
The paper is concerned that in the past few months terrorists have succeeded in several large-scale suicide bombings.
It lists Pakistan's ambivalence towards radical Islam, its weak economy and growing sectarian violence as factors.
The Times says it is a "shocking blow" to Pakistan, especially as the hotel was destroyed even though the lorry and explosives had been stopped outside.
============== =
Pakistan’s 9/11’ kills 60
* Injures 200;Nation mourns
*Terrorists hit back hours after Zardari’s warning
* US national among the dead, several foreigners injured
* Nearby Frontier House, Chief Justice’s House, IT Towers and PTV building damaged
* Rehman Malik says government received intelligence reports two days ago
A massive suicide truck bomb Saturday devastated the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad, Pakistan, killing at least 40 people and wounding hundreds of others in what was believed to be the bloodiest terrorist strike ever in the Pakistani capital.The bodies of doormen and security guards, stripped naked by the force of the blast, lay outside the flame-blacked hotel. Dozens of guests and staff were feared trapped inside amid worries that the five-story structure could collapse.The attack on the hotel, which is favored by foreigners and the Pakistani elite despite being previously targeted by extremists, came as diners packed the restaurants to break the day-long fast of the Muslim month of Ramadan with the traditional Iftar evening meal.
================
analysis: Rush to victory?
The US is in the grip of what is being billed as the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression and we may yet see the Bush administration as well as the next regime looking at the war in the region as a useful diversionIn addition to other things, this also seems much like a case of sheer bad timing.
The war in Pakistan’s tribal areas was always going to be a formidable enterprise given the mistakes that have been made all around, particularly in the form of gravely flawed US policies in the region.But what has made matters worse is the impending US presidential election. Sorely in need of some foreign policy success that could possibly tip the balance in the electoral race, the Bush administration is now focusing on Pakistan’s tribal areas.
Declaring success in Iraq on the basis of lower casualty figures over the last few months, it has now turned its attention to Afghanistan and effectively declared Pakistan’s tribal areas of a piece with the theatre of war in Afghanistan.Effectively this means US forces have the right of hot pursuit within Pakistani territory. While a pronouncement to this effect was made recently by the US Chairman Joint Chiefs Admiral Mike Mullen, it turns out that President Bush had already signed a ‘finding’ in July sanctioning such operations in Pakistan. There also does not appear to be any significant difference in perspective with regard to the issue of formally extending the war to Pakistan between the Republican and Democratic presidential candidates.It could be argued that Pakistan over the years has refused to recognise the nature of the very serious problem that it confronts in the area.
But now that a new elected government is finally in place, what would be the point of putting it under extreme pressure with actions that will inevitably create more enemies in the area, alienate public opinion and make the government’s position untenable?Going by media reports, the prime minister, the newly inducted president and the chief of army staff have, in their recent interactions with US officials at the highest level, sought more time to address the issue. There is certainly no quick and easy solution in sight, which is something that the US administration also recognises.But this is where the election imperative kicks in. Presumably, the view is that getting some leading Al Qaeda figures in the closing stages of the campaign may just swing an increasingly close race in favour of the Republican candidate. Hence the frequent use of missiles launched by Predator drones and, now, ground operations by US forces on Pakistan’s side of the border. But what about the high cost in terms of innocent lives?After Pakistan’s protest at the Angur adda raid by US forces on September 3, a drone incursion was repelled by Pakistan Air Force jets. In another incident denied by both sides, Pakistani troops reportedly fired at US commandos seeking to cross the border.
Shortly thereafter, Mullen, on an unscheduled visit, pledged that US forces will fully respect Pakistan’s sovereignty but within hours there was another missile attack by US forces.Once again after Pakistan’s protest we have the US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte declaring that “Unilateral actions are not a durable or a viable solution...the best way forward for both of our countries is to try and deal with the situation in that border area on a cooperative basis...”Given the election imperative, however, this is unlikely to represent a policy shift.This election-driven US pressure is clearly proving to be counterproductive also with regard to the process of a gradual adjustment of the civil-military imbalance critical to the democratic transition in Pakistan. Consider the fairly elaborate statement declaring that Pakistan’s sovereignty will be defended at all costs, effectively putting US forces on notice. It came not from the president or the prime minister but from the COAS. Similarly it was the Pakistan Air Force chief, Air Marshal Tanvir Mahmood, who told a television interviewer that he had the capacity to deter incursions by Predator drones but could not go ahead in the absence of orders to act from the government.Meanwhile, it is not quite clear just what was achieved by President Asif Zardari’s trip to the UK after he cancelled his visit to China — twice. But more significantly, it is the COAS General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani who will be visiting China next week for a five-day trip and along with his counterpart is also scheduled to meet Chinese President Hu Jintao.Discarding both appeasement as well as the use of indiscriminate firepower we have to tread a difficult path in the area. The writ of the state must be asserted over territory within our borders and violations of sovereignty resisted. But, whatever strategy we are to adopt it cannot possibly succeed if there is a sense that the key players are pulling in different directions.To make matters worse, the US is in the grip of what is being billed as the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression and we may yet see the Bush administration as well as the next regime looking at the war in the region as a useful diversion when difficult economic conditions at home push many to ask awkward questions pertaining to systemic failure and accountability.
Meanwhile, Russia may also take a tougher line in the region that could lead to a more aggressive US stance, with the people of Pakistan and Afghanistan losing the most. Equally, there is a broad-based popular movement in Kashmir that could be used by hawks in both India and Pakistan for their own ends, further undermining our ability to deal with the crisis on our western border. Not least, it is not just the US elections we have to keep in mind, elections are due in both India and Afghanistan in 2009 and that may not be of much help either.In other words it is time to get our act together.
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