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Journalism of Courage
It8217;s done!
It8217;s a done deal,8221; went Dawn8217;s main headline on Friday. Its report from London was structured around Benazir Bhutto8217;s press conference: 8220;She expected the proposed national reconciliation ordinance to be promulgated to satisfy most of her party8217;s vital concerns and therefore, she said the PPP had decided not to resign from the assemblies before the presidential elections due on October 6.8221; The final draft of the ordinance was sent for assent to the federal cabinet on Thursday. Bhutto said that indemnity would apply across the board to all the governments that ruled the country between 1988 and October 12, 1999, including the governments of Nawaz Sharif. It is believed, said the report, that an understanding has also been reached with Musharraf to allow Sharif and her to contest for the post of prime minister for a third time and to withdraw Article 582b which permits the president to dismiss the government. Dawn also reported that the ordinance was altered to accommodate the MQM8217;s demand that indemnity be from 1985. It was expected to be promulgated on Friday. Earlier, With Lt Gen Ashfaq Pervez Kiyani virtually designated his successor as army chief after his elevation mid-week to the post of Vice-Chief of Army Staff, President Pervez Musharraf was asked in a television channel when he would cease to be army chief. He replied, any time between October 6 and November 16 The News October 4. He added that political reconciliation with Sharif was also possible, but only after the general elections 8220;as he did not want a turmoil-like situation in the country ahead of elections8221;.
After Twenty20
Imran Asghar wrote in The Daily Times October 1 on how night cricket brings alive the streets of Rawalpindi during Ramzan. 8220;The night tournaments are being organised in an assortment of localities, on streets and roads after Taraveeh prayers to Sehri. Almost all street cricket teams of Rawalpindi are interested in participating in such matches and young talent joins in for recreation8230; The venue is selected on the basis of the widthof the streets and roads because floodlights can be erected easily there. Each tournament is planned by different street committees and more than fifteen teams are chosen through random draws for playing night cricket tournaments. Every team has to pay an already decided entry fee to the committee. It is the responsibility of the committee to set up the street for play as far as the floodlights, bats, white tapes and tennis balls are concerned. Usually white tape is used to tape the tennis ball so that it can be seen under floodlights easily.8221; Tournaments progress on a knockout structure, and participants want the government to recognise night cricket as a formal sport.
Party hop
Editorials picked on the impression being gained that this process of reconciliation was really aimed at Bhutto8217;s PPP. 8220;We beg to differ, Mr President,8221; said The News October 5: 8220;Negotiating with one party, while ignoring others, is hardly 8216;greater, across-the-board8217; political reconciliation, but merely selective appeasement.8221; The Daily Times October 5 tried to understand why he would reach out to the PPP against the obvious displeasure of the ruling PMLQ: 8220;President Musharraf says he wants national reconciliation before and after the elections because Pakistan cannot stand up to the challenge of Al-Qaeda without it. But the truth now is that elections would be the watershed between his chances of confronting Al-Qaeda and his going down as a leader. All parties, including the PPP if he tries to go it alone, will unite against him and will actually use Al-Qaeda as an instrument of his failure. Why he needs cooperation from the PPP is linked to the fact that his party is most reluctant to fight terrorism and hates confronting Al-Qaeda at the cost of its popularity in the Punjab. In the event, his own final hour may come when he realises that the politicians have formed a consensus to 8216;negotiate with Al-Qaeda8217; rather than fight it.8221;
