Well before the announcement of the federal budget, the prices of gas and electricity were increased. During last one year, the price of petrol was raised 21 times and reduced three times. The petroleum prices in the international market were reduced significantly, yet the Jamali government did not give relief to the people of Pakistan accordingly. The common people particularly government and semi-government employees remained perturbed and disturbed due to high inflation rate. At the same time, unemployment soared, pushing more and more youth towards the brink of collapse and suicide.

The district and provincial governments could not go along smoothly. The district government institution emerged as a tool to victimise the political opponents. The federal and provincial ministers continued to complain against the administration and there were reports in the media about a provincial Punjab minister influencing police to release drug-pushers and addicts. The minister even went to the police station and snubbed the police officials on duty.

In one year the Jamali government failed to establish his moral authority. Prime Minister Jamali, instead of standing up for democracy, preferred to be an un-sung hero of dictatorship. The combined opposition tried their level best to strengthen the Jamali government, the Parliament and the democracy but it chose to remain a puppet in the hands of its military bosses due to fears of default of its members, its unpopularity among masses and sword of the Ehtesab Bureau hanging over it.

The military did not transfer the powers to the civilian government and control the government from top to bottom level. Musharraf announced that no one can change his reforms and the local bodies system. More than 1000 military officers remained working in civil posts despite the so called civilian government. Pakistan Rangers initiated severe action against growers (Mazareen) in Okara to occupy certain land tracts. In this way seven people were killed, dozens injured and hundreds were arrested.

General Musharraf’s well thought out policy of keeping two former Prime Minister — Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif — out of the country was fully adhered to by the Jamali government in one year. Former Senator Asif Ali Zardari completed his seventh years in prisons on 5th of November, 2003, thereby making history.

He claimed the poverty has risen from almost 20 per cent to 33 per cent in past 12 months of the Jamali government. More than 50 million people continued to live below the lowest poverty line while the poverty percentage remained 44.3% in NWFP, 32.4% in Punjab, 29.2% in Sindh, 24.6% in Balochistan, 36.5% in Northern area and 44.5% in FATA.

During Jamali’s one year in power, Pakistan did no get any foreign investment. On the other hand, however, the government wrote off a staggering amount of Rs.26 billion loans extended to the politicians, businessmen and industrialists who were supporting the General. Another Rs. 30 billion is being written off in next couple of months. The government-run banks rescheduled Rs. 58.129 billion bank loans. Even the profitable units could not get proper buyers in last one year. Jamali, after coming to power, had promised to lower the prices of daily-use items but the promise was not fulfilled in one year. Instead, an average increase of 47.5 per cent has been observed in the prices of rice, flour, meat, medicines, milk, soap, pulses etc. during this period. Petrol prices were raised twenty one times and reduced three times during one year as a result of which prices of all the petroleum products automatically increased. No relief was, however, given to employees. The prices of electricity, gas and water rate were increased 30%, 44% and 25% respectively.

The life saving drugs witnessed an increase of 19.7%, increase in the prices of Rice, 41%, Education 55%, Floor 10.2%, Meat 30.5%, Chicken 26%, Medicine11%, Egg 43%, milk 24%, Vegetable49%, Daal42.5%, Potato46%, Gur 67% and Soap 16.3%. The crime rate rose to 300 per cent during Jamali’s first year in power. Murders, dacoities, rapes and highway robberies increased by 250%. A total of 751 people committed suicides. Karachi petrol pumps experienced 21 bomb blasts during past 12 months. In Balochistan, rocket Launcher was used to target the gas pipelines. Maulana Azam Tariq and his bodyguards were murdered by the terrorists in Islamabad. In Sialkot, three civil judges were murdered by the criminals. Incidents of car snatching, jagga tax, dacoities and terrorism also increased in Sindh, after the appointment of Ishratul Ibad as Governor Sindh and the induction of MQM ministers in the government.

About 26 Police Officers, who had served Karachi during 1994-96 under the PPP government, were murdered during past 12 months, allegedly by the MQM henchmen. The major reason for increase in crime rate in Sindh is believed to be the release of 213 MQM terrorists. The MQM workers, involved in the murder of three workers of an American oil company were acquitted as the provincial government abstained from opposing their release. On the other hand, Punjab witnessed 300 per cent increase in incidents of dacoity, terrorism, rustling, car snatching etc. Gujrat is being ruled by dacoits where former law minister Ch. Farooq was murdered. Rana Muhammad Arshad Khan, a former judge of the Lahore High Court, was kidnapped and his car snatched. The brother-in-law of Senator Raza Rabbani was looted and later murdered in broad daylight.

The plane of an Afghan minister crashed in Karachi under mysterious circumstances while Air Chief Marshal Mushaf Ali Mir died along with 17 others in another mysterious plane crash near Kohat. PPP leader Aslam Gul’s cousin was assassinated and the murderer belonged to a kings’ party MPA. Likewise, professional killers and tribal marauders played havoc everywhere be it Gujrat or Rojhan Jamali, amidst the already deteriorated law and order situation. A police constable Mohammed Nazir Dogar and Sub Inspector Mohammad Rafique were tortured by the army men when they tried to stop them from violating the law of the land. The Jamali government itself was established by bringing together some leading NAB accused who were being tried on corruption charges. The NAB proved to be a source of Political Nabism, commonly known as National Arm Twisting Bureau. The NAB investigated 163 politicians and 895 others like businessman, bureaucrats etc. The NAB Chairman claims to have recovered a total of Rs.100 billion but the fact remains that Rs.90.383 billion of the Rs.100 billion recoveries were actually made by the banking sector and not by the NAB. Of the remaining Rs.10 billion recoveries, Rs. 8 billion recoveries were made from the Government Departments i.e.

PTCL 5.756

CDA 2.484

Coop 1.175

Wine Traders 0.1

Swabi Scrap 0.06

Haji Munawar 0.04

In this way the amount of original recoveries actually made by the NAB comes to just Rs.2 billion. The NAB spent Rs. 12 billion for these recoveries, on the establishment and day to day running of the NAB. It means that NAB had to spend Rs.12 billion from the national exchequer to make Rs.2 billion recoveries. The convicts of AC courts were released on parole especially the cousin of PM Jamali, Faiq Jamali, FIA Deputy Director, Chaudhry Mohammad Sharif and Ex ministers of Balochistan.

The prime minister himself faced a probe in 1987-88 in the cases of allotment of commercial and residential plots. The Ehtesab Bureau dubbed Zafarullah Jamali as ‘casual accused’ in these cases. Another case was also instituted against Jamali in which he was charged with defaulting on Rs 117.1 million loan taken from the UBL Karachi. And he never paid back any money. Federal Production Minister Liaquat Jatoi was put on the ECL and an inquiry was held regarding land allotment. The Ehtesab Bureau contacted the Interpol when he fled the country. NAB cases are still pending against Faisal Saleh Hayat and Aftab Sherpao. An inquiry against National Assembly Speaker Ch Ameer Hussain is also pending after an allegation of illegal procurement of a 24-kanal plot was leveled against him. Then there are inquiries pending against provincial and federal ministers and a top pro-government politician.

An inquiry is also pending against former federal minister for law, Aziz A Munshi and a senior NAB official.

The Ehtesab Bureau which was formed for mudslinging politicians of the country showed the real situation through its figures that showed the recovery of money from corrupt politicians as compared to corrupt bureaucrats and civil and military officers.

The money recovered from bureaucrats: Rs 451 million.

The money recovered from politicians: Rs 269 million.

The money recovered from military officers: Rs 451 million.

The money recovered from others: 771million.

PRESS FREEDOM: Contrary to the Jamali-led Musharraf regime’s much trumpeted slogans of ensuring complete freedom to the print and electronic media, the national press remained under intense pressure from the intelligence agencies to toe the official line. And those who refused to compromise on principles by toeing the official line were made to pay the price.

POLITICAL FRONT: ARD President and Parliamentary Leader Makhdoom Javed Hashmir was arrested during the National Assembly session on treason charges. Before arresting Hashmi, the Speaker was not informed as per the Parlimany practice. The speaker was so much influenced by the government, referred to the law department for opinion about the production order of Makhdoom Javed Hashmi. In one year no legislation was done even the National Assembly could not witness the question hours in the presence of United Opposition. However two ordinary bills were passed. On the last day of the session the salaries of members were raised 100%.

The speaker did not appoint Opposition Leader of the National Assembly despite ARD Parliamentary group gave the name of the 79 members. To complete the days the National Assembly was called un-necessarily. A few days before the completion of one years of the National Assembly, Standing Committees were announced without consulting opposition. The government announced LFO as a part of the Constitution. Then the combined opposition did not allow National Assembly and Senate to work. The Parliamentary Year could not start because there was no elected President to address the joint session.

General Musharraf declared the Assemblies as uncivilised because the members refuse to stop raising slogans of ‘Go Musharraf Go’. A Constitutional Committee was formed on the LFO which held nine meetings but before the session of Committee were started, General Musharraf declared that LFO is a part of Constitution and no one can change LFO, before the editors and columnists. Sharif uddin Pirzada announced that LFO is a part of the constitution and there is no need to put LFO before the Parliament. On the other hand the government engaged MMA in negotiation on LFO for several months.

The Distt Nazims resolved in favour of General Musharraf. General Musharraf addressed Distt Nazims in Governor House Lahore and assured his support. General Musharraf while addressing before Lahore Chamber declared his three years tenure as insufficient.

The National Assembly session was called after the delay of 40 days. Similarly, the sessions of provincial assemblies of the Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan were convened after committing an inordinate delay. Amusingly, the Sindh Assembly session was convened after the delay of 63 days. It is not out of place to mention here that five elections were held during the period from 1985-1997 and every time the assembly sessions were called within 10 days after the holding of the elections. The purpose of delaying the sessions was just to forge their majority through horse trading and forcing PPP members to change their loyalties.

To secure majority in the National Assembly, government functionaries were used. For the first time in the history of the country, agencies and high government officials were seen busy meeting politicians and legislators to win their support to form governments. For this purpose, they also hurled threats on the legislators and used temptations.

The Jamali government, during the first one year of its rule, nominated Salim Saifullah as the secretary general of the PML (Q) and occupied the party central office, violating the party constitution and without the approval of its president. In December 2002, a no-confidence move was tabled against the founding president of PML (Q) which was withdrawn and Mian Zahra was forced to resign from the office of the PML (Q) president.

Ch Shujjat Hussain was elected President of PML Q and finally the party divided between Jamali and Shujjat groups. The first session of the controlled democracy federal cabinet was chaired by Musharraf who directed the cabinet to continue the policies of the military government. The federal cabinet members were also given a booklet containing directions restricting their powers. To form government in Sindh, a deal was struck with the MQM as a result of which hundreds of MQM Haiti workers were not allowed to take oath. Later, he was arrested in a shameful manner and for this purpose the Sindh Assembly was besieged for nine hours. During this period, the opposition members were also tortured.

The central headquarter of the MQM Haqiqi, Baitul Hamza, was razed and sealed in Karachi. After the announcement of Abdur Rehman Rajput’s unopposed election as deputy speaker of the Sindh Assembly, nomination papers were received illegally by extending time. Ishratul Ibad, involved in at least 9 heinous crimes, was appointed the Sindh governor. The prime minister, who was elected on Nov 21 with the majority of only one vote, gained 16 more votes through horse-trading on Dec 30 at the time of trust vote. The government could not present its stance on the LFO.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS: The president continued to determine the parameters of security and foreign policies; the foreign office makes its input to policy making but deals primarily with implementing the policy. Therefore, the foreign policy of the government proved to be a total failure. General Musharraf had declared that when there will be hard time on Pakistan, no one will come to our rescue. It means Musharraf in his three years tenure and Jamali in his one year, Pakistan could not develop friendly relationship with any foreign country. There were news for restoration of relationship with India but still India insists that Pakistan must stop infiltration. The Prime Minister of India criticised Musharraf and said that the person who can’t address his nation how India can dialogue with him.

Then Pakistan had no policy on Iraq. The Pakistan government just issued statements on the registration of Pakistanis in the United States and totally failed to get any facility or concession for them. For this purpose, neither any lobbying was done in Washington nor were there any meetings with the US senators or other members. To demonstrate his power, Musharraf continued his foreign tours, addressed UNO, OIC and attended NAM conference and visited Russia while Zafarullah Jamali was given an opportunity to perform Umra and visit small Arab states.

In the last month of Jamali’s government Prime Minister was given a chance to visit USA and Iran. However, Musharraf again visited USA, China and Korea. Under the 1973 constitution, Pervez Musharraf is not authorised to work as the chief executive. Even under the LFO, which is not recognised by the ARD as a part of the constitution, only the prime minister is authorised to work as the chief executive. So, General Musharraf conducted foreign tours in violation of the constitution.

Diplomatic ties with Iran worsened during past one year. Iran struck a defence deal with India.

The EU Parliamentarians have also ascertained the latest details about Asif Ali Zardari over stretched imprisonment. European MPs in a statement said that ‘the union based on political values’ could not ignore the element of democracy and human rights as warranted by the Article 1 of the 3rd generation agreement. "Pakistan must understand that it could be difficult for the European Parliament to ratify the Third Generation Agreement for Pakistan by ignoring the quality of democracy and state of human right in Pakistan. The Common Wealth did not restore Pakistan’s membership because a military dictator continues to rule the roost in Pakistan.