Apologists will be regarded as terrorists, allies of terrorists: Sherry Rehman
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PESHAWAR: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Sherry Rehman said Wednesday that if anyone engaged in the apologist narrative when it comes to terrorism and terrorist attacks, they would be considered as terrorists and allies of the terrorists.
Time has come for a decision and anyone who presents justification for acts of terrorism will be regarded as a traitor.
"Whoever is a friend of the terrorists is a traitor," Rehman said addressing media representatives in Peshawar.
Rehman urged that the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will not remain the victims and instead become those who will lead the war against terrorists.
Army chief received good response from Afghan govt, says Kaira
PPP leader Qamar Zaman Kaira said that Army Chief Gen Raheel Sharif and Director General Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) Gen Rizwan Akhtar had received a good response from the Afghan government with regards to their assistance for action against a Kunar-based Taliban splinter group which is believed to be behind the Peshawar army school massacre.
He said the war against terror was being fought very bravely but said that the fight only constituted 10 per cent and that the main fight was against the extremist mindset spreading in the country.
He said the PPP supported the government fully in the war against terror, adding that the party had also rendered numerous sacrifices and would continue to do so in future.
We should stand shoulder to shoulder with armed forces, says Raja
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| Former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf. - DawnNews screengrab |
Former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf said that the Peshawar school attack was a very tragic incident which had not only shocked the nation but the entire world.
He said the country needs to unite and focus on curbing the menace of terrorism. The PPP leader said the population should stand shoulder to shoulder with the country's armed forces.
No attack as ghastly as Peshawar school massacre, says Khursheed Shah
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| - DawnNews screengrab |
Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah said that the world had not witnessed an attack as ghastly as the Peshawar school massacre.
He said the most important objective of the Multi-Party Conference held in Peshawar yesterday was to establish an understanding that the war against terror is Pakistan's fight and not an internal dispute between two groups.
He underscored that the country's armed forces had given immense sacrifices.
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Comments (86) Closed
Dec 18, 2014 11:06am
She is absolutely correct. Everyone who appears to side with these militants should be arrested and charged. Fact is Pakistan is full of those who side with these ban organizations.
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Dec 18, 2014 11:12am
Does the name Sartaj Aziz come to mind? Anyone?
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Dec 18, 2014 11:15am
including those who did not hanged convicted terrorists.....
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Dec 18, 2014 11:15am
I remembered Sherry Rehman as a principled politician,who resigned as a minister,But she is so right about the apologetic leaders
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Dec 18, 2014 11:17am
Mr. Hafiz Saeed is again threatening terror and is being condoned by all. Hypocrisy has already backfired, but it seems it is hard to avoid. So recurrence of such tragedies can not be completely eliminated, whether Pakistan or any foreign country. Origin of such actions again will be denied and attributed to foreign hand.
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Dec 18, 2014 11:18am
I totally agree with Sherry.
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Dec 18, 2014 11:19am
You and your government refused to hang a single terrorist. You are the biggest apologists of them all.
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Dec 18, 2014 11:22am
well said !, Perfect examples of apologists are Imran khan and Sartaj aziz
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Dec 18, 2014 11:23am
Great and bravo Shireen, when some mullas don't even condemn peshawar incident. Law should take its course against those like Hafiz Saeed and Mulla Abdul Aziz.
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Dec 18, 2014 11:25am
Absolutely. Those calling this America's war should be arrested and tried under anti terrorist legislation.
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Dec 18, 2014 11:33am
Hafiz Saeed and Parvez Musharraf do not blame the Taliban.
They blame India.
Where does this put them?
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Dec 18, 2014 11:38am
Then, what did PPP really do to eliminate terrorism during full 5-year term may we ask? Musharraf who did play active role in order to eliminate terrorism got charged as murderor instead! What a poetic Justice? Your party's vision is farce when it comes to protecting public especially after witnessing carnage of murders in port city of Karachi during PPP's rule. Words are cheap mam than have guts to take action on real issue of terrorism.
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Dec 18, 2014 11:39am
Wow! this is unreal. It feels like deja vu. As a pakistani living in US, I feel like I am seeing same tactic used here by Pakistani so called leaders as once done by US officials during 9/11. This whole terrorist episode feels like a repeat telecast of 9/11. Innocent people always pay the price of this "Dirty" game these leaders play to stay in power. May Allah bless Pakistan always.
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Dec 18, 2014 11:42am
Again only statements. Go see public channels people in Islamabad (only one cleric) gave his views and still sitting there. Astonished that they are given air time to speak and deliver there absurd inhuman thoughts. Time to act. Actions speak louder than words.
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Dec 18, 2014 11:43am
What about Imran Khan and Syed Munnawar Hassan? Have they changed their minds about terrorists?
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Dec 18, 2014 11:45am
Totally agree with you...Finding justifications for terrorist attacks is the reason for all the problems in Pakistan..
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Dec 18, 2014 11:51am
Well done Madam. It is high time that vast silent majority spoke out loud and clear. These child murderers are not doing anything in my name or in the name of Islam. They out to be hunted down and severely punished. Those who have been giving lip service to these violent criminals should tell us unequivocally as to where they stand.
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Dec 18, 2014 11:52am
Madam Sherry Rehman is stating the obvious. I agree with her. Lets unequivocally condemn the terrorists and get united with the army to remove this cancer from the country.
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Dec 18, 2014 11:59am
Whoever defends terrorist attack, should be considered as second class citizen. There must be law for this. We cannot let these idiot Mullahz like Abdul Aziz Ghazi to teach our children hatred and violence.
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Dec 18, 2014 11:59am
Getting rid of apologists is more important than fighting terrorists. Down with JI and JUI (S)
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Dec 18, 2014 11:59am
@Zafar i concur with you.
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Dec 18, 2014 12:00pm
We know the apoligists.
1)Maulana Fazlur Rehman , head of JUI-F
2)Munawwar Hassan, former head of JUI
3)Maulana Abdul Aziz, who headed the Lal Masjid terror group and set free by a timid civil judge since then.
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Dec 18, 2014 12:03pm
Why didn't these PPP leaders act on such statements when their government was in power? Why did they tolerate the extremist madrassas, and why is Lal masjid still existing in Islamabad? These leaders should also be held accountable for their failures, and not just the terrorists.
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Dec 18, 2014 12:14pm
Agreed. No need to be apologetic and give explanations of any sort. Pakistan should be our first priority and we need to do what's best for us . Period.
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Dec 18, 2014 12:17pm
Finally! After a decade of wasted innocent lives, Pakistan gets what the rest of the world has been saying
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Dec 18, 2014 12:18pm
Agreed. What about those leaders who said "Hakimulla Mehsud is Shaheed". and " whoever killed by American is Shaheed".
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Dec 18, 2014 12:25pm
Same approach is needed against international friends and sponsors of terrorists. Whoever chose to support those countries involved in financing terrorism in PK or who ever would try to increase their influence in PK would be considered traitor.
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Dec 18, 2014 12:30pm
Can anyone define, what will be classified as apologetic?
We are already reeling from blasphemy law in this country, no more ambiguous words to divide the nation.
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Dec 18, 2014 12:32pm
Rightly put, we couldn't agree more...
Actions however should preceed what is been said !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Dec 18, 2014 12:38pm
She is absolutely right.
One should also mark pseudo intellectuals who enjoy debating the topic and indirectly try to put up a support for terrorism philosophy.
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Dec 18, 2014 12:46pm
Where is the justice for those killed in the 26/11 attacks? That too was terrorism. Why was this condoned?
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Dec 18, 2014 12:50pm
@zafar see the latest dr shahid masood talk show about the reason behind that decision.
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Dec 18, 2014 12:50pm
So NOW we understand when George W Bush said: "Either you are WITH us or you are against us." And when Israel bombs Gaza? Collective punishment? Irresponsible justice. ZHou en Lai is reported to have 'saluted the martyrs if the nation' after ordering [incorrectly] the execution of the whole shopping center food vendors [incorrectly] accused of 'black market' and 'gouging prices' of food.
We need to br careful how far we react on this incudent: certainly some innicents will be harmed, but even one innocent being executed is too much.
Former US VP just said: i am more concerned about saving ONE American life, and not so much about the death of suspected innocent 'combatants'.
Pakistan sounds like it is following in the footsteps of Israel and the US in the reaction, and nit if Sweden [or was it Norway?]
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Dec 18, 2014 12:52pm
Does that rule apply only for the apologists of the "bad terrorists"?
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Dec 18, 2014 01:02pm
@observer both must be executed.
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Dec 18, 2014 01:05pm
@saqlain Absolutely. Let there be no more distinction between state actors and non-state actors.
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Dec 18, 2014 01:07pm
Simple-
You are either with us or them ! If you are with us - you will live. If you are with them - we will hunt you down!
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Dec 18, 2014 01:13pm
At last there is a woman in Pakistan to state the obvious without fear. The question is can the rest of the 'leaders' show some spine and support her?
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Dec 18, 2014 01:29pm
@Calcutta Man sartaj aziz ex general kiyani, imran khan nawaz sharif shahbaz sharif jamat-e-islamic fazlur rehaman there is a long list of supporters and sympathizers.
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Dec 18, 2014 01:40pm
It was PPP Leadership who broke our country in 1971. It was Zardari who suspended death sentence to terrorists. It was PPP who wrote memo to USA against our army. You are traitors.
Dawn, please publish my comment.
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Dec 18, 2014 01:44pm
Sherry did the right thing, however she should have named the religious and political parties who had given justification and a breathing space to the terrorists. One political party wanted TTPs offices throughout Pakistan and a religious party calling the army personnel who were mytred were not mytered. Media should expose those elements and show their true unpatriotic face.
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Dec 18, 2014 01:49pm
That's laughable Ma'am. As stated above, your army has received good response from Afghan Govt. Still despite TTP owning responsibility of the same, Musharaf is blaming India and Afghanistan for the attack. Same with Haafiz Saeed. These people have a big following in Pakistan and their statements will become the truth after being repeatedly aired on TV. This will ultimately shift the focus from the real problem of terrorists to India bashing. If Musharraf and Saeed are not apologists then who are ?
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Dec 18, 2014 02:01pm
Can anyone define, what will be classified as apologetic?
We are already reeling from blasphemy law in this country, no more ambiguous words to divide the nation.
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Dec 18, 2014 02:02pm
thums up to the lady.. good stroke..
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Dec 18, 2014 02:11pm
Criminals behind this attack need to be punished, it does not matter, if they are Muslims or not, Pakistanis or Not, Humans or not, Crime is a Crime, and they need to be held accountable for it.
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Dec 18, 2014 02:15pm
@Saleema and Syed Munnawar Hassan as well
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Dec 18, 2014 02:19pm
@zafar Agree with you. PPP government under Zardari claimed that the moratorium on death penalty was imposed to placate the EU and claim its trade preferences. But perhaps you cannot hold her personally responsible for this. The same wrong priorities impelled the NS regime from ending the moratorium, but they ended the moratorium briefly only to restore it after the TTP threatened reprisals. In other words, they capitulated immediately under the threat!
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Dec 18, 2014 02:22pm
Very strange... Pak Media houses are blaming Indian Intelligence and Afghan Intelligence for this incident. And still Pakistan premier is yet to announce this publicly. Why...? whats wrong in this...?
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Dec 18, 2014 02:24pm
@observer > Both of them are part of the problem. Musharraf gave us the concept of the Good Taleban but did not explain how good the Good Taleban were when they helped the bad Taleban. He is very much an apologist. And the our good Taleban friends did nothing to stop the bad Taleban despite knowing what they were doing to us. Hafiz Saeed is a terrorist and should be tried and his guilt proven.
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Dec 18, 2014 02:30pm
Dear Friends,
Just like you our country is in shock to see such bloodbath of innocent kids. Whats their fault? We are with you like brothers and sisters. Please at least now put pressure on pakistan government, army, and the people who has sympathy to terrorists. Terrorists has religion. Lets us eliminate these daemons permanently. What about this person who carried out Mumbai attack and killed innocent people? http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/hafiz-saeed-on-tv-threatens-terror-attacks-against-india-636072
Just once think about the pain we are going through. May GOD give courage to those parents who lost their kids. This is unrecoverable loss to every one, to entire human beings. Only one question…what was the fault of these innocent peoples.. and what we will do against these daemons. …lets act now.
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Dec 18, 2014 02:38pm
we should have done this 6 years ago, better late then never.
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Dec 18, 2014 02:56pm
She is talking of apologists... what about the people who watched these terror attacks happen time after time and did nothing to protect the lives of citizens. Instead they bolstered their own security and issued meaningless condemnations one after the other.
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Dec 18, 2014 02:59pm
I hate agreeing with Sherry, but I do in this. She's so irrelevant, though, why does she even make the news?
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Dec 18, 2014 03:00pm
@zafar THANK YOU
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Dec 18, 2014 03:03pm
And the 'charitable' emir Hafiz Saeed continues to threaten to unleash destruction on India on mainstream News channels!
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Dec 18, 2014 03:04pm
@Saleema Fully support your argument. Unless mindset is not targeted, nothing will change!!
Burqa molvi Abdulaziz, Hafiz Saeed, they all are polluting minds. They shall be the first targets.
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Dec 18, 2014 03:10pm
@Ramesh Krishnan You might feel this way! But as a Pakistani & as a human such acts are condemned by public may it be Peshawar, Mumbai or Australia incident. Had enough of religious hatered. We need to fight it at evert step
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Dec 18, 2014 03:17pm
It’s time to be united and defeat terrorists. It’s time to increase the morale of Pakistan Army. How can we treat our disease when we don’t comprehend our illness and we don’t realize that we are sick, so some people, especially a group wants to create confusion among our nation. We should disregard them and also denounce them. We can’t triumph any battle without harmony, unity, concentrating and focusing on one target. Some peoples condemn terrorist attacks and then they make use of “if and but” they are also associates of terrorists. At this time some so called Liberals hate Islam and hesitant to implementation of blessed Islamic Laws according to the Sunnah and some so called religious groups want to implement their thoughts by naming of Islamic Laws.
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Dec 18, 2014 03:31pm
Todays latest news - ATC approves bail of Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi in Mumbai attacks case What you have got to say ?
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Dec 18, 2014 03:40pm
Pakistan has a 67 year old problem, and that is day to day living.
Ms. Rehman please don't tinker with THAT narrative under any pretext.
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Dec 18, 2014 04:06pm
First what is the definition of an apologist? Secondly are we ready to accept the rule of collective punishment?
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Dec 18, 2014 05:34pm
Sherry Rahman can issue statements. But what about ground realities: instead of spending on education, a succession of PPP regimes were busy stocking their foreign bank accounts, and real estate portfolios. Those who left education un-attended are the real apologists.
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Dec 18, 2014 05:51pm
Poor innocents are killed all the time. Every Pakistani should be ashamed for silently witnessing the horrors that keep repeating itself throughout history and not do nothing about it. That is a big sin in itself. Shun any form of terrorism. Speak up. Your voice counts.
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Dec 18, 2014 05:59pm
Agree with her 100%
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Dec 18, 2014 06:12pm
if apologists are terrorists too then why did Asif Zardari objected the death penalty for the terrorists last year?
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Dec 18, 2014 06:23pm
I agree totally with Sherry.
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Dec 18, 2014 06:33pm
once in my life time i agree with a member of PPP
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Dec 18, 2014 07:04pm
Blunt statement by Sherry Rahman that should be followed by brute force against terrorists and their apologists.
No more justification of misdeeds of criminals of humanity
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Dec 18, 2014 07:05pm
Oh, please, enough of those words. Last term of 5-years PPP rule, they failed to reduce or eliminate crimes & killings. Now they are all out giving lectures. People of Pakistan want performace from politicians, not lectures. High crimes rates in sindh and on streets of Karachi, under PPP rule is nothing to be proud of for these PPP leaders.
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Dec 18, 2014 07:10pm
@P Setra I hope that Nawaz Sharif was true to his words when he said he would not discriminate between good and bad terrorists
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Dec 18, 2014 07:12pm
Thanks, but this statement should have come from the PPP chairman and the chairperson. I hope that they are not intimidated by the Terrorist ? !!!!!
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Dec 18, 2014 07:16pm
Finally the moratorium on death penalty was lifted on terrorists, which was imposed by Sherry Rehman's PPP
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Dec 18, 2014 07:26pm
Being in the inner circle of Zardari, MS Rehman should tell us why her boss spared convicted terrorists and target killers from hanging ? Result is, target killing continues in Karachi & in rest of the country.
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Dec 18, 2014 08:00pm
ARY News and its Anchor Lucman who is praised by Imran Khan of being top journalist, is poisoning minds of Pakistani citizens against India, Afghanistan and US over vague conspiracy theories for anything bad done in Pakistan, than owe internal failures and injustices meted to citizens. Isn't the propaganda of ARY in "Khara Saach" facilitating terrorism against india moreso BJP. Indian Parliament and school children mourned the tragedy, but ARY is poisoning the minds by saying their is Indian money and hand to link with Peshawar massacre.
Such journalism is terror dissemination of hatred without concrete evidence, in spite of all party meeting at Peshawar not blaming India until some evidence comes about. But, Lucman is going over the shoulders of All Pakistan Parties, in accusing Modi and Nawab Shariff nexus over nothing, what be describes as business interest (just in the air allegations). Its vicious journalism akin to terrorism. Even the natural sympathies of Indians with common Pakistanis are badly hurt by Lucman for his curled tail not straightening up in wake of tragedy, when he is putting spin over events.
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Dec 18, 2014 08:01pm
Where is Asif Zaradari and Bilawal? Are they out of country as usual in the time of dire need?
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Dec 18, 2014 08:02pm
@Calcutta Man
Regarding Peshawar massacre, the names that come to the mind of Pakistanis are India, RAW, Afghanistan and US.
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Dec 18, 2014 08:04pm
@observer
Pervez Musharraf is bad for indians because he openly points toward india for terrorist activities in Pakistan.
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Dec 18, 2014 08:06pm
you cannot trust corrupt PPP
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Dec 18, 2014 08:27pm
@Niaz Ahmad -- They are grieving privately in one of their mansions somewhere in Europe.
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Dec 18, 2014 08:33pm
The first priority for the government, police and military is to secure its institutions and monitor electronically and every other way the various platforms religious and others from where militant threats are encouraged and emanate. Political differences can still exist, but security of a country's institutions is its top priority.
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Dec 18, 2014 08:35pm
@Calcutta Man Yes! Indeed ! who cleverly or couldn't so cleverly state that he was interpreted out of context. If he remains in the government, he'd continue his covert acts.
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Dec 18, 2014 08:42pm
I am an American, and claim no great knowledge about Pakistani internal politics. Despite this, there is a quote from Hilary Clinton (who I am normally not a great fan of) that seems applicable. It goes "If you keep snakes in your back yard, you cannot expect them to bite only your neighbor". Terrorists are a danger to all because they have no limits with respect to their action in support of a cause. They have no conscience because they believe in the "end justifies the means". For the sake of all our children, both in Pakistan, and the rest of the world, these fanatics must be recognized for what they are and stopped.
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Dec 18, 2014 10:07pm
Truly much stronger words spoken by Sherry than by PM.
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Dec 19, 2014 07:06am
PPP talk about good things but they don't really follow it. They had the best policies but never really implemented them. They also can't govern and are corrupt. I feel that PPP need to revamp the whole part top to bottom, and build up slowly.
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Dec 20, 2014 08:00am
It is time for civil society in Pakistan to rise and show that they are the voice of the silent majority, if they lose now, all will be lost. Social welfare and awareness should be responsibility of NGO's and government departments and the public funds should be channeled through them, not through mullahs.
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Dec 20, 2014 05:18pm
@observer Having remained in confinement for a long time Pervez Musharaf is probably getting into the first phase of dementia that is causing him to juxtapose with Hafiz Saeed. A India-centric delirium.
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