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Mohammad Mian Soomro becomes Caretaker Prime Minister of Pakistan ISLAMABAD - President Pervez Musharraf named Pakistan’s current senate chief Thursday to lead a caretaker government that will steer the emergency-ruled nation toward elections in January.
Hours before parliament was dissolved at the end of its five-year term, he settled on close ally Mohammedmian Soomro, a former banker aged 57 and member of Musharraf’s own ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Q party. ”I want to say that from tomorrow onwards, Mohammedmian Soomro sahib is the prime minister,” Musharraf, dressed in a black suit instead of his military uniform, said at a dinner for outgoing government members. ”We are introducing a new culture of smooth transition which is as it should be in civilized societies. The assemblies are completing their five-year term in a better way than before,” Musharraf said. Soomro will be sworn in at a ceremony on Friday morning. He will take over from premier Shaukat Aziz, who left office when the national assembly dissolved at midnight Thursday after serving its first full mandate in Pakistan’s history. ”The outgoing prime minister approved the notification for the dissolution of parliament. It took place at one second after midnight,” parliamentary affairs minister Sher Afgan told AFP. The political developments came as three people, including two boys, were killed when gunfire broke out during protests in the southern city of Karachi by supporters of detained opposition leader Benazir Bhutto. They were the first such deaths under emergency rule. Musharraf, who seized power in a bloodless coup in 1999, is facing growing international pressure to quit as army chief, end the state of emergency and allow a free and fair vote. The military ruler has promised elections by January 9, but said they would be held under the state of emergency he imposed earlier this month. Attorney General Malik Mohammad Qayyum said Musharraf would quit his army post by December 1, after the Supreme Court has ruled on the legality of his October 6 re-election as president. Musharraf’s own term officially ends at midnight but as incumbent, he will remain in office until the court decision. ”Today I should have given up my uniform, but I could not do it because the Supreme Court barred me from taking the oath and the case was lingering and lingering,” Musharraf said earlier. Bhutto, who had been in power-sharing negotiations with the military ruler before he declared emergency rule but has now broken them off, said he would not be acceptable as ruler even if he shed his uniform. ”Too much water has gone under the bridge,” she told Dawn television from house arrest in the eastern city of Lahore. ”We have said very clearly that we cannot keep doors open when commitments are broken.” Bhutto and another for+mer premier, Nawaz Sharif, spoke by telephone about working together to oust Musharraf, an alliance that would bring together two of the country’s biggest opposition parties. Bhutto earlier spoke for two hours with US consul general Bryan Hunt, who crossed the barbed wire barricades to see her under house arrest. John Negroponte, number two to US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, is due to arrive Friday to press the concerns of Washington, which sees Pakistan as a vital ally in the fight against Al-Qaeda and the Taliban. In Washington, the White House moved to quell speculation it was giving up on Musharraf and weighing other options. Asked if US President George W. Bush was losing confidence in him, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said: ”Let me make it very clear, the president is focused on the here and now.” However US Defense Secretary Robert Gates later warned that Musharraf’s effectiveness as an ally depends on what happens next in the political crisis. Musharraf’s ”ability to continue to be a partner in the war on terror very much depends on how events unfold over the next few weeks in Pakistan,” Gates told a Pentagon news conference. In Karachi, police official Fayyaz Khan said that during a protest against Bhutto’s house arrest, ”somebody among the demonstrators opened fire and two boys aged around 11 or 12 were killed.” Tension gripped the area after the shooting and further gunfire broke out, in which a worker from Bhutto’s party was reported killed.
Soomro-led 24 cabinet sworn in ISLAMABAD: Muhammadmian Soomro, Chairman Senate took oath as caretaker Prime Minister on Friday. President General Pervez Musharraf administered the oath at a ceremony held at Aiwan-e-Sadr.
The ceremony was also attended by former Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, members of his cabinet, Speaker National Assembly Chaudhry Amir Hussain, governors and provincial chief ministers, services chiefs, senators, federal secretaries, political leaders, diplomats and high civil and military officials. Caretaker Cabinet Later, President General Pervez Musharraf administered oath of office to a new caretaker setup, with Mohammadmian Soomro as the Prime Minister at a ceremony held at Aiwan-e-Sadr. The ministers who took oath of office today are: Shahzada Alam Manoo, Barrister Habibur Rehman, Sikander Jogezai, Saleem Abbas Jillani, Dr. Salman Shah, Prince Essa Jan, Inam-Ul-Haq, Nisar Ali Khan, Nisar A. Memon, Ansar Burni, Salman Taseer, Dr. Abdullah Riar, Hamid Nawaz Khan, Abbas Sarfraz, Nisar Ghumman, Syed Afzal Haider, Raja Tri Dev Rai, Ehsanullah Khan. Dr. Fahim Ansari, Khawaja Atta Ullah Taunsa Sharif, Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif and Dr. Shahida Jamil. Diplomats meet Soomro Some Federal Ministers, Senators, Diplomats based in Islamabad, members of the dissolved National Assembly Friday called on the Caretaker Prime Minister Mohammadmian Soomro and congratulated him on assuming the charge. Some Federal Secretaries, Business leaders and elite also called on the Prime Minister Soomro for congratulation. Prime Minister Soomro said besides continuity and consistency of policies, security, law and order and holding of free and transparent election would be the priority of his government. He said the caretaker government would ensure conducive environment for the holding of elections and to assist the Election Commission in this regard.
Mohammad Mian Soomro: A virtuous caretaker Mr. Mohammad Mian Soomro is a scion of famous political family of Soomros of Sindh. His grandpa, Shaheed Allah Bakhsh Soomro the only Chief Minister of pre partition Sindh, who opposed the British imperialism and renunciated all official titles, including the order of British empire.
Soomros’ political and parliamentary role in mapping and shaping the county is worth mentioning. They have a history of independent rule in Sindh for centuries. When the Arab rule in Sindh was at yawning stage, it was the first & foremost tribe that seized power from Arabs. With in a brief period of time their popularity touched to its peak and consequently their rule stretched to Multan in the north, where they established their permanent settlement. Rescuing the people from a state of anarchy and serving them with governance that vouchsafed peace and progress. Mohammad Mian Soomro is very much conscious of his noble descent as well as the historical role played by his ancestors. The culture of nobility, humility, generosity and forbearance that he had inherited inspired him to achieve the same ideals in his personal conduct and character. Mohammad Mian Soomro possesses unique qualities of character which distinguished him from his compatriots. He is an affectionate father, a loving brother and above all a humble and a God fearing person. Son of late Ahmedmian Soomro, a brilliant and prosperous lawyer of his times and known for the vast circle of his friends, Mr. Mohammad Mian Soomro’s schooling took place from Bahawalpur’s Sadiq Public School to Quetta’s St. Convent & abroad. Mr. Soomro is a man of unconquerable will. All his life he has made only friends. I was lucky to be acquainted with him, in the late 1990s, when he was working as President of National Bank of Pakistan and Zarai Tarraqiati Bank. His dynamism and determination rescued the only public sector Bank (NBP) from complete ruining. Besides this his firm stand to save more than 5000 employees of the bank from being retrenched on the whims of then Prime Minister. He is avid lover of Sufi music, with pleasant habits. A diehard devotee of Dargah of Hazrat Qalander Lal Shahbaz, Mr. Soomro during his most frequent visits to Dargah has always been seen distributing sweets among the poor people and looking after their needs. He never bothers about protocol and warmly mingles up with faqirs of Dargah and enquires about their welfare. It is also famous in Sehwan Sharif that before his elevation to higher ranks resulting in his extra-ordinary pre-occupations he was regular in attending 27th Rajab’s ’ghusul’ rites of mausoleum of Lal Sain. He also knows by heart some of the poetic works of Lal Sain and fondly recite in his informal meetings. As Governor Sindh Sindh’s gubernatorial slot come to Mr. Soomro’s hands in May 2001, following the exit of Air Marshal (R) Muhammad Azeem Daudpoto’s cabinet. His installation on a coveted seat ushered a new era of peace and prosperity in every sector. It was due to his sincere efforts that famous international financial institutions directly began contributing funds to Sindh. This created a new example. It was his period when for the first time a thread bare discussion on water apportionment took place and the very pros and cons of construction of larger water reservoirs were freely discussed & debated in public. The most controversial issue of Kalabagh dam, which remained predominant during his era was also discussed in a pleasant atmosphere. In one of the public meetings at Hyderabad, meant to seek public feedback on the issue, Mr. Soomro extra ordinary demonstrated as a wise man and ever didn’t feel awkward when he was interrupted during his speech by some experts and received volleys of the questions in the mid. He halted his speech in the mid and politely invited the opinion of the expert and stayed on the rostrum all along until the question and answer session lasted. His period as governor, though brief, is regarded as a peaceful as far as over all law and order situation was concerned. The credit of introducing a new administrative system in Sindh also goes to him. By coming into force of the District Government System, the centuries old colonial system of governance came to an abrupt halt. The new devolved system which was introduced down to Union Council level brought with it a message of progress & prosperity besides bringing along a lot of problems. The shifting from one established system to entirely an alien system of governance was felt as painful for every body around the country. However, Sindh was the only province which took a better start and initiated trainings to elected officials of the new system besides imparting the same to the government officials concerned. Even more important aspect of the new devolution system was conducting free, fair and transparent elections.. The first ever elections of the system were carried through during his term as Governor. The transparency of those polls can very well be judged from the fact that out of 16 districts 9 fell in the hands of PPP-led Awam Dost Panel. His fair conduct as the Chief Executive of the province made him equally popular in the rank and file of PPP which was hither to considered to be the ardent opponent of the new system as well as its initiators. The Zila Nazims of Awam Dost used to pay visits to his offices without feeling any problem. “Mohammad Mian Soomro Sohib is my leader. I am behind him. I need his orders what to do & what not to do”, Makhdoom Rafiquzzaman, the then Zila Nazim of Hyderabad one’s heard while uttering these remarks at City’s Circuit House before the press. It was the occasion when the whole government machinery engaged in the task of Presidential Referendum. As Chairman Senate Mr. Soomro’s nomination for the slot of Prime Minister of Pakistan echoed for the first time in 2002 when he was still serving as Governor of Sindh. Mr. Soomro was reliably asked to go for contesting the NA Polls from his home constituency. He readily accepted the offer and began preparation for the next exercise however at the eleventh hour the idea was modified and he was elected as Senator and was subsequently elected as Chairman Senate of Pakistan in 2003. Upon his expiry of term of office as Chairman of the upper house, the ruling party had no choice but to re-elect Mr. Soomro as Chairman for the next tenure. During his stint as Chairman, the Senate of Pakistan grew as a model parliamentary institution and was acknowledged through out the world. During his first term following landmark achievements were done: Pakistan legislative strengthening Project, Improvement of E-governance module, up gradation of information and communication technology, telecasting of parliamentary proceedings, extensive media coverage, establishment of Parliamentary institute of legislative studies & parliamentary resource centre. More importantly during the period, the Senate of Pakistan, the house established a novel history of passing 21 bills transmitted to it by the National Assembly of Pakistan. Similarly during the said term 16 private numbers bills were introduced in the senate which included the code of criminal procedure (Amendment) Bill 2003, the criminal law (Amendment) Bill 2003 etc. His elevation as care taker Prime Minister of Pakistan to conduct general elections of 2008 would prove most beneficial towards the strengthening of democratic institutions of the country and lead Pakistan as role model in the world. Mr. Soomro is full of innovative ideas that could help change things for the better.
Terrorism is an outcome of poverty, deprivation
Do we need the extensive use of IT for rapid progress of the country? Mohammad Mian Soomro: We need the extensive use of IT not only for the progress of our country but for the evolution of the entire world too. For the reliability of data, its security, protection and trustworthy services definitely we need the extensive use of Information Technology (IT). Many mothers have lost their sons in clashes between students’ political parties every year, so the colleges and the universities must ban political groups, would you please comment? MMS: Political activities in any case are restricted in educational institutes, but the people are still involved and are doing it. Again it’s the responsibility of the society to curb and to keep eyes on such bad activities. Government never allows these things but at the same time people should also be aware of the scenario. Any solution we want depends on how people respond towards it. It’s their responsibility too to observe the performance and the work being done by their political leaders. They have the right to choose their leaders. If they themselves are choosing the wrong individuals, they can’t blame us then. They should think a lot before making their choice and casting their vote to anyone. If they want improvement, they should take first step themselves. Do you face any kind of pressure in the absence of President? MMS: I think its normal; our team is sincere and is doing our best. Everyone has democratic rights to give opinions but we are trying our level best. I believe all parties should work together for the betterment of the country. What could be the role of business community in uplifting the country economy? MMS: Business community is an asset of the country and exporters are super heroes of the country. Exporters and the business communities have to play a great role in the country’s economic uplift for which the government is giving every possible incentive to the business community. No country could get autonomy without economic development, adding that sovereignty of the country required economic uplift. The government would welcome all suggestions of the business community as they are playing an important role by providing employment, adding that the government would provide all possible incentives to the business community. I salute our businessmen brothers, who with their hard work, quality improvement, aggressive marketing and strict discipline not only made name for them, but also introduced Pakistan in the international market. We are proud of our business community, and we are giving today awards for their tremendous contribution How can we cope with the violence of all forms? MMS: Pakistan’s commitment to combat terror in all forms and manifestations is based on principles and it is in line with its own national objectives adding that the country will continue to play its due role in this regard. The root causes of terrorism are poverty, injustice and deprivation and we need adopting a holistic approach, advocating more spending for human development in countries worst affected by terrorism like Iraq and Afghanistan. Pakistan itself is a victim of terrorism and it took measures to contain and combat terror much earlier than 9/11. The problem of terrorism and religious extremism has its roots in the Afghanistan war of the 80’s, when the US and the western countries abruptly pulled out from Afghanistan after signing of the Geneva accord. We need more intelligence ad data sharing among the countries badly affected by terrorism. The problem of religious extremism and sectarianism is also an offshoot and fall out of the Afghan war of the 80’s. How can Pakistan maintain peace in the region? MMS: The role of Pakistan for maintaining peace in the region, Pakistan is sincerely pursuing composite dialogue with India and hoped for its early resumption. Pakistan is strongly committed to nuclear non proliferation and it denoted the nuclear device in 1998 only to ensure its survival as a sovereign state as there was no other option. We need more interaction between the Parliaments of the two countries besides exchange of students, businessmen and journalists’ delegations. How much important is harmony of society for the progress of a country? MMS: Harmony of society really plays a great role. Good interaction amongst various segments of society can make Pakistan stronger and we will be able to face all challenges strongly. We need good education, strong economy and a progressive social sector, which are all related to our security. But at the same time we should all believe that we are Pakistanis first then sindhi, balochi, punjabi or pathan. Also all political parties should gather at one platform when it is about the betterment of our country. Our political point of views should not restrict us from holding each other’s hands for the progress of our beloved homeland. In foreign countries, they have research teams for almost every field. However, it’s a dilemma that we pay least attention towards research before setting any objectives. Please comment. MMS: Of course, research is very essential in every field. We can learn from great contributions made in the past by the Muslim scholars in science, mathematics, medicine, geography and astronomy. We all need to play our role in setting up standards in research which in today’s world in key to progress. We would like to have your message for the Netizens. MMS: Work hard work for the national interest and for the progress of the country, be tolerant, respect every body and be a good human being. The feeling among most Pakistanis here is of shock and horror, as most of them said that even if the report of threat of bomb was true, why Gen. Musharraf used this occasion to reveal it. We don’t need bombs from the US to take us back to the Stone Age. The KESC and WAPDA can do the same job at home. MMS: The KESC and WAPDA are doing surveys, as the demand increases to manifolds. The investment that is required for the sector didn’t come through whatever the reason might be. Currently we are facing the consequences for poor planning and poor investment of many decades but InshaAllah you will see the tremendous improvement soon. On the other part of the question, I can not comment on that. It’s a political issue and is being discussed. The world has no doubt become a global village. Media has played an important role in it too. The media is being taken to so-called advancements at all cost. Don’t we need to restrict media at least to some extent being citizen of a country, which was build in the name of Islam? MMS: In this case the government can give a guide line and it is up to the companies and also the society to create this awareness. For this with in a family I think the parent need to communicate more with the children for what to watch and what not to watch and similarly the society also has to think about it. The government has given the guideline and is continuing to do so and facilitate our own moral and ethical standard. But it is the responsibility and it has to be shared by every body and every member of the society. The bribe has unfortunately taken an important position in our daily routine. Today even if you go to get your Domicile or PRC, the gentleman would ask for bribe openly and fearlessly. No one can even think of getting the task done without paying bribe. Can’t we do anything to vacuum our society from this evil? MMS: A lot is being done. Basically you have to ensure that the functionaries are properly working. The thing that is more important is monitoring which is being done. This is the general statement if Saima Sahiba can sort out from where she has experienced the matter so we will be able to rectify it. Again it’s a shared responsibility of government and society. People ought to know their rights. It has been observed that our police is generally found involved in crimes. Even then no or less action is taken against them? Like torture in jails is common police culture. Can’t the “Police Culture” be finished? MMS: Certainly, the new police order is going toward a culture where the safety commission is answerable to the society. This is something which was not in practice before. It is important to have a better overview and more sensitivity to any dispute of authority by the police. Here again the community involvement is required, the people under safety commission must make it out and be fair. You have to be objective and I think this will be a good way to work with since we are going to change almost a hundred and forty plus year system. If anyone comes across such issues please bring them in front of court, authorities or press.
Profile
Nisar A.
Memon Caretaker Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Senator Nisar A. Memon who took oath of his office on Friday has also served as Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Management Services, Culture, State and Frontier Regions in the caretaker government of the then Prime Minister Moeen Qureshi in 1993.He has also served as Minister for Information with President Gen. Pervez Musharraf from March-November 2002.
Nisar Memon has a vast experience of management of both public and private sector. He is the Chairman, Standing Committee of Senate for Defence and Defence Production and member of the Standing Committees of Senate for Foreign Affairs, Finance and Economic Affairs. He served as the Chairman, Parliamentary Committee on Water and Resources in 2003 and 2004. He is member Board of Pakistan Council for Research Water Resources and Member Board of Governor National University FAST. Nisar A Memon completed his M.Sc from the University of Karachi and B.Sc from D.J. Government College, Karachi. He has attended courses in international Affairs at the Pakistan Institute of International affairs, Karachi, IBM International Management School, La Huipe, Belgium and is a winner of the European Exceptional Achievement Award, Paris. He served as lecturer in the Adamjee Science College before joining IBM in December 1968. The Minister for Information held various management positions at IBM, including international assignment to its European Headquarters, Paris and in Kuwait. He served as the IBM’s Country general manager for Pakistan from 1989-1999 and took early retirement from IBM to work for economic reforms in the country. Nisar Memon is the Foundation President of the Reformers Pakistan that was established in 1999. He has served as Vice Chairman, National Fund for Cultural Heritage, Islamabad; Director, American Life Insurance Company, Karachi; President, Overseas Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Karachi; President, American Business Council, Karachi; President, Pakistan Society for Training and development, Karachi; Member, Pakistan Engineering Board, Islamabad; Member, Syndicate University of Karachi; Member, Selection Board, University of Sindh, Jamshoro; and, Member, Advisory Board and Citizen Police Liaison Committee, Karachi.
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