Taliban supremo Hakeemullah Mehsud was killed, state television said here on Sunday.

Hakeemullah Mehsud has been buried in a graveyard at Mamondzai area of Orakzai tribal region.

Mehsud was injured in a drone attack in Shaktoi area on January 14 and was succumbed to his injuries three days later, reports said.

Hakeemullah Mehsud was named the new chief of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan after death of Baitullah Mehsud who was also killed in a drone strike in tribal areas.

Recently columnist Haroon Rashid(HR) wrote an article on the games played by Aitzaz Ahsan(AA), confirming what has appeared on this blog (e.g. see here and here) and, as expected, Aitzaz was quick to respond to what he called “accusations” — I call them statements of facts — by HR. But in trying to clear his name by further telling lies, AA has only managed to confirm what HR and I have stated.

Below are the so-called “accusations” by HR and the lies offered by AA as “clarifications”.

“Accusation” #1:
There really was no accusation here. HR stated AA had refused to defend Zardari using the excuse that he had to earn a living (“work with sweat and blood”) to pay for his kids’ school fees. Of course AA was lying as every one knows his kids are not in school (I think they are enjoying high-paying jobs overseas thanks to Aitzaz’s connections) and even if they were in school, Aitzaz has himself accepted he makes millions a month so he hardly has to worry about school fees for his kids. And AA suggesting he would not be paid by Zardari for his services was ridiculous indeed and I do believe Zardari was willing to pay him enough to “take care of all his expenses for a hundred years.” AA certainly might not have wanted to take his fee in cash for appearances sake but we know he would have taken it in favors which would have been a lot more lucrative and we do have the as precedence

him receiving an LPG quota,
him defending CJ resulting him in upping his fee up to rs 20 Million per case.

“Clarification” #1:
Aitzaz right away starts off with the greatest of fabrications. He quotes HR but the quote is 100% fabricated. AA says HR has stated:

“I demanded fee from Mr. Zardari to fight his case and apparently refused to help him further.”

Huh? Where did HR say that? What HR stated is right above. Can you find HR saying anything close to what AA claims HR said — and that too with a supposedly direct quote? Well, I certainly can’t. HR CERTAINLY DID NOT SAY THAT! Are we to assume a “brilliant lawyer” is so stupid as to not being able to copy one sentence? Most likely AA is doing this intentionally to twist things.

But starting with this lie (“HR said I demanded fees”), AA goes into this long rant about all the occasions he had not charged fees from his corrupt PPP buddies for defending them in court and doesn’t shy away from having helped them get away with it. Hello! That is not HR “accused” you of and at least have the decency/sense not to make up quotes to suit your purpose.

“Accusation” #2:
HR talks about the recent details that have come out about the LPG scandal in which consumers were bilked an extra 220 Billion. He tells us about 20-ton-a-day quota that AA enjoys. HR does say AA got the quota not because he is “a friend” of the LPG Mafia Don Iqbal Z Ahmed but because of Benazir Bhutto’s looking after her lap dogs.

“Clarication” #2:
What is interesting is that AA comes back not disagreeing with HR about the other people that got the LPG quota (and confirms his own 20-ton a day one) and even suggests they were improper as each of them faced some sort of an “Accountability Bureau” but — this is so funny — he says only his was on the up-and-up and he repeats the lie that his wife got it from his “friend” Iqbal Z Ahmed. He claims his his wife getting the LPG windfall was proper because:

He never was accused before, and
Musharraf never canceled it.
My! Is that the best defense you can offer, Mr. Brilliant Lawyer who charges Rs 2 crore per case? Amazing what bull you have been getting away with! Your first defense is now out the door as you have — belatedly but finally — been accused and the second defense just confirms the next accusation that you in fact were playing every side but the lawyers (the only side you were supposed to be playing). Also managing to secure such a lucrative deal (netting AA anywhere between Rs 3 million to Rs 38 million per month) admittedly due to nepotism — and not qualification — itself speaks volumes!

“Accusation” #3:
HR talks about the lawyers movement and does say AA pulled a fast one on the lawyers by calling off the “dharna” on his own, leading some young ones to tears by being stabbed in the back by their very leader (HR was being kind here — I have accused AA of not only that but a similar role in the second Long March. Remember at this time AA was NOT among the leaders of the Lawyers movement but managed to insert himself into Nawaz’s vehicle and again managed to halt the Long March in Gujranwala as preplanned (unless you are ready to believe Nawaz is a genius to have predicted it days ahead))

“Clarification” #3:
AA puts up a false claim that some “All Pakistan Lawyers Representaives” organization (is there one?) was “undecided” on dharna in May 2008 (first Long March) but had decided to do so in Jan 2009 (second Long March). Well Mr Aitzaz, if the lawyers were “undecided” in May 2008 as you yourself say, then who gave you the right to decide it for them? And if they had decided in it’s favor in Jan 2009, then again why did you announce it’s cancellation??

Aitzaz follows this crap with some silly excuses for him acted that way. He says it was too hot in June (is that a revelation or is June always hot?) and the guys in black coats (lawyers) would have suffered (Oh, and they did not suffer during the Long March when the sun was out but would have suffered more say at 3 in the morning?). Next he says he cancelled it because he was afraid some lawyers would have attacked the parliament and would have been arrested and no one would have bailed them out (Oh, so the lawyers were so helpless and alone?). Next he adds he did it for the women and kids who were present who would have suffered (Oh thanks AA for being so caring — we know women have no sense to make that decision for themselves or their kids). But AA is not done yet. Then he adds that anyone not supporting his decision were in fact agents of the forces wanting to do away with democracy (ignore the fact that Mush the dictator was sitting in the presidency) and those who wanted to spill blood and guts — another pathetic ‘excuse’.

Accusation #4:
HR talks about the time AA took CJ to meet Zardari under the pretense “to offer condolence for the death of Benazir Bhutto”. Of course it was a senseless move and a lot of fingers were pointed at CJ and HR rightly wonders if the real purpose behind it was AA trying to raise his rate.

“Clarification” #4:
AA goes into another rant against being called greedy and opportunist and gives us a list of qurbanis (how could a jiyala not shout qurbani when he has no legs to stand on — in fact you know he has trying to divert from the issue at hand) he gave like “I turned down the PMship”, blah, blah, blah.

But in all of that rant, he, of course, makes no mention of his rate having skyrocketed (his opportunism already proven by the BoP and the LPG affairs alone).

Watch De Villepan in France. Very charismatic figure. Very likely to be next French President in place of Sarkozi.

He has been keeping mum about 248 of recent because anyone with elementary knowledge of law and who has read the SC judgement will be well advised to keep mum.

I know our own “bright spark”‘s interpretation is out of this world but then I heard the earth’s magnetic field has suffered some major shift and the north pole is somewhere near Calgary having some serious effect on neuronal interconnections in the surrounding area!!!

Malik Qayum going to court for review does not prevent implementation of SC ruling unless he obtains a stay order from the same SC. Basic f******* principle. But then how would u know!

CNN: Al Qaeda, ISI blamed for Quran burning

The Afghan government is blaming Pakistani intelligence agents and al Qaeda for burned Qurans found in Helmand Province last week, a spokesman for the provincial government said.

A sack of burned Qurans was discovered by troops with the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and Afghan forces, said Daoud Ahmadi, the Helmand government spokesman, on Wednesday. The Quran is the holy book of Islam.

They were found in a home in the district of Garmsir on Friday along with some ammunition, Ahmadi said. The owner of the home said the Qurans’ burning was caused by an airstrike, but there was no other damage from an airstrike in the area, he added.

The owner of the home — whose son is a member of the Taliban — has been arrested in connection with the discovery, Ahmadi said. Two others have also been arrested, he said, for allegedly distributing pages of the burned Quran to area villagers.

The Afghan government has concluded that the Qurans are part of a plot by the enemies of the country to stir up the populace, Ahmadi said. He said it shows that ISI — or Pakistani intelligence agents — smugglers and al Qaeda are using such tactics to plot against foreign forces and have local residents turn against them.

2nd I happen to agree with AA on dharna call and time has proved AA stance that it was right call with Judiciary restored. I understand U might have differences with AA, but it was his brilliant tactics that won the day in the end. A movement with ideal and passions and right cause can still fail if they dun have good tactics and grip of political manuvering, case in point JI and PTI, abject failures both and now becoming a mockery.

The goad of restoration of judiciary movement was to restore the judiciary not topple the govt and I on that occassion, agreed with NS decision of restrained and calling off march to keep govt intact which with time has proven to be a right choice.

Now returning to ur qts is how SC gonna ensure their order is implemented, for that ur assuming Govt has to do right away right now. Wrong. Take example of Malik Qayyum, SC called govt to take action against him, malik qayyum hass gone to SC and ask for review. SC has not ruled against the review so case is pending, since its pending in SC govt can’t do much. Same way govt can ask the SC to either review parts of NRO verdict or whole of NRO verdict, it is govt right just as right of any citizen. So this hype of govt not implementing NRO is dishonest and stemming from hatred of zardari.

If u listen to every sane legal mind u will understand that they agree NRO verdict has not clear cut said that Prez has no immunity, if govt takes a stand on article 248 like PM already did then it can’t prooceed with Swiss cases. Obviously now we will need courts to clarify this issue, Govt would be stupid 2 assk the court to do that itself so feel free and ask IK to file a petition :p

This is all legal hullagulla, on practical matters like judges appointment etc these things take time and apart from the roontoo group led by Dr. Dangar aka qayamat kab aaeygee fame SM, everyone agrees to reelax and let things proceed thier natural way. If govt has said they would not then there woiuld have been cause for outrage. PM has stated in assembly they will implement the verdict.

How SC will ensure compilation is easy. For that SC can start with contempt proceedings and can carrry from there all the way to call to all institutions to help carry out SC order, If contempt citings are ignored, a simple resignation by PML – N, MQM from NA and Senate will enforce new electiosn and removal of govt. At no time we need to do muzahira and hartaal till the very end. The stupid calls to arms should be used as last resort as used by Lawyers movemnet. Its time to grow up, these hartaal and muzahira dun help public and hurts economy. They should be used judiciously not to make a politician or wanan be leader look good. There are many venues where govt can be hurt. Starting with NA, where opposition for once instead of only defending dear leader NS should show some balls and start holding govt accountable.

OH BTW since we have only IK as sign of intellectual honesty does it hurt to praise the govt when it does right thing, RM (who should be sacked for incompetence) is proving govt stance by appearing in courts and complying with court rulings, he drives his own car and brings no influence on the courts unlike the PTI led lawyers as evident in Shazia case.