Islamabad Tonight 3rd February 2011

TOPIC- TURMOIL IN MIDDLE EAST & PAKISTAN

GUESTS- FAYSAL RAZA ABIDI, ABDUL RASHEED GODAL, PROFESSOR IBRAHIM

FAYSAL RAZA ABIDI OF PPPP said that soon the size of the cabinet will be deflated. He said that government is considering dissolving current cabinet and have a very small cabinet in the near future. Comparing the troublesome situation of Middle East with Pakistan he said that people of in the Arab world are suppressed where as in Pakistan people have the freedom of speech. He said that because of the freedom of speech it seems difficult that people of Pakistan will come out on the streets against government like Middle East. Answering the criticism against politicians he said that corruption is in every department of life not just the politicians. He said that it is so funny that the case against PCO judges will be decided by those who are also PCO judges. He said that media only conduct shows to criticize government. He said that he filed a law suite against anchor Javed Choudhery and the court is intentionally not giving him the date of hearing. He criticized that CJ Iftikhar Ahmed Choudhery that he is unable to control corruption at the level of lower courts. He accused that media and judiciary cover each other back. He said that if democratic process continued things will be much better in the future for Pakistan.

RASHEED GODAL OF MQM said that Pakistan needs to reduce the size of the cabinet. He said that countries like China and India with population over one billion people each have smaller size cabinet than Pakistan. He said numerous bureaucrats attached with ministers put extra burden on the economy. He said that beside other measures shedding the size of cabinet is another way to reduce budget deficit. He said that ninety percent of Pakistani people are deprived with their basic rights. He said that Pakistan is heading towards a revolution. He said that people of Pakistan will respond to the call of revolution by Altaf Hussain. He said that only MQM can bring revolutionary change in the country. He said that MQM is the only party which chooses candidates from middle class community to run for national and provincial assemblies. He said that no member of parliament should have dual nationality and properties abroad. He said that if we could not bring the change with the power of vote then Pakistan will be destined to revolution in the near future. He said that it is time to get rid of lineal political system otherwise no body will be able to stop people to come out on the streets in revolutionary protests.

PROFESSOR IBRAHIM OF JI said that according to 18th amendment the size of the cabinet will be reduced after the elections for the next term. He said that there is similarity of problems between Pakistan and Arab world. He said that there is possibility that people can go on the streets for revolution in Pakistan. Answering the criticism of Faysal Raza Abidi against JI to have association with a dictator Gen Zia ul Haq he said that every democratic government uses the crutches of military generals to keep their government running in Pakistan. He said that Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was the first politician germinated by a military general. He said that change with the power of vote will be better for Pakistan. He said that if change comes with power of bullet it will be a real disaster for Pakistan.