BENAZIR BHUTTO'S ASSASSINATION.

It was shocking, it was disgusting and it was inhuman to know the assassination of Benazir Bhutto yesterday 27th of this month at 5.30 p.m. in Pakistan. She as killed not by outsiders but by the insiders from her own country and professing the same religion as she professed. The assassins were pushed into this mad act by the very people giving allegiance to the same religion as that of Benazir Bhutto and those who kill innocent or for that matter any human being are ungodly people, they are traitors of the teachings of their own religion. They deserve no mercy from God for committing such heinous crimes and their ultimate destination is not Heaven but HELL. By killing people in the name of religious ideology is the worst sin a man can commit. God has not entrusted any of us to kill others. We as children of God have no right to kill other human beings. Those people who kill others in the name of their religious belief must be cured of the wrong notion of their religion. No religion tells to kill others. The religious fundamentalists and fanatics must be told in the strongest terms that by killing others they are doing disservice to their own religion and for this reason the followers of their religions especially the innocent ones are coming under scanner all over the world.

Benazir Bhutto shot into limelight in India and Pakistan too when she first time visited India along with her Prime Minister father the late Zulfikar Ali Bhutto for Simla Conference soon after the end of Bangladesh liberation war in 1971. She was at that time in her teens around 19-20 year old, a very attractive and charming girl, attracting attention of all the young males. Even Indira Gandhi during that summit was deeply impressed by her looks, presentation and her way of talking. The Simla Conference gained major booster partly because of her presence with her father who of course monitored her each and every move clandestinely. He did not want his daughter to become too common amongst Indians who were devoting much more attention on her than on the Conference. During those few days Indian press was full of stories and photographs of her in the front pages. Simla Conference gained the required result but Benazir Bhutto’s presence won the hearts of Indians for Pakistan and Pakistanis. Some even suggested to her father to appoint her as Pakistani Ambassador to India to foment better relationship with India. Some Indian bachelors even proposed to marry her. But Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was an intellectual giant and a prophetic man too. He already made his prophecy that Benazir Bhutto his daughter is destined for much higher position and that is to rule Pakistan. And his prophecy finally came to reality but unfortunately after his death.

Having been educated in the West, her natural choice will surely go for Democracy and Freedom. Throughout her life she worked and fought for democracy and in Pakistan and anywhere in the Islamic country, democracy is the only solution. People in Islamic countries are suppressed from democracy and one day people will revolt to get it. Freedom and democracy are the inborn qualities in human beings. Benazir fought for democracy till her last breath. She was the first Muslim woman in the modern Islamic history to rule the country as a Prime Minister. Once during our meeting in the "Writers Guild" in Kuwait, while discussing a very hot topic on Islam and democracy, one top Kuwait intellectual lady said “our religion does not permit women to rule the country”. Immediately in the midst of august body of intellectuals and learned dignitaries including diplomats, I in my normal challenging manner asked her “Madam, what sort of Islam you are citing? Muslim Benazir Bhutto in Islamic Pakistan has already created a history by getting elected by the Muslim voters to the post of Prime Minister of Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Was it wrong or was it an anti-Islamic act?”. She had no answer and everyone in the meeting was stunned.

I always admired her graceful posture. Once when as Premier of India, Rajiv Gandhi went to Pakistan to attend one summit there. While Benazir, also as a premier of Pakistan, escorting Rajiv Gandhi, asked him softly and very romantically “Can We Go?”. Nodded Rajiv Gandhi and they both move into the Conference Hall like boyfriend and girlfriend. Both were in their youthful and glamorous looks, fabulously dressed and very attractive. I can still remember that particular scene of both of them walking closely exchanging some lively pleasantries as if they were newly engaged to marry. During her rule the relationship between Pakistan and India was in positive mood and she was the right choice to better the good neighbourly relations between the two neighbours. In Pakistan, only the members of Bhutto family were in position to create a strong bridge of friendship between India and Pakistan. Other leaders are fanatically conscious; they surrender to the religious fanatics who killed Benazir. The religious fanatics blamed Benazir Bhutto for leaning towards West and US. But mind you, without the blessing and support of West Pakistan would have been in extinction since long. US are supporting Pakistan to create a front to contain India’s hegemonistic attitude. Pakistan built its nuclear weapon with the silent nod of US because US wanted to neutralize India’s “dadagiri” in the subcontinent. In order to stop Iran from producing its nuclear weapon, US to protect the interest of its ally Israel is bringing heaven from the sky but for Pakistan US did nothing of that sort of noise.

It is a pity that the entire political structure of Bhutto family is finished. One brother of Benazir was found dead in a mysterious circumstances in France while the other was killed before the nose of Benazir. Some doubted that he was killed by Benazir’s husband and the whole matter was hushed up. Her father was killed by sending him to the gallows by Gen Zia who himself was killed in a mysterious plane crash in his own country. Sword beget sword. This is the system working in Pakistan and many of the Islamic countries.

May God give courage to her three children to bear this colossal loss. They are all alive and growing up. When their tim comes they will surely bethe torch bearer of Bhuttos. Her husband Asif Zardari was very much responsible for tarnishing her image by involving in bribery scandal. Most of the top leaders got their image tarnished not because they are bad but their spouses, children, brothers and other relatives are bad. That she would be assassinated was already hinted when she got a wake up call on the very day she returned from Dubai two months back when her motorcade in Karachi was bombed in which around 80 people were kikked. Those who decide to take drastic action will never stop. When they wanted to kill Mahatmah Gandhi they did not wait but went ahead with their plan and thus liquidated Mahatma Gandhi. When they wanted to finish President John F. Kennedy, they finished their mission inspite of topmost security apparatus available in US to prevent this assassination. The same thing happened to Civil Rightist Martin Luther King, so too Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and so many others. Benazir’s killing was facilitated more easily by the security lax for which the major blame should fall on the shoulders of President Parvez Musharraf and other security agencies in Pakistan. Also on US for giving her green signal to go back to Pakistan from long term exile. In her death, Pakistan is in turmoil. She was not only a strong opposition leader in Pakistan but a Prime Minister in waiting. Her party PPP which was formed by her late father enjoyed more support than any other party in Pakistan. She was synonym with Pakistan and as such she was the darling of Pakistanis. She was the only leader in Pakisan to keep the Pakistanis closely knit. She was the only leader having metropolitan acceptance and not regional and parochial. After her late father, Pakistan has never produced a popular leader as she was and probably in future such a populous leader will never come into existence in Pakistan. In the absence of such a populous leader there is a possibility for Pakistan to come into disintegration because the whole of Pakistan is in chaotic hands where religious extremists are raising their heads high. These extremists and terrorists are not interested in the unity of Pakistan but in their own religious ideology which is never going to be accepted by the entire Pakistan. Parvez Musharraf is in big problem now and he may not be able to control the chaotic situation there. It is time for him to abdicate his seat but will US allow him to do so? I doubt, because he is the only link between the West and Pakistan which is having nuclear weapons in its armoury and it should not fall into the hands of rogues. Only Musharraf can prevent it however much I and you may deslike him for being the murdered of democracy in Pakistan.

I still remember on the eve of Benazir father’s hanging, she was given an access to meet her father waiting in the death row. When the door of the prison cell was opened, she not only ran to her father but sprinted like Ben Johnson and slipped into his arms sobbing and crying loudly like a small child. That was the last embrace father and daughter had. And this is the last sentence of this epitaph of mine on the late Benazir Bhutto whose soul may have eternal rest in Heaven.

A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.

Bastards assasinate Benazir Bhutto

Kuwait - 27.12.2007 Pakistani Opposition leader Benazir Bhutto was killed in a gun and bomb attack after a rally in the city of Rawalpindi this afternoon.

Benazir Bhutto's extraordinary career

Benazir Bhutto was once feted at home and abroad as a symbol of modernity and democracy, but she has since fought a long battle against corruption allegations.

Ms Bhutto has had a volatile political career

Like the Nehru-Gandhi family in India, the Bhuttos of Pakistan are one of the world's most famous political dynasties. Benazir's father, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, was prime minister of Pakistan in the early 1970s.

His government was one of the few in the 30 years following independence that was not run by the army.

Born in 1953 in the province of Sindh and educated at Harvard and Oxford, Ms Bhutto gained credibility from her father's high profile, even though she was initially a reluctant convert to politics.

She has twice been prime minister of Pakistan, from 1988 to 1990, and from 1993 to 1996.

Stubbornness

On both occasions she was dismissed from office by the president for alleged corruption.

The dismissals typified her volatile political career, which has been characterised by numerous peaks and troughs. At the height of her popularity - shortly after her first election - she was one of the most high-profile women leaders in the world.

Young and glamorous, she successfully portrayed herself as a refreshing contrast to the overwhelmingly male-dominated political establishment.

But after her second fall from power, her name came to be seen by some as synonymous with corruption and bad governance.

Husband Asif Zardari has faced numerous corruption charges

The determination and stubbornness for which Ms Bhutto is renowned was first seen after her father was imprisoned and charged with murder by Gen Zia ul-Haq in 1977, following a military coup. Two years later he was executed.

Ms Bhutto was imprisoned just before her father's death and spent most of her five-year jail term in solitary confinement. She described the conditions as extremely hard.

During stints out of prison for medical treatment, Ms Bhutto set up a Pakistan People's Party office in London, and began a campaign against General Zia.

She returned to Pakistan in 1986, attracting huge crowds to political rallies.

After Gen Zia died in an explosion on board his aircraft in 1988, she became one of the first democratically elected female prime ministers in an Islamic country.

Corruption charges

During both her stints in power, the role of Ms Bhutto's husband, Asif Zardari, proved highly controversial.

He played a prominent role in both her administrations, and has been accused by various Pakistani governments of stealing millions of dollars from state coffers - charges he and his wife deny.

It is alleged that this money has been stashed in secret accounts throughout Europe.

Many commentators argued that Ms Bhutto's downfall was accelerated by the alleged greed of her husband.

None of about 18 corruption and criminal cases against Mr Zardari has been proved in court after 10 years. But he served at least eight years in jail.

He was freed on bail in 2004 amid accusations that the charges against him were weak and going nowhere.

Ms Bhutto has also steadfastly denied all the corruption charges against her, which she says are politically motivated.

Until an amnesty in October 2007, she faced corruption charges in at least five cases, all without a conviction.

A deal may be in the offing with the Pakistani president

She was convicted in 1999 for failing to appear in court, but the Supreme Court has since overturned that judgement.
Soon after the conviction, audiotapes of conversations between the judge and some top aides of then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif were discovered that showed that the judge had been under pressure to convict.

Ms Bhutto left Pakistan in 1999 to live abroad shortly after her conviction. Questions about her and her husband's wealth have continued to dog her.

She is also appealing against a conviction in the Swiss courts for money-laundering.

During her years outside Pakistan, Ms Bhutto lived with her three children in Dubai, where she was joined by her husband after he was freed in 2004.

She has been a regular visitor to Western capitals, delivering lectures at universities and think-tanks and meeting government officials.

Army mistrust

Ms Bhutto returned to Pakistan on 18 October after President Musharraf signed into law an ordinance granting her and others an amnesty from corruption charges.

Observers say the military regime sees her as a natural ally in its efforts to isolate religious forces and their surrogate militants.

She declined a government offer to let her party head the national government after the 2002 elections, in which the party received the largest number of votes.

But during the past year or so, she has emerged as a strong contender for power.

Some in Pakistan believe her recent secret talks with the military regime amount to betrayal of the democratic forces as these talks have shored up President Musharraf's grip on the country.

Others say such talks indicate that the military may at long last be getting over its decades-old mistrust of Ms Bhutto and her party, which is a good omen for democracy.

Western powers see in her a popular leader with liberal leanings who could bring much needed legitimacy to Mr Musharraf's role in the "war against terror".

Unhappy family

Benazir Bhutto is the last remaining bearer of her late father's political legacy.

Her brother, Murtaza - who was once expected to play an increasingly important role as a party leader - fled to the then-communist Afghanistan after his father's fall.

From there, and various Middle Eastern capitals, he mounted a campaign against Pakistan's military government with a militant group called al-Zulfikar.

He won elections from exile in 1993 and became a provincial legislator, returning home soon afterwards, only to be shot dead under mysterious circumstances in 1996.

Benazir's other brother, Shahnawaz - also politically active but in less violent ways than Murtaza - was found dead in his French Riviera apartment in 1985.

GOA Maroons knocked out in first round: NYC Rolling Trophy

Curtorcares United

18th Navelim Y.C Rolling Trophy
Curtorcares United stun United Friends

- News by Gasper Crasto www.goa-world.com

Kuwait: Curtorcares United stunned star studded United Friends Club (UFC) 4-0 on a cold and windy Friday morning while formidable GOA Maroons lost out to Kuwait Goan Association (KGA) 2-0 in the 18th Edition of NYC Rolling Trophy tournament being played at Salmiya Grounds, Salmiya.

NYC Rolling Trophy played under the auspices of Kuwait Indian Football Federation (KIFF) is in the 18th year of its edition. The matches are officiated by Indian Football Referees Association (IFRA).

Curtorcares players praying before entering the field

It proved stars don’t rule the game in Kuwait Indian football as UFC’s ageing ‘star footballers’ such as Sarto Baptista, Phillip Ferrao, Jose Rod, Agnelo Fernandes (Mam) and evergreen goalkeeper Olavo Monteiro succumbed to a toothless defeat at the hands of Curtorcares whom they had defeated 3-1 last year in the same tournament. Young Zico Fernandes was the live-wire for Curtorcares upfront. He broke into the UFC defense repeatedly and scored 2 quick goals while Lawrence Furtado and substitute Padekaran accounted for the other two.

an aerial duel between UFC and Curtorcares at Salmiya Grounds

Roshan D’Souza was the rock in Curtorcares’ defence and also helped create chances as UFC dominated major part of the game after the first goal.

Formidable GOA Maroons bow out in first round

It is not many times that the four-time champions GOA Maroons have bow out of any tournament in Kuwait in the first round. In temperatures as low as 12° C, Maroons started with a quick passing game and put Kuwait Goan Association (KGA) under pressure right from the start. But despite Maroons’ control of possession KGA’s Vico D’Souza, Christo Colaco and Russel Rodrigues looked dangerous with their solo runs. Andre Dias gave the much needed lead for KGA and added another one to the score to clinch the match.

Maroons’ Jerry D’Souza who came in place of Deryk Fernandes showed lot of eagerness to equalize. However, KGA were able to use the runs of bubbling Zelito Cardozo and Jimmy Goveia to relieve pressure on their defense.

Referee Richard Dixon gave marching orders to KGA’s Remedio Fernandes for a second consecutive offence.

One of the strongest teams in the tournament, KGA will now meet Santos Football Club in the next round. The forthcoming game will gather high interest in the team.
Veterans beat Malayalee Arts and Sports

In another match, spirited Veterans Sports Club put it past Malayalee Arts and Sports to advance to the next phase. Both teams appeared equal throughout the match although Veterans were steadier in front of the goal and deservedly won the game. Striker Robin Fernandes and Jeffrey Rodrigues scored for the winners.

Malayalee Arts and Sports played their hearts to get back into the game with outstanding play by Mujeeb, Abdul Rehman, Niyas and Firoz. The youngsters excelled throughout the match.

Don Bosco show the door to debutants Goan Entertainment Club

A goal each from the boots of Custodio Ataide, Ratan Dogra and Steven Rodrigues made the scoreboard look decent for Don Bosco Oratory as they showed the door to debutants Goan Entertainment Club with 3 goals to nil.

Early pressure failed to produce shots on target at either ends. Goan Entertainment used all the tactics in the book to defend their citadel. Don Bosco shot into the lead through a combined move by Victor D’Costa, Sainath and Roshan Dias.

Enthusiasm seems to be the hallmark of the young Don Bosco players as they stake their claim to win another match.

Friday’s (28.12.2007) Fixtures

GROUND A
Kuwait Goan Association v/s Santos Football Club at 7:00 am
Curtorcares United v/s United Goans Centre at 8.30 am

GROUND B
Bombay Boys S. Club v/s Paradiso Sports Club at 7:00 am
CRC Chinchinim v/s Veterans Sports Club at 8.30 am