Q: How has the GDP campaign been so far?
A: It is going very well... I am confident of the GDP's success.
Q: After four phases, have you changed your strategy?
A: No, the strategy which was followed earlier is still being followed today.
Q: And what is the strategy?
A:
Q: What is the feeling now? Earlier, the exit polls had put your party behind. Now the GDP has been gaining...
A: The exit polls are irrelevant. I am confident the GDP and its alliance will win emerge as the single largest party.
Q: Several GDP workers and some leaders have been making inflammatory remarks against opponents.
A: It is not against the ----, we have been campaigning against the ---- and other ---- who have been following a policy of appeasement. We believe there should be justice for them
Q: Your party has brought ---- into the forefront
A:
Q: What is the confusion?
A: The Election Commission is investigating the matter, let them do their job. I came to know about it when I was campaigning. I immediately said that if they had brought it out it shouldn't have been done.
Q: Is the GDP investigating the matter?
A: Yes, it is going on.
Q: After you took over, what organisational changes did you bring about?
A: We were able to take everyone together with us and we took up issues related to the common man in the ---- and outside. We struggled hard for it.
Q: People believe you are a lucky charm for the GDP...
A: (Smiles) Oh, not at all, that's not it. The GDP is winning because it had to and it must.
A:
Q: And what if the GDP doesn't do well...
Q: You hail from these parts ----. What is your vision for ----?
A: I want to ---- and ------and ---- develop ----, what else.
Q: How is the GDP different?
A: We will pursue the politics of justice and humanity and ---- ---- ---- ----
Q: Don't you think the GDP should have projected a younger, more dynamic leader for the post of ----?
A:---- is very dynamic. If you look at his face, does he look old to you?
Q: A younger face may have helped in the long run...
A: No, he is just right. Then you will say ---- should leave politics, ----- should leave politics.
Q: The GDPP does have a strong second rung of leaders.
A: We are there, we have come to the number one position.
Q: And for the next generation?
A: There are several leaders. There is ---- ---- ---- ----
Q: But they aren’t projected as the next generation leadership, are they?
A: When the time comes it will happen. We were never projected, but we made it to the top slowly. It is a natural process, it happens naturally.
A:
What led you to take this extreme step?
Then why did it take this long for you to arrive at the decision?
How many recommendations did you make whilst in the office?
You've made a statement that not a single recommendation of the SHRC was implemented?
He alleged that you kept on beating around the bush and finally came up with the resignation. True?
He alleged that justice Mir was an utter failure. Your reaction?
You've said that the government's non-cooperation has led to the ineffectiveness of the commission. What were the major areas where you had felt that government was non-serious in the first place?
Government had recently constituted a cabinet committee headed by ---- to monitor the recommendations of the SHRC. Was it really effective?
Another dimension to the cabinet sub committee was added later on, that was the rehabilitation of the former militants. What was reaction to that this in view of the fact that most of the former militants were involved in gross human rights violations?
Chief Minister the other day said that human rights violations in the state had dropped in 2006. He said that India was a champion of human rights. Your reaction? As far as being the champion, my resignation should be an indicator.
What do you think would happen to the human rights commission now? Would it be dissolved or a new chairman would be installed?
What are you going to do next?
There're rumours that you've plans to enter into politics. Which party would you prefer to join?
It looks as if you prefer to play your role behind the scene. Do you not want to return to the proactive politics?
Are you a contender for the PM's or Presidents post?
Mr ---- says that the next CM would last for six months only and predicts a mid-term poll?
Any idea, what would happen after November 2?
abc---- has been fairly successful in doing so. Hasn't he?
Is ---- ready to sacrifice its ambition in the larger interests of the nation this time?
But those in the PDP say that they represent the sentiments of the Kashmiri people?
Do you think there has been some change in the mindset of ---- over a period of time?
Do you regard Mr. ---- as a secular man?
What was the reason ---- opposed Mr.---- describing ----- as ----? There're apprehensions among the masses that the government of India is not sincere in the talks with the separatist leaders and she is treading the same old track of buying the time. How do you react to that?
Is there anything specific that the government of India has to offer?
Why is the government of India wanting ---- or any body else for that matter to impress upon the release of detainees when it knows that such steps would ease the situation considerably? What prevents them to do so?
What is the genesis of this problem in the first place?
Is this your first visit to ----? What’s your first impression?
Are there any guarantees from the International community?
What role do you think the International Community, particularly the EU,
play to dispel those fears?
You’ve said that you’ve visited Kashmir around 26 years before.
Do you feel any difference between ‘the Kashmir then’ and ‘the Kashmir now’?
Your itinerary includes a visit to office here, which is headed by
an Italian Major General. Given the present scenario, do you not think
that this force has lost its relevance?
Again there’re accusations that the West is deliberately
indifferent to the issues pertaining to the Muslim world,
which fans the extremist tendencies there and eventually
deepens the East-West gulf. Are these accusations true
in the first place?
How the Kashmir conflict is included in the EU agenda?
Are you optimistic that a lasting solution to the problem can
be worked out in some time to come?
If reports are to be believed,---- is withdrawing support from the
---- government. Do you plan to extend support to the ---- government
from outside or are you contemplating to join the government right away?
international trouble makers with planted successive governments have been
playing tricks on Kashmir especially with your party?
What makes you believe that the centre is not playing the same game again by organising roundtables and other such things?
So you want an end to army rule but earlier you were one of the first leaders to support President Musharraf when he first came to power seven years ago?
When he came to power, he wanted my party to be part of the government. Musharraf had also then promised to bring in accountability of the government and of government-run institutions but that was not the case. We saw through his game soon enough and refused to join up with him.
The army has enjoyed undue importance because, over the years, the people felt that if the politicians made a mess of things, the army would step in to resolve the situation. This however is no longer the case. People today feel that even a bad democracy is better than a military dictatorship.
What has helped bring about this change of mindset?
We must not forget that the people of Pakistan have tasted democracy in the past. They know both its plus and minus points. Both the television media and the print media have been highlighting the political problems facing our country. Today, the awaam is in the know of things. They know what is good for them and what is not. Even the army feels they need to be protected as an institution – it is not their job to be running the country.
You maybe critical of him but around the globe there continues to be the belief that it is he who dominates Pakistan and is also calling the shots?
I don’t know about him calling the shots …. He toes whatever the line is from Washington. Even in his book he has made no bones about this. Look at how he writes about having received a phone call from Colin Powell and then how (Richard) Armitage threatened him over the phone. He capitulated completely. The question to be asked is who is calling the shots in Pakistan? Who is he trying to kid?
But his book has turned out to be an best seller?
Its been written largely for an American audience. He has projected himself as a moderate who is trying to save the country from terrorism and fundamentalism. How can a head of state describe the country he is ruling as being little more than a banana republic being held together by his efforts? The fundamentalists here have never won any elections. In fact, they have never got more than 6-7 per cent of the vote. So how can he as head of state describe his country in this fashion.
And yet you keep talking about free and fair elections being held under him in 2007?
What are going to be the main issues facing the Pakistani people next year?
The people of my country want to live with self-respect and dignity. They do not want the sovereignty of their country gambled about any more. The present government is acting as a judge, jury and executioner combined. But this sort of thing cannot continue to work any more.
Why do we suffer?