Zardari's T.G.I.F. in Manhattan

If I were Zardari, I would probably do the same.

First "singled out" by Bhutto-haters, then made to overwork by friends and supporters alike, though emotionally charged with several runaway political successes now to his credit, Zardari has lately been blackened like a Red Snapper by the American media, "oystercized" by the not-so-friendly British media, stirred fry like green beans by critics home and abroad and sauteed like diced carrots by the Pakistanis both in the USA and back home.

No wonder then that he had all the good reasons on Friday to make a T.G.I.F. (Thank God It's Friday) out of it for himself.

Giving one of his his favorite polo swings to the highly regimented daily protocols and formalities created by his aides and cohorts who are dime a dozen these days, Zardari decided to stampede his way ala Turkish delight, gushing with passion as he walked into the pad of his favorite Geisha.

Every one trusted the organizers of the New York Iftar party Friday on the official version why the president - Palin's Pakistani admirer at the highest office, abruptly left after only few handshakes with the guests, leaving them in utter confusion whether to wait for him or to have dinner without him or to leave. He did not even deliver few words of thanks to the invited ones, even though his wonder boy - wheeler-dealer diplomatic wiz kid Ambassador Husain Haqqani had a rostrum and microphone ready for his boss' speech.

Guests were officially told that the president had left because he had been overwhelmed by the emotional welcome he had received by the audience and was almost choking.

Hmmm...

But only a select group of journalists was given the red meat by a senior embassy official himself.
The president left the Iftar party as swiftly as he had come, in order to rush to his favorite bar-cum-restaurant he had frequented while living in Manhattan during exile.

According to a review of the Geisha by the The Scene, "Well-heeled wait-listers squeeze into a narrow lounge where a young, international jet-set crowd sips cocktails on mod couches."
Gayot.com says, "Geisha seems like two venues on one site---a downstairs bar scene and an upstairs place to find some exciting cuisine.."

Some Pakistani scribes scrambled the Geisha and were shocked to see the President there.
Zardari spent his next four hours partying in a private room there hosted ostensibly by the Turkish Ambassador to the United Nations, according to a reliable source. Only five persons were seen at the party. Mr Zardari's many female acquaintances were seen gushing over him, according to the source.

Geisha is close to Bhutto's (now Zardari's) Mission Avenue two-bedroom million-dollar condominium located in the heart of the New York City where he lived convalescening from heart attack and spinal injury as he waited for lady luck to smile again. In the meanwhile he underwent therapy at Mt Sinai hospital.

The rest is history as we all know or claim to know!

Zaidi being flown to Missouri?

Latest news is that on September 11, Nayyar Zaidi was officially served papers which orders him to undergo psychiatric evaluation.

According to his wife, Zaidi may be flown to Missouri where he will undergo monitoring and evaluation by a jail psychiatrist.

Based on the psychiatrist's evaluation, the court will then decide if Zaidi is A) capable of undergoing trial. B) if he should remain under psychiatric evaluation until he is capable of appearing in the court.

Under US law a judge may order that an accused be evaluated for mental and psychological fitness in order to undergo a trial. Same yardstick applies if the accused wishes to represent himself or herself.

Zaidi had requested the court that he be allowed to represent himself. But latest information is that he is seeking legal help and has also appealed to the jousnalistic and media organizations to assist him.

Zaidi To Be Evaluated By a Shrink; Trial Postponed

Got a call from Nayyar Zaidi today from the Northeast Ohio Correctional Facility where he remains detained for alleged teen sex crime. It was a followup to his handwritten notes that were faxed to me yesterday by his wife Shaheen.

Zaidi said he has been told by the Federal Court judge that in order to determine if he can represent himself, he will have to undergo a competency test as well as a psychiatric test to determine his competency to stand trial.

The October 6 hearing has thus been postponed until the court determines if he is "fit to undergo trial".

Zaidi appeared before Judge Kathleen McDonald O’Mailly on Aug. 26 for a hearing following a motion he had moved requesting that he be allowed to represent himself as he said he had no confidence in the court-appointed defense lawyer, Craig Weintraub's ability to represent him satisfactorily.

He has refused to hire an attorney to plead his case, citing financial constraints.

The Federal judge told him that she would approve his request only after a competency test to determine if he was competent to represent himself. She also said his competency to stand trial would need to be determined first.

Zaidi said he is “alarmed” by the judge’s verdict because in case the psychiatric test he is administered finds him not competent to stand trial, he could be committed "for life" to a psychiatric detention facility until it is determined that he is fit to undergo trial. That could mean a lifetime, Zaidi said.

The competency test is part of the due process of U.S law for those individuals who wished to defend themselves in court.

Zaidi thinks it should not be meant for someone like himself, a highly educated man and one of Pakistan’s best known journalists and broadcasters who has been associated with the Jang Group of Publications for over 30 years.

It is possible that this latest development may suggest that the prosecution’s case against him– crossing state lines with the intention of committing a felony involving an underage female – is weak, said one observer.

Zaidi has written to his home state Virginia's Senator including some others as well as to Virginia Governor. He has also appealed for help from CPJ, ACLU, PFUJ and wishes that U.S. correspondents and U.S Senators be informed by the media about his predicament.

Nayyar Zaidi is Washington Correspondent or Washington Bureau Chief of Pakistan's Geo News TV (Geo Television Network), The News International (English newspaper) and Daily Jang (Urdu newspaper). He was arrested by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the state Police on Thursday, 20 March 2008 in Ohio, USA, on alleged teen sex crimes charges. Since he crossed state border, he has been charged with a Federal crime. He remains under detention in an Ohio jail since March 2008 pending court hearing. He has been refused bail, he said.

Phoenix Rising For Musharraf!

Musharraf has quit as President- typically in a commando style: resilient, sans apologies - defending his actions - highlighting his achievements - focusing on rivals' shortcomings and weaknesses - hoping that Pakistan will come out shining but in the same breathe alluding to ominous signs of impending external and internal threats.

His parting diatribes seem to be a borderline case of delusional-cum-polemical chicaneries - an understandable mental manifestation of someone who have been pushed to move his butt off the high altar where he has been sitting so long. If I had a buddy like Bush on my side always, I would probably be the same - may be even worse. Interestingly both have been delusional to the extreme.

While running for the presidentship, Bush couldn't name the new leader of Pakistan, i.e. Gen. Musharraf. But after Sept. 11, things changed overnight - whether for the good or for the worse only history will tell.

Musharraf became the most crucial but ultimately the most frustrating ally of the U.S and Bush's personally. In the process, however Musharraf became a "personal friend" of George Bush - the latter often called him his 'buddy'.

Ironically, U.S. has "no permanent friends nor permanent enemies". So is it about Musharraf and USA. The region has become so murky that even the strongest Chlorox can't clean it up. Stains will remain for ever. Welcome to the club, Commando! He once said, he never blinked - because he had "cat's 9 lives".

Interestingly though, he is not yet fully depreciated politically (my personal opinion), even age wise and "nuisance value" wise. He has of course proved that he is neither a Ayub Khan nor a Yahya, nor a Bhutto! And, he has already proved he is not a Zia either!

He ended up getting the farewell guard of honor, has a President's security details, is lodged in Army Chief's house, shall remain in the country, can speak to the media, etc. and says will issue a White Paper on the dire strait of the economy.

As I watched his unapologetic monologue on the TV, my mind tried to visualize him on the day after. And I saw him out there, kicking and throwing dust all around.

Possibly a comeback kid one day? In some form or the other?

We got to wait to see if that will happen for at least a year or so, since there appears to be a two-year restriction on government officials from entering politics. Meanwhile he will maintain sophisticated connect with the media and the people using 'surprise' as a Commando's greatest weapon!

Muttahida, PML(Q), PML(F), etc...any or all may want him in one way or another. He has the potential to unite or divide the MQMs, provide alternate leadership to the Muhajirs in Karachi, has the knack to attempt to create a Punjab-Karachi constituency for himself - provided the establishment, including Uncle Sam, supports him and wants that to happen. Full of surprises Pakistan politics is.

Since the war on terror will go on....Musharraf, a known ally, offers alternate leadership. The U.S. has spent a lot on him. He is an "asset" by all definitions, some say. Meanwhile take a break Commando. Go golfing!

Nayyar Zaidi Trial Set for Oct 6, 2008

Renowned Jang/GEO Correspondent and Columnist Nayyar Zaidi's trial is scheduled for October 6, in Ohio, where he remains detained without bail since March 2008.

He was twice rejected bail, according to his spouse. But it is unclear why he was refused bail, and what the grounds were. My understanding is that on such matters it may be possible to obtain bail unless it is set so high that it cannot be obtained by the affected individual.

Another reason for bail refusal could be if the alleged crime is piggy-backed by another alleged crime which gives the prosecutor more strength to ask the Judge to reject the bail application.

Mr Zaidi, on August 5th, sent me thru his wife, a 14-page handwritten explanation on his incarceration and his defense. It is being made available on DesPardes.com website at: http://www.despardes.com/zaidi-papers-aug5.pdf

Since the matter is subjudice before the court, we need to be careful not to comment on any aspect of the case, specially on its merit.

In his handwritten note, Mr Zaidi says, "I was working on a story which was part of a bigger journalistic project, on the invasive nature of the internet and the political and social changes it is bringing. I was inspired by Marshall McLuhan's 1960 book :Understanding Media". He adds, "Sexual exploitation of minors is a big issue. I named the project, "PARENTS AS PREDATORS." After my arrest one minor case in Italy and one is Austria came out in news."..."But internet is fantasy land...nothing is authentic (not news but chats)...."

"As journalists we know that first-hand accounts are the most authoritative..It was natural for me to try to establish real-time contact with some one who claimed to be in a "Parent Predator". As you all know, I am. perhaps, the only (Pakistani) journalist whose name is well known is U.S. and Pakistan. There is a market in Pakistan for stories that do not start with, "Mr Boucher said..."

Mr Zaidi also claims in his faxed notes to me that he was the first journalist to break the story of CIA providing potable labs to Afghans (during the Afghan Jihad War) to make Heroin.

"U.S. ambassador to Pakistan, Arnold Raphael, was outraged that he told the State Department to terminate my 17-years contract with the Voice of America(VOA)," he added.

One newspaper report (Daily Times) has said that Mr Zaidi and his spouse refused embassy help on grounds that Mr Zaidi was an American citizen and was "not in jail". I know for sure he is in under detention, based on his and his spouses's phone calls to me during the last few weeks. I am not sure why there is still need to hide this critical fact. Why not let people know and possibly help?

Besides, Pakistani-Americans automatically enjoy dual nationality status. So what's the harm in reaching out for all available help if one is innocent?

Nayyar Zaidi in jail on "teen sex" charges?

A friend of mine forwarded me today , a copy of an email apparently mass distributed by - The REPORT PRESS - Special Reports Media - USA- Chief Editor: Journalist SYED ADEEB.

The body of the text reads as follows:

Pakistani-American Journalist Nayyar Zaidi Still Locked Up in an Ohio Jail Since 20 March 2008.

(ReportPress.com) - Mr. Syed Haider K. Zaidi (pen name: Nayyar Zaidi)- Washington Correspondent or Washington Bureau Chief of Pakistan's Geo News TV (Geo Television Network), The News International (English newspaper) and Daily Jang (Urdu newspaper) - was arrested by the U.S.Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Police on Thursday, 20 March 2008 in Ohio, USA, on sex crimes charges. He is still locked up in an Ohio jail since March 2008.

Read the following five American media-press news reports about Pakistani-American journalist NayyarZaidi who lives in Woodbridge, Virginia, USA:

Publisher: THE INDEPENDENT - Massillon, Ohio, USA

Man Arrested for Trying to Meet Teen
By Staff Reports

JACKSON TOWNSHIP, Ohio, USA, 20 March 2008 (indeonline.com) -Authorities arrested a Virginia man Thursday accused of traveling toJackson Township to have sex with a 13-year-old girl.

Syed Haider Kar Zaidi, 64, of 12776 Captains Cove, Woodbridge, Va.,was taken into custody at 3 p.m. in a parking lot at 4220 BeldenVillage St. N.W., according to jail records. The arrest culminated atwo month investigation by local police and the FBI's Internet CrimesAgainst Children Task Force.

Jail records show Zaidi developed an online relationship with the girland arranged to meet her for sex in the Belden Village area. The girlZaidi was communicating with actually was an undercover officer.

Zaidi faces felony charges of attempted unlawful sex with a minor,attempted child endangering, attempted illegal use of a minor innudity-oriented material or performance and importuning. Zaidi was thetask force's 98th arrest.

Links:
http://www.indeonline.com/crime/x1012430497?view=print
http://www.indeonline.com/crime/x1059917866?view=print

More links to Zaidi story are embedded in the said email. Some of them are:

http://www.cantonrep.com/index.php?ID=404372
http://www.cantonrep.com/index.php?ID=405064
http://www.cantonrep.com/index.php?ID=404447

All these links contain story related to Mr Zaidi and his arrest in Ohio in March 2008.

It is therefore clear that Mr Zaidi was not detained for any "national security" or "terrorism related" charges as some may have thought, perceived or believed to be, but was actually detained and arrested by local (Ohio) police and the FBI's Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force on charges of attempted unlawful sex with a minor,attempted child endangering, attempted illegal use of a minor innudity-oriented material or performance and importuning.

I am still waiting for a synopsis from Mr Zaidi who promised me to send when he called me up last week. The documents that he had sent me through his wife did not cover the above episode nor did Mr Zaidi mention it to me at all. These documents were apparently on "non related" matters.

That is why I was careful not to jump to any conclusions. And, when Mr Khalid Hasan of Daily Times requested for details, I sent him the following email:

Based on documents in my possession, he has been apparently detained under "National Security" matter(s) and has been charged with one or more than one offense/crime. His docuents do not clarify this matter. (Bold emphasis by me.)

The Federal case number is 08-CR-0197. Mr. Zaidi is a defendant in the said case. Mr Zaidi promised to send me a synopsis. I still await. Will let you know more details if and when I get them. The matter is subjudice before a Federal Judge. (Bold emphasis by me).

Nayyar Zaidi behind bars in USA!

A few days back, wife of renowned Washington-based Pakistani journalist, Mr. Nayyar Zaidi, called me up and informed me that her spouse was in detention in Ohio since March 2008 and that she would like to send me some documents for review and publication on DesPardes.com. I therefore gave her my address and my Ferderal Express account number. The next day, I received a package which contained copies of correspondents Mr Zaidi had to the Depertment of Justice, FBI, etc., along with copies of his handwritten notes, observations and latest rejoinder to the Federal court judge.

Mr Zaidi has been living in Virginia, USA, for the last twenty odd years. He is a well renowned columnist of JANG Urdu and a political analyst/commentator for GEO TV, CNN, BBC Urdu and several other world media.

Mr. Zaidi called me up today from the Northeast Correctional Center in Youngstown, Ohio. Since our conversation was basically relevant to his detention and the papers he had arranged to send me through his wife Shaheen, I did not bother that our phone talk was being "recorded and monitored". It was a no-holds-barred-conversation but he took pain not to break rules.

Our conversation was obviously intense. This was the third time in my life that I had received a phone call from a person I knew who was behind bars and who wanted to reach out to someone outside for help. And, of all the people, when a respected Pakistani journalist-cum-columnist with a vast readership in Pakistan and elsewhere happened to be on the other end of the phone, things became different. Naturally, I offered my moral support and promised to break the news to the public on his behalf.

Without discussing with him the merits of the case and his detention, I showed my concern and promised to review the papers he had sent me.

Mr Zaidi said he had gone to Ohio to pursue his journalistic "obstruction of justice" research against those individuals who are being detained there from "all over the world". Unfortunately, he ended up being detained himself in the same facility, he said. He is awaiting trial now in which he is the defendent.

Mr Zaidi has claimed that he has been "targeted" by the FBI/DOJ and the "story" goes back to 1995 when he worked for the Pakistan Television. He was approcahed to work for the U.S. government, he said.

According to Mr Zaidi, he was visited by the Feds (FBI) sometime in 2003, and was asked, he claims, to "become an informant". But he refused.

He says he has a case against FBI/DOJ for "obstruction of justice" and wants only "due process of law" to happen.

I have asked him to writeup a synopsis of the events leading to his arrest. He promised he will send.

I then called the Press Attache of the Pakistan embassy in Washington. Mr Kiani, who happens to be the press attache, told me that he found out about Mr Zaidi's detention today only from the ambasaddor Mr. Hussain Haqaani who found out from Pakistan, he claimed.

According to Kiani, Mr. Haqqani is "concerned" about Mr. Zaidi's welfare.

Both, according to Kiani, were unaware that Mr Zaidi was in detention since the last three months.

Mr Kiani said he had been calling Mr Zaidi's residence but his wife would say that he was either overseas on an assignment or would give him "some kind of answer". Interesting!

Meanwhile, Mr Zaidi remains in detention on "national security matters", he said.

Another Spanner in BB Murder Probe

Shahanshah Khalid aka Khalid Shahanshah was gunned down today in front of his house in Defense Society, Karachi, by some one or some people who wanted to see him dead.

He was one of Benazir's personal body guards. In fact, he was her chief security officer. After her death, Zardari made him his own personal body guard - also chief of Bilawal House Security. The deceased was also one of Zardari's close friends.

Supposedly, he was going to be a key witness in the UN probe. Some quarters suspect he was involved or knew too much. But this cannot be independently verified.

An Asia Times online story connected him with the Dawood Company (D-company).

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/EJ22Df07.html

Either Shahanshah's foes, albeit competitiors, took him out in order to settle old scores or he knew something - probably too much to become a threat to some one or to an organization. Therefpre, the need to be dumped!

Some say it was a turf battle. Others, that his killing is related to underground real estate affairs.

Shahanshah's buddy Munawwar Suharwardy was also taken out in a similar fashion. Munawwar was also Benazir's personal body guard. Both were Karachiites, Muhajirs. Both had intermittent clashes with the MQM hit squads. That does not mean MQM took these PPP Karachi Jiyalas out. Investigations into Munawwar's killing remain incomplete or complete but unpublicized.

Shahanshah's targeted killing has all the ingredients of a sinister plan. The government owned Suzuki used in the incident was conveniently recovered within hours of the incident, suggesting it may have been an immature attempt by the perpetrators to send the hounds in the wrong chase.

Too much is at stake for many in Karachi, both for the present and the future players. The elementary Sherlock Holmes formula of pointing finger towards the most beneficiary with the motive for killing Shahanshah may not hold true in this case. It is complex - a new "great game" may be in the offing to destabilize Karachi - thus Pakistan, some say.

Shahanshah's name also appears in Raja Anwar's book "The Terrorist Prince"on Murtaza Bhutto. It is a good reading.

By the way, I received an email yesterday that says the following about Murtaza Bhutto's murder case:

"Last night at a wedding a very senior government officer narrated to me a strange story.

He said that he has seen a Supreme Court document, which is a decision on the application of ASP Shahid Hayat who was one of the accused in the Murtaza Bhutto case. His application to the Court filed on July 6th stated that he was an accused in the murder of Murtaza Bhutto and was suspended for two years. Therefore besides claiming benefits for the missing years (he was paid his emoluments) he requested that his service may be extended beyond the age of retirement for two years also.

The Dogar Court under the unofficial direction of Mr Zardari has given the decision in favor of ASP Shahid Hayat on July 13th that is within 7 days of his application. My source says that the decision was given (not announced) with instructions that it should not be released to the media. He says he has read the decision which was brought to him by another officer who is going to plead his case along the same lines (basically loss of income…..not salary but all those under the counter benefits).

I have no way of confirming this yet but am circulating this with the request that people stretch their antennas and look for some confirmation from other sources."

Why Zardari was in Dubai

NJ, USA; July 18, 2008 - Heard Benazir's youngest daughter Asifa attempted to slit her wrist in Dubai and of disciplinary problems within the Bhutto family.

Zardari who was in Dubai is said to have tried to handle the matter. Asifa was very close to Benazir and wanted to be active in politics. It's an open secret though. Benazir had talked to Asifa on phone on that fateful day she was assissinated. Benazir had asked Nahid Khan, her Political Secretary and long time aide to take Asifa along with ehr to political meetings and rallies. Nahid used to do so.

Benazir's only surviving sister Sanam Bhutto's kids have reportedly reached out to Murtaza's kids Fatima and Zulfikar Jr. and to Shahnawaz's daughter Saussi. Benazir's kids have also said to have connected with the rest of the third generation in more of a "family bonding" basis rather than on "political basis".

Zardari's hands are full it is said.