US Press Briefing on MQM vs ARY

Mark C. Toner

Deputy Spokesperson
Daily Press Briefing

Washington, DC

August 23, 2016

QUESTION: On Pakistan, sir. One question.
MR TONER: Did you – I already spoke to you once. I’ll – I want to get to them. I’ll get back to you. Don’t worry.
QUESTION: (Inaudible.) All right. Thank you.

QUESTION: Sir --
MR TONER: Oh, of course, sir. I’m sorry.
QUESTION: Thank you very much (inaudible). Sir, yesterday, activist of a political party, MQM, in Pakistan attacked the ARY News TV head office – my organization head office – in Karachi. One person was killed; several others were injured. Sir, what are your views about the freedom of press in a country like Pakistan?
MR TONER: Well, we’re – we’ve certainly seen the reports about these incidents. Pakistani Security Forces I think have arrested several members of the MQM, the Muttahidi – Muttahida, rather, Quami Movement. Some of these members – and also sealed their headquarters. We’re also aware of yesterday’s vandalism of an ARY News office in Karachi. Obviously, the Government of Pakistan would be the best source for further information on these events. I would just say in a democratic society, critical opinion should be encouraged, not silenced. We believe that democracies become stronger by allowing free expression from diverse voices within society, and we would certainly emphasize that any expression must be peaceful.


QUESTION: Two quick ones --
MR TONER: Yeah, of course.
QUESTION: One is just a follow-up on the MQM report.
MR TONER: Yep.
QUESTION: Do you have any concerns about the arrest of the five senior MQM leaders and the shutting down of their political headquarters? I mean, does that – are you worried that that might be sort of political – an effort to silence political – a political party, or do you think it’s just part of normal kind of law enforcement after the incident --
MR TONER: Yeah. Sure, sorry.
QUESTION: -- at the broadcaster?
MR TONER: I mean, I think we’re always concerned when members of a political party are detained or arrested. We obviously uphold the importance and believe in the importance of public assembly, freedom of speech, as long as it’s peaceful. And we would emphasize that any kind of protest, any kind of demonstrations, would need to be conducted peacefully. So I think we’re still assessing, gathering information about what took place. And we’ll reserve further comment until that time.
QUESTION: Okay. And one other --

Singers can't be choosers ...!

Hillary Clinton visits Islamabad Pakistan

Photo courtesy:USE Islamabad 

It is Election time in the USA and even worse its the Presidential Re-election bid time.I am sure we have all read about lynden B.Johnson who as the vice president of United States of America visited Karachi,Pakistan and met with a Pakistani camel driver Bashir and his camel.

Former secretary of state meets at UN ...?

Two slips and a gully....for the gentlemen

This has been a really very tough week for the Pakistan's Military leadership.The relation between the Pentagon and the GHQ are in no way relaxed as they have been in the past.

It is very unclear what the US wants and from whom.But the way they are increasing pressure on the military of Pakistan and the ISI there can be no doubt in anybody's mind that they want something real or maybe the whole thing.

president karzai

leon panetta

karachi boy killed point blank by Rangers

Kerry arrives....

Here in Pakistan Mango is considered to be the king of fruits.its a seasonal fruit Pakistani's wait anxiously all year for the mangoes to arrive during the summer/spring.the Overseas Pakistani's usually envy and tell tale to their children how they used to consume this fruit.About a month ago I was talking to my Uncle in the US on Skype as I usually do on weekends.that day he seemed excessively overjoyed and the reason was that he was holding in his hand a reddish green Mango about the size of a tennis ball maybe bigger that he found in his local super store.With his smiling  face he showed it to me in a very victorious manner.The mangoes in my tree were in a very initial state which suggests that it was a mango from some other region most probably Mexico.The Mangoes have not yet fully hit the fruit markets yet but they are ready.

When the Mango is in an unripe immature state it is called "Kerry" it may be very interesting to note that just as the fully ripe sweet and juicy pulpy fruit is so popular Kerry is not adored any less.The sour tasting unripe fruit is used in pickles and sauce which are made and preserved not just for the season but for the whole year.Most farmers and growers harvest this unripe and sell to get the much needed hard cash and do not wait for the fruit to ripe on the tree or use other chemical methods to speed up the process it is when this cliche' is used "badshah ki neiat theek nahein" (King's intention is  questionable...)
Senator Kerry is now the fourth most popular US politician in Pakistan after Mr Bush,Mr Obama and Sec Clinton . and this time he has arrived in Pakistan when most of the Pakistan is expecting Mangoes so you can imagine how they might be feeling...Indeed I need to say no more on the kerry culture that the US government and CIA is trying to promote here in Pakistan by creating him as the link between the Administrations and officials and the politicians and the leadership of Pakistan.Its a very tough job for senator on the pinnacle having failed in the US Presidential election race and Heinz ketchup which also failed here in Pakistan .The People of Pakistan are not interested at all how the US senate feels about them they are not interested in the findings and briefings of the US senates foreign relations committee they are not interested in the infamous Kerry-lugar bill.They know that all these are political gimmicks just to impress the US media and public opinion.What is more important for the ordinary poor hard working people of Pakistan is that Whitehouse says "THANKYOU" and Islamabad says "NO"