<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>SYDNEY : Pakistanâs Sports Minister Pir Aftab Shah Jilani on Wednesday admitted his government failed the Sri Lankan cricket team last Tuesday by providing inadequate security they had no control over, but promised it would not happen again as they seek to retain hosting rights for the 2011 World Cup.
For the first time since the terrorist attack that left seven security officials dead and members of the Sri Lankan side injured from gunfire and bombs, a government official has accepted blame and offered an explanation for the bungle that nearly killed the international touring team and devastated prospects of Pakistan hosting any fixtures in the foreseeable future.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd--></b>
ISLAMABAD : In response to the reconciliatory efforts of Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, President Asif Ali Zardari has agreed to resolve prevailing political crisis according to the charter of democracy (CoD).
According to sources, Army chiefâs meetings with the President and the Prime Minister are producing results.
Gen. Kayani held separate meetings with President Zardari and Premier Gilani to discuss various options for solution of prevailing political crisis confronting the country.
Well-placed sources told that it was agreed that all controversial issues should be resolved according to the CoD signed by slain PPP leader Benazir Bhutto and PML-N chief Mian Nawaz Sharif.
Sources further told that Prime Minster was in favour of restoration of deposed chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry. However, the presidentâs close aides said that President Zardari wants his restoration through CoD.
The President is willing to lift governor rule in Punjab while besides Army chief, British and American governments are playing the role of guarantors.
President Zardari and Prime Minister Gilani are expected to meet again tonight in which some important decisions are expected
03-14-2009, 02:11 AM (This post was last modified: 03-14-2009, 02:18 AM by Naresh.)
<!--QuoteBegin-Mudy+Mar 13 2009, 10:42 PM-->QUOTE(Mudy @ Mar 13 2009, 10:42 PM)<!--QuoteEBegin-->I told you , Paki Army is not ready for coup. Public will reject them. They need few more months.
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Amidst the rising political unrest in Pakistan, United States of America on Friday (March 13) claimed that it held back the Pakistan Army Chief General Ashfaq Kiyani from intervening in the stand-off in the country.
<b>US Joint Army Chief of Staff Mike Mullen said that he spoke to Kiyani upward of ten times in the last few days to calm him after the Pakistan Army Chief felt angered in the manner in which the political establishment was behaving.</b>
Mullen said, "I have had upwards of ten interactions with Kiyani. He wants to do the right thing for Pakistani. But he is in a very tough spot." Also in a television interview, Mullen said that he is 'extremely concerned' over the situation in Pakistan.
<b>The situation âcontinues to deteriorate very, very slowly under a political leadership which is very much challenged because of the totality of the crisis,â</b> Mullen said. He also said that Army Chief is âcommitted to a civilian governmentâ and doesnât want to take over as his predecessor Pervez Musharraf did in 1999.
It will happen around Indian election result. By then uncle will be ready, fun will be if Mayawati becomes PM. She had no connection with British, American or Paki elite class.
Updated at: 1628 PST, 1658 IST, 1128 GMT Saturday, March 14, 2009
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peopleâs Party leader and Information Minister Sherry Rehman, who resigned yesterday, called on Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani today.
Sherry formally tendered her resignation to Prime Minister Gilani. According to sources, she informed Gilani of reasons which made her call it a day. <b>Sherry also informed the prime minister of Governor Punjab Salmaan Taseerâs insulting behaviour with her.</b> <!--emo&tupid--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/pakee.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='pakee.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Earlier, Sherry had indicated to resign if a crackdown was launched against the media
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Sherry also informed the prime minister of Governor Punjab Salmaan Taseerâs insulting behaviour with her<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->This is straight case of eve teasing.
where is Youtube clip where minister was groping her in front of camera?
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Zardari decides to move SC to allow Sharif brothers to contest poll</b>
pioneer.com
PTI | Islamabad
Under intense pressure from the United States and amidst escalating political standoff at home, Pakistan government today decided to challenge the disqualification of PML (N) chief Nawaz Sharif and his brother Shahbaz from contesting elections, in a move seen as an attempt to defuse the crisis.
On a day of hectic developments, in what looked like a compromise with the estranged ally, the government of President Asif Ali Zardari decided to move the Supreme Court with a review petition challenging the apex court's decision barring the Sharif brothers from contesting elections and holding public offices.
Shahbaz was unseated as the Chief Minister of Punjab province and Governor's rule imposed there by the Zardari government.
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<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Pakistan puts army on standby as protests continue</b>
pioneer.com
PTI | Islamabad
Pakistan put its army on standby and placed barricades on the boulevard leading to the Parliament House as the confrontation between country's two main parties PPP and PML-N showed no signs of abating despite frantic mediation efforts.
As the Government asked the troops to be deployed in all sensitive areas in the capital, sealed of all highways leading to it, protesting lawyers and opposition parties said they will go ahead with their mass sit-in outside the National assembly.
<b>"The troops will remain on alert and will be deployed only if the situation warrants it," </b>chief military spokesman Maj Gen Athar Abbas told Dawn News channel.
Interior ministry chief Rehman Malik warned that the protesters, who are seeking reinstatement of judges sacked in 2007 emergency, will not be allowed to come anywhere near Parliament House, which has been barricaded.
Malik said that<b> extra-ordinary security measures were being taken as intelligence agencies have warned that terrorists could take advantage of the protest to carry out "target killings" and a "series of bombings", including suicide attacks</b><!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<b>Pakistan opposition leader Sharif under house arrest: Police</b><!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Pakistani police placed the country's main opposition leader Nawaz Sharif under house arrest on Sunday to prevent him leading a protest march, a senior police official said.
"Sharif has been ordered not to leave his house in Lahore for three days," police officer Ijaz Ahmed told AFP.
Similar restrictions have been imposed on several other opposition leaders including former cricketer turned politician Imran Khan and the main Islamist party Jamat-e-Islami chief Qazi Hussain Ahmed, he added.
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<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->ISLAMABAD : President Asif Ali Zardari today stands completely isolated, as both the military-led establishment and the Gilani-led government are not convinced with the one-man recipe of the presidency to handle the present political crisis.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<b>Violence mars Pakistani anti-government protest</b><!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->The power struggle between the former prime minister and President Asif Ali Zardari threatens to paralyze the government and, alarmingly for the U.S., distract the nuclear-armed country from its fight against Taliban militants operating along the Afghan border<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Nuclear bogie is still on. Send more AID.
ISLAMABAD: The Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani is going to address to the nation in a little while, Geo News reported.
Sources said, the President Asif Ali Zardari and The Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani are holding an emergency meeting at the moment in Aiwan-e-Sadr.
Senior journalist Muhammad Sualah Zafar said in Geo News program âMeray Mutabiqâ, âThe Premier will address to the nation at 2am in which he will unconditionally announce restoration of deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.â
He said the Premier is holding an emergency meeting with the President Asif Ali Zardari while Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani is also present in the meeting.
<b>Two helicopters are on stand by in Islamabad with a view to bring Nawaz Sharif to Islamabad</b> holding dialogues over the issues, he maintained underlining, âDeposed CJ Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry will be restored this week at all costs while the announcement of his restoration will bring end to the lawyersâ long march long march.â
<b>Comments : May be the "Helicopters will crash" Bye Bye Nawaz!</b>
<!--QuoteBegin-Naresh+Mar 16 2009, 02:00 AM-->QUOTE(Naresh @ Mar 16 2009, 02:00 AM)<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Comments : May be the "Helicopters will crash" Bye Bye Nawaz!</b>
Cheers <!--emo&:beer--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cheers.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='cheers.gif' /><!--endemo-->
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Kiyani will avoid at this stage, they are not ready for coup yet. Coup at this stage will keep AID away for long time. I think Nawaz is playing stupid game.
<b>Zardari to reinstate CJ, Sharif calls off march</b><!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari [Images] finally gave in to the demands of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz late on Sunday night and decided to reinstate Chief Justice ftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.
Reacting to Zardari's decision, PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif [Images] has called off the proposed long march to Islamabad [Images], which had threatened to plunge Pakistan into another political crisis.
Chaudhry had been sacked from his post by former President Pervez Musharraf [Images]. His reinstatement had become a bone of contention between the ruling Pakistan People's Party and its former ally PML-N, which had later pulled out of the government over the issue.
The Pakistani Army does not need stage a âCoup dâEtatâ â <b>It is already in the âDriving Seatâ with all the Power and No Responsibility</b>
Updated at: 1550 PST, 1620 IST 1050 GMT Monday, March 16, 2009
ISLAMABAD : <b>The former chief of Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) Lft.Gen® Hameed Gul said Pakistan Army played a unique role in the present crisis</b> and US has been defeated.
Talking to media at Chaudhry Iftikharâs residence, Gul said decision of restoration of judges is a defeat of US and now Pakistanâs parliament should be strengthened. He said after resolution of judiciary issue, economic and social issues should be addressed.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->RAWALPINDI : At least nine people were killed and several others were injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up outside local hotel near Pir Wadhai Chowk here on Monday.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Poverty in the rural areas, where a majority of the populace still resides, is directly linked with higher levels of landlessness. Yet there has been minimal land reform since independence. Our economic planners have also remained unable to adequately increase the income of its rural citizens through alternative measures
Many economists and social scientists are of the view that poverty in Pakistan is again on the rise. Estimates concerning the extent of this increase vary. <b>According to some, the <span style='font-size:14pt;line-height:100%'>rate of poverty has reportedly gone up from about 24 percent to nearly 38 percent during the past three years. However, others argue that the actual rate of poverty in the country is higher, since they dispute the earlier official claim of poverty having been brought down to around 24 percent by the previous government.</span></b><!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Conversely, <b>Pakistanâs defence spending, clubbed with administrative expenditure, has reached the <span style='font-size:14pt;line-height:100%'>alarming figure of 10 percent of GDP.</span></b> Perhaps it is because the IMF is largely controlled by the US that it continues to make no demands for cuts to Pakistanâs massive military budget, particularly at a time when such a move could have potentially negative implications on the âwar against terrorâ.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
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