Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2010

Newsletters

13-Foot Alligator Kills
11-Year-Old Girl

Victim was swimming in shallow water of Brazilian river

Feb 8, 10 5:36 PM CST
HAITI EARTHQUAKE

4 Weeks Later,
Man Pulled
From Rubble

28-year-old dehydrated, malnourished

Feb 8, 10 6:11 PM CST
Paper Mistakes
'Pedobear' for
Olympic Mascot

Cartoon bear is associated with pedophilia, not sports

6 hours, 9 minutes ago
ONE MONTH IN

Power Woes
Shut World's
Tallest Building

Dubai's Burj Khalifa has only been open a month

Feb 8, 10 6:29 PM CST
Samba Queen, 7, Sparks Uproar

Critics say child shouldn't be used for sex symbol's role

13 hours, 38 minutes ago
WILLIAM MCGURN

Look Who Says Bush
Was Right on Terror

Obama invokes Bush policies as defense in Couric interview

10 hours, 24 minutes ago
Saudi Preteen Seeks Divorce From 80-Year-old Husband

Human Rights Commission backing girl

10 hours, 48 minutes ago
TRAVEL

Skiing: One Boom
China Can't Sustain

Investors bet big that sport would take off; still waiting

Feb 8, 10 8:07 PM CST
Angelina Jolie Heads to Haiti

UN goodwill ambassador visited survivors yesterday

7 hours, 15 minutes ago
Cop: Baptists Tried to
Grab Haiti Kids Earlier

Group caught with a busload of 40 kids last month

10 hours, 24 minutes ago
ANALYSIS

Iran Seethes Ahead of Revolution Anniversary

February 11 will test regime, international community

Feb 8, 10 5:51 PM CST
My Way Killings
Plague Filipino
Karaoke Bars

Bad singers face the final curtain

Feb 8, 10 5:38 AM CST
China Buys
Stakes in
Coke, Apple

But avoids major US holdings in hunt for healthy returns

11 hours, 13 minutes ago
Orcas Storm
Beach to
Grab Seals

Killer whales surf ashore for dinner

Feb 8, 10 5:43 AM CST

|NEXT STORY »

Pakistan's Zardari Under Pressure to Resign

Opposition pressures embattled prez to quit or surrender powers

Posted Nov 29, 09 9:50 AM CST|

(AP) – Pakistan's main opposition party demanded today that President Asif Ali Zardari relinquish much of his power amid calls for the unpopular leader to assume a ceremonial role or resign. Zardari inherited sweeping powers from military dictator Pervez Musharraf, and had promised to return them to the prime minister—but has been accused of foot-dragging by angry opposition.

On Friday, Zardari transferred command of the country's nuclear arsenal to the PM and promised to surrender other key powers by the end of the year. A military coup appears unlikely, as does impeachment, but the opposition has not called for street rallies, perhaps wary of pushing the country into chaos. The strife comes just as the Obama administration is to announce its Afghanistan strategy, of which a vital component is political stability in Pakistan.

[Images (3)]

[Quotes (1)]

In this Friday, Aug. 28, 2009 file photo, Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zadari, left, and his daughter Asifa Bhutto Zadari, right, pose for the photographers in London, (LEFTERIS PITARAKIS)

Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari displays a photo of late wife Benazir Bhutto as he address the UN General Assembly, Friday, Sept. 25, 2009. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari prepares to deliver a speech in central London, Friday, Sept. 18, 2009. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

I would ask the president to immediately abolish the 17th amendment. The nation would appreciate this act. - Shahbaz Sharif, brother of main opposition leader Nawaz Sharif

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

2.9.10

It’s the Sex, Stupid

2.8.10

For Me, Palin Scores

13 comments

VIEWING:

Laxmi
Nov 29, 09 10:09 AM CST

An eqaul number of people in pakistan believe in Sharia law as democracy. I feel this story may be somehow related to the reason why. Reply

-2

IN RESPONSE:

mzkazmi
Nov 29, 09 11:14 AM CST

Democracy is compatible with Shariah although this has nothing to do with repealing the 17th Amendment. Pakistan is a parliamentary democracy and that means the Prime Minister as head of the government runs the show!

-1

IN RESPONSE:

Laxmi
Nov 29, 09 11:20 AM CST

I was referring to the ineffectual and corrupt government. :) And I agree that Sharia law is compatible with democracy, but only for a very specific class of people.

-1

IN RESPONSE:

Cat-Lover
Nov 29, 09 3:46 PM CST

I've never been interested in religions and know less about Sharia "law" than I do about Leviticus, but what I do know is that it's a group of men who want women kept in bed and if -- IF -- they leave the house, they're covered from head to foot to avoid, what?, rapists? It isn't conducive to the modern world, less democracy!

-2

IN RESPONSE:

OG_Travis
Nov 29, 09 6:50 PM CST

Do you actually understand what Sharia law is?

-1

IN RESPONSE:

Laxmi
Nov 29, 09 6:57 PM CST

Sharia law historically has allowed "elections," but only allowed Muslim men of the correct persuasion to participate. That is why I said it was "compatible" with democracy, much in the same way that your early democracy only allowed white land owning males to vote.

IN RESPONSE:

OG_Travis
Nov 29, 09 9:17 PM CST

I guess my problem is with the idea that it's "compatible." Only allowing any one group to vote isn't democracy. In a democracy all issues are voted on by the people(The US is a republic not a democracy). I guess I'm saying your comment makes no sense. Only letting men vote isn't democracy. Saying that it's compatible because SOMEONE gets to vote is nonsense.

-2

IN RESPONSE:

mzkazmi
Nov 29, 09 10:51 PM CST

The amount of fear mongering and ignorance on this forum is unbelievable. @ Cat Lover Islam does not mandate head to toe covering for women and nor are women subjugated in their homes by religious edict. Please do not confuse cultural/social moorings of a particular region with Islam. Laxmi please disdain from confusing the issue. We have had a women Prime Minster, femail Cabinet Ministers and members of Parliament from the get go. So please stop spreading the disinfo and do NOT think whatever happens in Saudi Arabia is Islamic. There is a back story to that!!!

IN RESPONSE:

mzkazmi
Nov 29, 09 10:57 PM CST

Let me repeat this for everyone. In Pakistan we are an Islamic Republic that has a parliamentary form of government. The constitution allows for any adult male of female above the age of 21 to vote!!! Capice????Hope that is clear enough!

IN RESPONSE:

Laxmi
Nov 29, 09 11:03 PM CST

I did not mean to muddy the waters. I apologize, I did not mean to insult your country. I was being very lazy with my diction, hence the confusion. I was trying to speak in a way that western readers could understand, but I probably ended up spreading ignorance.

| 0 minutes ago

mzkazmi
Nov 29, 09 11:30 AM CST

Well this government was brought in through a deal brokered by the Americans. It is a minority government with a very limited mandate not unlike the coalition run by Manmohan Singh in India. Care to elaborate which class of people you are referring to? Reply

-1

IN RESPONSE:

2-bits
Nov 29, 09 12:17 PM CST

Do you really have to ask?

| 0 minutes ago

Abdulsamadabdul
Nov 30, 09 1:22 AM CST

Cat-Lover, You know even less than you think that you know; a lot less. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

View all 13 comments »

Pakistan • Shahbaz Sharif • Asif Ali Zardari • US-Pakistan relations

from our news partners

Just For Laughs

Associated Press

India offers to resume stalled talks with Pakistan
(Feb 4, 10 6:16 PM CST)
Pakistan could be key to Taliban reconciliation
(Feb 3, 10 3:32 AM CST)
Gates: Terror groups aim to destabilize South Asia
(Jan 20, 10 10:19 AM CST)
Rugged North Waziristan provides sanctuary for al-Qaida and its allies
(Jan 16, 10 11:47 PM CST)

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most important stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Pakistan's Zardari Under Pressure to Resign