Prosecutors go after former PM days before presidential vote
Guardian (UK) Sep 2, 08 8:15 CDT
(Newser)
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Nawaz Sharif, whose party recently pulled out of Pakistan's ruling coalition, is about to face corruption charges, Pakistani prosecutors said today. A two-time prime minister whom Pervez Musharraf deposed in 1999, Sharif will be charged with money laundering and loan defaults, as well as "the accumulation of wealth beyond his known sources of income." Sharif's lawyer called the charges politically motivated.
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People's Party, government's senior partner, likely to remain, with new allies
Wall Street Journal Aug 25, 08 11:02 CDT
(Newser)
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Pakistan’s coalition government collapsed today, the Wall Street Journal reports, with the Pakistan Muslim League—led by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif—breaking with the Pakistan People’s Party. Sharif said his party was quitting the alliance because it wouldn’t restore judges sacked by just-ousted president Pervez Musharraf. The PPP, led by Asif Ali Zardari, appears likely to find other, smaller parties to join a ruling parliamentary coalition.
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Bhutto's widower becomes frontrunner for Sept. 6 election
Reuters Aug 22, 08 12:31 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Pakistan's rival parties will debate next week whether to reinstate judges fired by ousted President Musharraf, a sign of compromise on an issue that has threatened to dissolve the ruling coalition, Reuters reports. Meanwhile, the nation's biggest party, the PPP, has nominated Benazir Bhutto's widower, Asif Ali Zardari, to replace Musharraf. That makes him the clear frontrunner in the Sept. 6 election.
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Pakistan's Zardari wins key opposition support to succeed Musharraf
Associated Press Aug 20, 08 7:40 CDT
(AP)
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A major opposition party has backed Asif Ali Zardari, Benazir Bhutto's widower and the leader of the Pakistan People's Party, to succeed Pervez Musharraf as president, reports the AP. Zardari's support from the MQM, a party once loyal to Musharraf, will strengthen his hand in a struggle with coalition partner Nawaz Sharif over the presidency, as well as the issue of restoring the judges Musharraf purged.
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Presidential spokesman denies allegations
Newsweek Aug 17, 08 3:27 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Pakistan President Musharraf will likely resign tomorrow, a former Musharraf aide told Newsweek, and flee to Saudi Arabia for three months of exile. Pakistan's top military commanders are aware of the news, but Musharraf's camp officially denies the story. "Your source is a liar. The information you have is absolutely untrue," a spokesman told the magazine.
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Party leaders agree terms to oust president
Times (UK) Aug 7, 08 6:43 CDT
(Newser)
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Pakistan's opposition leaders reached an early-morning deal to impeach embattled president Pervez Musharraf unless he voluntarily steps down, reports the Times of London. A list of charges is being drawn up, and will give the president options to defend himself before Parliament. Musharraf vowed to fight his ouster, saying, "I will defeat those who try to push me to the wall."
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'We asked you to quit with honor but you didn't,' Sharif says
New York Times Jun 14, 08 5:56 PM CDT
(Newser)
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A political rival blasted President Pervez Musharraf today, leading a massive crowd to chant “Hang him, hang him,” the New York Times reports. In a televised address that capped off days of protest in Islamabad, Nawaz Sharif grew heated: “We asked you to quit with honor after the election but you didn’t,” he said. “Now people have given a new judgment for you.”
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Pakistan coalition continues to disagree on president's fate
Associated Press May 28, 08 2:14 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Nawaz Sharif labeled Pervez Musharraf a "traitor" today, and claimed his allies in Pakistan's coalition government had agreed to oust the president, the AP reports. "A high treason case should be registered against him and he should be given the punishment of a traitor," Sharif told members of his Pakistan Muslim League. "There is no need to give him a safe exit."
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Sharif pulls out over rehiring judges;
Zardari will lead talks
BBC May 13, 08 10:00 CDT
(Newser)
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Pakistan's 6-week-old government is in turmoil today after the prime minister refused to accept the resignation of nine members of the cabinet. Former PM Nawaz Sharif led the walkout in a dispute over the reinstatement of judges sacked during last year's state of emergency, reports the BBC.
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Sharif's Muslim League breaks with People's Party, will still support government
Bloomberg May 12, 08 1:38 PM CDT
(Newser)
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The second-largest party in Pakistan's ruling coalition pulled out today after a disagreement over the reinstatement of judges removed by President Pervez Musharraf, Bloomberg reports. Nawaz Sharif said nine Pakistan Muslim League ministers would leave the cabinet led by Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, but would not enter the opposition, supporting the Pakistan People's Party "on an issue to issue basis."
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Justices axed by Musharraf set to be reseated by parliament
BBC May 1, 08 12:46 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Pakistan’s ruling political parties have reached a deal to reinstate the judges Pervez Musharraf fired during his state of emergency, the BBC reports today. The agreement leaves intact the anti-Musharraf coalition that almost splintered over the issue. Asif Ali Zardari, head of the Pakistan Peoples Party, wanted reinstatement tied to broader reform; partner Nawaz Sharif insisted it remain a separate issue.
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