Election victors continue to work for coalition government
New York Times Feb 20, 08 3:28 AM CST
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The victors in the Pakistan elections favor negotiations with al-Qaeda and the Taliban over military confrontation, reports the New York Times . “We will have a dialogue with those who are up in the mountains,” said Asif Ali Zardari, widower of assassinated opposition leader Benazir Bhutto. “We want to take all those along who are working against Pakistan.”
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Opponents vow to undo Musharraf's revisions
Associated Press Dec 16, 07 4:27 PM CST
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Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf just retired his army uniform, but he should prepare for a fight, the AP says, as Nawaz Sharif's opposition group plans to reverse constitutional revisions he made before lifting emergency rule yesterday. Musharraf imposed limits on the press, sealed the retirements of Supreme Court judges, and removed a condition used to challenge his re-election.
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*But he'll tweak it first
to ensure he can't
be prosecuted
Associated Press Dec 13, 07 7:09 AM CST
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Pervez Musharraf is set to lift Pakistan's state of emergency Saturday, but he's not going to take any guff for it—the president will only restore the constitution if it is first amended so he can't be tried for actions during the past 6 weeks of emergency rule. As lawyers held more protests against the former general, Pakistan's AG told the AP that legal experts were polishing the tweaks.
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Group ignores Musharraf's plea, predicts 'severe' economic effects
Times (UK) Nov 22, 07 6:14 PM CST
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Ten days after demanding democracy in Pakistan, the 53-nation Commonwealth yanked the country's membership today until Musharraf lifts military rule, the Times reports. The vote will nix hundreds of millions of pounds of investment and have "severe consequences for investment" for Pakistan's economy, a Commonwealth member said.
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Imran Khan's party reacts with boycott of Jan. 8 elections
Reuters Nov 22, 07 8:12 AM CST
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Pervez Musharraf's kangaroo court wasted little time today in dismissing the last challenge to his October election victory, Reuters reports. The move paves the way for Musharraf to quit as army chief and assume a post as civilian president—which will dull international condemnations since he imposed emergency rule. In reaction, Imran Khan's opposition party became the first to boycott parliamentary elections slated for January 8.
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Yet high-profile figures, including Khan, remain jailed
Associated Press Nov 20, 07 5:57 AM CST
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Pakistani police have released over 3,000 opposition activists—including lawyers and members of the political opposition—arrested since the suspension of the constitution on Nov. 3, Pakistan's interior ministry said today. Under pressure from Washington, President Pervez Musharraf, whose hand-picked court validated his reelection, is withdrawing some of the harshest measures of emergency rule.
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Prez may call end to emergency rule before January elections
Associated Press Nov 19, 07 3:02 PM CST
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Pakistan’s Supreme Court today shot down opposition to Pervez Musharraf’s re-election, an unsurprising turn given that Musharraf packed the court with allies. But with the ruling in hand, Musharraf may be ready to end emergency rule, the AP reports, something the US has demanded he do before January’s elections. Meanwhile, opposition parties boycotted a meeting setting up election rules.
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Bhutto rules out alliance, turns to Sharif; 2 killed in protests
BBC Nov 15, 07 12:54 PM CST
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Pervez Musharraf today named close ally Mohammedmian Soomro as Pakistan's caretaker PM, effective at midnight tonight reports the BBC. The move came as Benazir Bhutto ruled out a power-sharing agreement with Musharraf, and turned instead to rival opposition leader Nawaz Sharif—even as the country's attorney general said he expects Musharraf to relinquish military duties by Dec. 1.
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Ex-PM changes her mind and flies to family in Dubai
Guardian (UK) Nov 1, 07 10:20 AM CDT
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Ending days of confusion after the assassination attempt that killed more than 100 of her supporters, Benazir Bhutto has left Pakistan and flown to Dubai to see her family. Bhutto had postponed her trip for fear that that the government might impose a state of emergency in her absence, making her return difficult. But she reversed course today, the Guardian reports.
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Pakistan court to decide if Musharraf can offer Bhutto amnesty
BBC Oct 12, 07 8:03 AM CDT
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The power-sharing arrangement aimed at stabilizing Pakistan's shaky government has hit yet another snag, the BBC reports. Pakistan's Supreme Court, which has already held up certifying President Pervez Musharraf's re-election win until it rules on challenges, now says it must rule on whether the amnesty granted to Benazir Bhutto on old corruption charges as part of the deal is constitutional.
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Analysts predict court won't void Pakistan leader's victory
Reuters Oct 7, 07 1:51 PM CDT
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The official ruling is 10 days off, but it’s likely Pakistan’s Supreme Court will uphold the re-election of President Pervez Musharraf, analysts tell Reuters. The court could still rule Musharraf ineligible because he ran while head of the army, but it probably won’t take such drastic action. “It looks likely that Musharraf is home and dry,” said one newspaper.
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Journalists, lawyers clash with police over decision allowing Musharraf to seek another term
CNN Sep 29, 07 4:45 PM CDT
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Protests broke out in Pakistan today after lawmakers approved Pervez Musharraf's run for re-election. Protesters, led by journalists and lawyers. clashed with police, who hurled tear gas and brandished riot batons outside a federal building. At least 3 demonstrators were hospitalized and 2 journalists arrested after the melee, CNN reports.
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Pakistani court rejects challenges to dual role
BBC Sep 28, 07 7:45 AM CDT
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Gen. Pervez Musharraf has won his case in Pakistan's Supreme Court to run for president while remaining chief of the army, the BBC reports. The verdict deals a blow to opposition parties, who had hoped the court would invalidate Musharraf's dual campaign before the parliamentary vote next week. it comes as something of a surprise, as the court has recently delivered a string of rulings against him.
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Vow to resign from parliament next week
BBC Sep 28, 07 2:34 AM CDT
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Pakistani opposition leaders vow to vacate their legislative seats to protest President Pervez Musharraf's bid for re-election next week, the BBC reports. Members of the influential MMA religious alliance say they will resign from parliament and four provincial assemblies, which decide who will be the next president.
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Bhutto mounts challenge to second presidential term
Times (UK) Jul 22, 07 5:24 PM CDT
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Pervez Musharraf is facing yet another hurdle: Benazir Bhutto says she will return to Pakistan to challenge his plans for another presidential term. The exiled ex-PM tells the Sunday Times she is considering abandoning talks with the increasingly unpopular Musharraf, embarrassed last week after the country's Supreme Court reinstated the chief justice, whom he suspended.
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