Pervez Musharraf, right, has promised to resign his post as head of the army [AFP]
By VOA News
23 November 2007
Pervez Musharraf, 14 Nov 2007Pakistan's Supreme Court has ordered President Pervez Musharraf to step down as military chief and take the oath of office by December 1.
The court, which is stacked with judges appointed by General Musharraf, Friday also declared that the November 3 imposition of a state of emergency and suspension of the constitution were legal.
Pakistan's attorney general Malik Mohammed Qayyum says President Musharraf will take the oath of office early next week. The Supreme Court dismissed the final legal challenge to General Musharraf's October reelection victory on Thursday.
Meanwhile, opposition leaders are planning their strategy for the upcoming January 8 parliamentary elections, with exiled former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif set to return to Pakistan within days....
Pervez Musharraf, 14 Nov 2007Pakistan's Supreme Court has ordered President Pervez Musharraf to step down as military chief and take the oath of office by December 1.
The court, which is stacked with judges appointed by General Musharraf, Friday also declared that the November 3 imposition of a state of emergency and suspension of the constitution were legal.
Pakistan's attorney general Malik Mohammed Qayyum says President Musharraf will take the oath of office early next week. The Supreme Court dismissed the final legal challenge to General Musharraf's October reelection victory on Thursday.
Meanwhile, opposition leaders are planning their strategy for the upcoming January 8 parliamentary elections, with exiled former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif set to return to Pakistan within days....
Editorial: The ‘Nawaz Sharif factor’ (click here)
In the latest development in the wake of General Pervez Musharraf’s visit to Saudi Arabia, the exiled ex-prime minister and leader of the Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PMLN), Mr Nawaz Sharif, is to arrive in Pakistan soon — according to some party sources, in a couple of days. There is a lot of speculation about the sort of “deal” that materialised during the general’s visit making possible the return of Mr Sharif. The most convincing version, in the light of the past behaviour of the Saudi government, is that the Saudis put their foot down and told the general that Mr Sharif could not be kept out of Pakistan while Ms Benazir Bhutto was reaping the advantage of being in the thick of national politics....
In the latest development in the wake of General Pervez Musharraf’s visit to Saudi Arabia, the exiled ex-prime minister and leader of the Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PMLN), Mr Nawaz Sharif, is to arrive in Pakistan soon — according to some party sources, in a couple of days. There is a lot of speculation about the sort of “deal” that materialised during the general’s visit making possible the return of Mr Sharif. The most convincing version, in the light of the past behaviour of the Saudi government, is that the Saudis put their foot down and told the general that Mr Sharif could not be kept out of Pakistan while Ms Benazir Bhutto was reaping the advantage of being in the thick of national politics....
Benazir Bhutto condemns Balach Marri’s killing (click here)
* Former PM says killing of Baloch leader will further fuel nationalist movement in Balochistan * Calls for release of all Baloch leadersISLAMABAD: Benazir Bhutto, former prime minister and chairwoman of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) on Thursday condemned the killing of former member Balochistan Assembly Balach Marri. In a statement issued by her party’s media centre, Benazir termed the killing ‘a bad omen for the integrity of the federation’. Balach was killed on November 20, reportedly by security forces during a military operation, in Kohlu. His spokesman said that several others were also killed with him.“The killing and bloodshed in Balochistan must end immediately,” Benazir said. She warned that Balochistan was in danger of breaking away from the federation unless an urgent political solution was found....
* Former PM says killing of Baloch leader will further fuel nationalist movement in Balochistan * Calls for release of all Baloch leadersISLAMABAD: Benazir Bhutto, former prime minister and chairwoman of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) on Thursday condemned the killing of former member Balochistan Assembly Balach Marri. In a statement issued by her party’s media centre, Benazir termed the killing ‘a bad omen for the integrity of the federation’. Balach was killed on November 20, reportedly by security forces during a military operation, in Kohlu. His spokesman said that several others were also killed with him.“The killing and bloodshed in Balochistan must end immediately,” Benazir said. She warned that Balochistan was in danger of breaking away from the federation unless an urgent political solution was found....
November 23, 2007 14 39 GMT
Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto arrived in Islamabad on Nov. 23 to map out a strategy for the upcoming general elections with the leadership of her Pakistan People's Party, Dawn News TV reported. Bhutto also is expected to attend a meeting of major opposition parties to determine whether her party will join the opposition's election boycott, according to the report.
Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto arrived in Islamabad on Nov. 23 to map out a strategy for the upcoming general elections with the leadership of her Pakistan People's Party, Dawn News TV reported. Bhutto also is expected to attend a meeting of major opposition parties to determine whether her party will join the opposition's election boycott, according to the report.
Reports: Blasts Shake North India (click here)
14 hours ago
NEW DELHI (AP) — A series of three near-simultaneous explosions shook north India on Friday afternoon, with blasts going off in Lucknow, Varanasi and Faizabad, local media reports said.
There were few immediate details on the blasts, all in the state of Uttar Pradesh, but at least one explosion was outside a courthouse in Lucknow, the state capital, CNN-IBN television reported.
14 hours ago
NEW DELHI (AP) — A series of three near-simultaneous explosions shook north India on Friday afternoon, with blasts going off in Lucknow, Varanasi and Faizabad, local media reports said.
There were few immediate details on the blasts, all in the state of Uttar Pradesh, but at least one explosion was outside a courthouse in Lucknow, the state capital, CNN-IBN television reported.
LUCKNOW, India (Reuters) - Nearly simultaneous explosions from homemade bombs planted outside courts in three northern Indian cities killed at least 13 people in what a senior government official said were terrorist strikes.
Officials said 59 people were wounded in the blasts at Varanasi, Faizabad and Lucknow, all in the populous state of Uttar Pradesh. Many of the dead were lawyers.
At least nine people were killed in Varanasi, one of India's most sacred Hindu pilgrim centers, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati, who uses only one name, told reporters.
Four people were killed in Faizabad while there were no casualties in the state capital Lucknow.
All three cities have a history of communal tensions between India's majority Hindus and its minority Muslims.
"I believe it is the handiwork of groups who are trying to spread terror in our country," junior Home Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal told reporters.
India has been hit by blasts frequently in recent years and most of them have been blamed on Pakistan-based Islamist militant groups fighting against Indian rule in Kashmir.
Local TV channels showed what appeared to be at least one dead lawyer, dressed in traditional black clothes, lying on the ground. Dry leaves had fallen over his body.
Another body was lying face down in a pool of blood.
One injured man rode away on a motorcycle while a passerby held a cloth or handkerchief to his blood-soaked head....
Officials said 59 people were wounded in the blasts at Varanasi, Faizabad and Lucknow, all in the populous state of Uttar Pradesh. Many of the dead were lawyers.
At least nine people were killed in Varanasi, one of India's most sacred Hindu pilgrim centers, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati, who uses only one name, told reporters.
Four people were killed in Faizabad while there were no casualties in the state capital Lucknow.
All three cities have a history of communal tensions between India's majority Hindus and its minority Muslims.
"I believe it is the handiwork of groups who are trying to spread terror in our country," junior Home Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal told reporters.
India has been hit by blasts frequently in recent years and most of them have been blamed on Pakistan-based Islamist militant groups fighting against Indian rule in Kashmir.
Local TV channels showed what appeared to be at least one dead lawyer, dressed in traditional black clothes, lying on the ground. Dry leaves had fallen over his body.
Another body was lying face down in a pool of blood.
One injured man rode away on a motorcycle while a passerby held a cloth or handkerchief to his blood-soaked head....
