Islamabad (AsiaNews/Agencies) – About 3 thousand participants invoked “an Islamic revolution” at the funeral of the radical leader killed in the military assault on Lal Masjid, Islamabad’s “red mosque”. Abdul Rashid Ghazi, 43, was buried in his native village in the province of Punjab yesterday; under heavy police surveillance (click here).
... in the face of militant encroachment. Bhutto needs to come to leadership to help establish a legitimate government of the people of Pakistan to end the radicalization. The people of Pakistan are turning to radicalized strategies because of the Bush backed Musharraf regime.
Sectarian Clashes Kill 30 in Northwest Pakistan (click title to entry)
Pakistani officials say at least 30 people have been killed and more than 100 others wounded in sectarian clashes between Sunni and Shi'ite Muslims in northwestern Pakistan.
Officials Saturday say the clashes began Friday when unidentified gunmen opened fire in Parachinar, the main town in the Kurram tribal region near the Afghan border. The officials say armed men have been attacking each other since, with assault rifles and other weapons....
Officials Saturday say the clashes began Friday when unidentified gunmen opened fire in Parachinar, the main town in the Kurram tribal region near the Afghan border. The officials say armed men have been attacking each other since, with assault rifles and other weapons....
Basically what this boils down to, is that Bush and the Neocons don't care about regime change in Pakistan so long as they feel they have control. They have sacrificed Pakistani democracy and oppressed the will of the people for a President-General that will pander to the White House in the regional status of "The Ultimate War Lord." Bush hasn't been honest in his dealing in Pakistan. The reality is that although Musharraf has been cooperative, there has been no reason for him not to be, while he insured his dictatorship over the country of Pakistan. Bush's administration has insured a dictator that is a puppet while seeing an asset to Bush/Cheney Hegemony.
Negroponte delivers 'strong message', Musharraf refuses to yield (click here)
Islamabad (PTI): The US on Saturday delivered a "strong message" to beleaguered Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf to lift emergency but the defiant military ruler refused to yield saying the measure was needed to fight terrorism and conduct free and fair elections.
US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte during a two-hour-long meeting with Musharraf here conveyed a "strong message" to the General to end emergency and doff his uniform immediately, western diplomatic sources said.
Deputy army chief Gen Ashfaq Pervaiz Kiyani, who will replace Musharraf as army chief once he gives up his military uniform, was also present at the meeting. Negroponte had earlier separately met Kiyani.
The visit by the second highest ranking US official to Pakistan is the latest push by the Bush administration to persuade Musharraf to end emergency imposed on November 3, quit as army chief and restore fundamental rights to facilitate free and fair polls.
The US embassy refused to comment on the parleys but Pakistani official sources said Musharraf made it clear that the emergency would be lifted only when the law and order situation improves....
By Our Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD, Nov 17: Athar Minallah, a lawyer who was on the forefront in the struggle for the reinstatement of Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, on Saturday requested the American Embassy to arrange a meeting of the members of the Supreme Court Bar Association and the Pakistan Bar Council with US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte.“Now that it is no more a secret that John Negroponte is deeply involved in the domestic and internal matters of Pakistan and is scheduled to meet different players involved in the crisis, it would be in the interest of US and Pakistan to at least meet and hear the representatives of the SCBA and the PBC,” he said in a letter written to US Political Secretary.Mr Minallah urged Mr Negroponte to ensure that he was aware of the facts before formulating future US policy on Pakistan.The letter stated that the draconian Nov 3 proclamation of emergency targeted two segments of the society: the legal fraternity and the media with the sole purpose of attacking and annihilating the independence of the judiciary.The letter termed it unfortunate that the very forces which were determined to fight extremism and terrorism had become victims of the war on terror.It said that committed people like Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan, Muneer A. Malik, Ali Ahmed Kurd, Tariq Mehmud and thousands of others remained incarcerated, harassed and tortured.
ISLAMABAD, Nov 17: Athar Minallah, a lawyer who was on the forefront in the struggle for the reinstatement of Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, on Saturday requested the American Embassy to arrange a meeting of the members of the Supreme Court Bar Association and the Pakistan Bar Council with US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte.“Now that it is no more a secret that John Negroponte is deeply involved in the domestic and internal matters of Pakistan and is scheduled to meet different players involved in the crisis, it would be in the interest of US and Pakistan to at least meet and hear the representatives of the SCBA and the PBC,” he said in a letter written to US Political Secretary.Mr Minallah urged Mr Negroponte to ensure that he was aware of the facts before formulating future US policy on Pakistan.The letter stated that the draconian Nov 3 proclamation of emergency targeted two segments of the society: the legal fraternity and the media with the sole purpose of attacking and annihilating the independence of the judiciary.The letter termed it unfortunate that the very forces which were determined to fight extremism and terrorism had become victims of the war on terror.It said that committed people like Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan, Muneer A. Malik, Ali Ahmed Kurd, Tariq Mehmud and thousands of others remained incarcerated, harassed and tortured.
