Tribal elders today demanded that FATA be made Pakistan’s fifth province or given a special status like the Northern Areas.  They seek the integration of their region into Pakistan’s mainstream yet do not want to lose their influence nor their areas’ distinctness.  The Awami National Party (ANP), which leads the NWFP-governing coalition, would like [...]

A headline this week in a Pakistani paper read, “Something is about to happen.”  Alas, nothing did.
There was immense speculation of the imminence of Pervez Musharraf’s resignation and departure from Pakistan.
Asif Zardari called the retired general a relic of the past.   The Muslim League (Nawaz) and the lawyers’ movement called for putting Musharraf on trial.  Some said there was a rift [...]

The opposition to Pervez Musharraf is taking a worrisome turn — one that Musharraf’s supporters inside and outside of Pakistan should take heed of.  Those who would like to see Musharraf’s ouster have been frustrated by the prevention of him being conventionally removed.  Rather than simply calling for his resignation or impeachment, some have upped the antie, calling for Musharraf [...]

Asif Ali Zardari, so it seems, has regained a backbone and responsiveness to public opinion this week. He’s publicly spoken out against Pervez Musharraf, terming him a barrier to democracy. Zardari also spoke of the immense popular pressure on him to oust the dubiously elected president. Meanwhile, Musharraf’s office said today that [...]

The People’s Party and Muslim League-Nawaz remain married, but separated. At the moment, they are seeing other people.
Earlier this week, Mumtaz Bhutto, the Bhutto tribe leader and estranged uncle of the late Benazir, met with Shahbaz Sharif in Lahore. Weeks before that, he had said there was no real difference between the PPP [...]

WARNING: Not easy on the eyes.
M. Abdullah Yusuf is chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue. Apparently he’s resorted to exotic dancing to mitigate the national debt.
Musharraf joins him at the end, but the camera then turns away, perhaps to save us the sight.

The appointment of Salman Taseer–a Musharraf-supporter, former PPP politician, and businessman–as governor of Punjab has sparked a heated debate in Pakistan.  Many argue that this is the first firing short, or perhaps the most audible, of a battle for Punjab, Pakistan’s largest province.
But the game is more likely far more complex.  Sandwiched in between the headlines is news of the acceptance of the nomination papers of Nawaz and Shahbaz Sharif.  The [...]

GEO News reports of a missile attack tonight in Damadola, Bajaur Agency, where a January 2006 U.S. strike targeted al-Qaeda number two Ayman al-Zawahiri. BBC Urdu, citing a Taliban spokesman, states that the strike occured at approximately 8PM local time (11AM New York/Washington).
Local residents tell GEO that one home has been destroyed. According [...]

PML(N) leader Nawaz Sharif wasn’t educated at Oxford, but he’s playing politics smartly. Today, he announced that his party will submit its resignation from the federal cabinet tomorrow, though it will continue to support the government. And a few hours ago, he unexpectedly submitted his papers for the upcoming by-elections.
So what’s Sharif doing? [...]

So here we are, once again. Different city, but same story. Well, story of.
The (latest) deadline to restore the deposed judges is imminent. Today, Asif Zardari will meet Nawaz Sharif, in London, to ‘resolve’ their differences. Like the previous deadline, the present one could be similarly disregarded. Like last week, the [...]