Pakistan now has two leading singing political figures, Pervez Musharraf and Shahbaz Sharif. I think they’re both good. Below is Mush singing while president, in the same hall in which the infamous Abdullah Yousuf danced in a manner that made me want to poke my eyes out. Mush’s artistic debut was first aired on Dunya [...]

The Supreme Court of Pakistan has ruled Nawaz and Shahbaz Sharif ineligible for electoral participation. As a result, Shahbaz Sharif is no longer chief minister of Punjab.  The court decision is effectively a coup by the Peoples Party-led center against the government of the largest province, Punjab. Sharif legal and political associates state they do [...]

The Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) made major gains in today’s by-elections.  It won ten additional seats in the Punjab Provincial Assembly. Two belong to Shahbaz Sharif.  He’ll have to give up one of them; the results of both could even be nullified. Still, the PML-N is now better placed to control Punjab without the [...]

In March, the Pakistan government dropped its last court case against Asif Zardari. Tomorrow, a Supreme Court panel will review the Pervez Musharraf-initiated law requiring elected officials to have a bachelor’s degree. They are expected to rule it unconstitutional. Zardari, who likely does not have a bachelor’s degree, will be the greatest beneficiary of such [...]

Pakistan’s election commission announced the schedule for by-elections for the national and provincial assemblies. The polls will be held on June 3rd. Nawaz and Shahbaz Sharif are expected to run, respectively, for a seat in the national and Punjab provincial assembly. They registered for the 2007-8 elections, but their papers were rejected due to previous [...]

Both Nawaz and Shahbaz Sharif plan on running in the by-elections this May. It appears that Asif Zardari will not, but this is by no means certain. All three face potential roadblocks to election. For Zardari, there is the graduation requirement. A Musharraf-era constitutional amendment requires elected officials to hold a bachelors degree. That Zardari [...]

Let’s Continue Our Conversation…in London Shahbaz Sharif, president of the Muslim League-Nawaz, tells BBC Urdu that “If Musharraf becomes neutral and promises to hold the polls in a free and fair manner, talks can be held with him.” This is a major break with precedent. Previously the Sharif brothers have publicly ruled out any compromise [...]

Pakistan continues along a mixed, though largely negative trajectory as the spate of urban suicide bombing continues and insurgents make bold moves in South Waziristan, while the army strengthens its control over Swat and leaders flinch toward national reconciliation. The army’s immediate workload increases, but Gen. Ashfaq Kayani takes clear steps to depoliticize the institution. [...]