Zardari graft cases closed
The Pakistan government today closed corruption cases against Asif Ali Zardari shortly after the Supreme Court dismissed all petitions challenging Musharraf’s controversial National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) promulgated last October, even as Zardari’s PPP and two coalition partners jointly demanded that President Pervez Musharraf immediately convene the National Assembly.

PPP’s Fahim may be PM
Makhdoom Amin Fahim, vice chairman of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), appeared to have won support to be the party’s consensus candidate for the Prime Minister’s post at a meeting of its parliamentary party here today. The meeting, however, withheld the announcement of the name and authorised PPP co-chairman Asif Zardari to do that at an appropriate time.

Asif Ali Zardari (left), widower of slain former Pakistani premier Benazir Bhutto, former premier Nawaz Sharif (centre) and Sharif’s brother Shahbaz Sharif attend a joint press conference after their meeting at Zardari’s residence in Islamabad where they decided on forming a government, late on Thursday night. — AFP

IS IT POSSIBLE TO MERGE INDIA, PAKISTAN & BANGLA DESH IN A SINGLE COUNTRY LIKE GERMANY ? - NARESH KADYAN

BILAWAL ALI ZARDARI BHUTTO - NARESH KADYAN

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2008/20080221/edit.htm#1

Defeat of a dictator
Leg up for democracy in Pakistan

THE people of Pakistan have sent out a clear message through the most keenly watched elections there. They strongly yearn for democracy. They have given a crushing defeat to the political forces associated with President Pervez Musharraf. The PML (Q), derisively called the King’s Party, which led the ruling coalition till the poll process began, has been mauled badly by slain leader Benazir Bhutto’s PPP and Mr Nawaz Sharif’s PML (N). The Musharraf-backed PML (Q) has been reduced to an insignificant third position with most of its stalwarts like party chief and former prime minister Chaudhary Shujaat Hussain suffering humiliating reverses. Musharraf’s religious ally Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s Jamiatul Ulema-e-Islam has been routed in the NWFP, once considered its bastion. The Muhajir Qaumi Movement (MQM) of migrants from India, yet another group close to the former General, has more or less retained its base in Sindh, but could not prevent the PPP from emerging as the single largest party able to form a government independently in the province.

The PPP is the leading party at the federal level, too, but could not take full advantage of the sympathy wave sweeping every province of Pakistan after Benazir’s assassination. It can form a government in Islamabad only as part of a coalition. Ideally, the PPP and the PML (N) should come together to share power. Both fought the elections on an anti-Musharraf plank. But they seem to have different agendas and varying perceptions.

The two major parties have serious differences over the restoration of the judiciary as it existed before the dismissal of Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry in the wake of the imposition of the emergency. The PML (N) stands for the status quo ante to ensure the removal of President Musharraf, but this may not find favour with PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari. The latter has been hinting at reaching an understanding with President Musharraf, perhaps under Western (read US) pressure. This will, no doubt, amount to going against the wishes of the people of Pakistan, but who bothers about the voters’ aspirations once the poll results are out? It is time for realpolitik in Islamabad.

Democracy strikes back in Pak
Restored judges to decide on Mush’s future: Sharif

Bhutto’s PPP (87) largest party followed by Sharif’s PML-N (66)

Opposition parties dealt a crushing electoral blow to allies of President Pervez Musharraf by winning enough seats to form a new government. Musharraf, however, refused to quit office even as his opponents urged him to resign.

Islamabad, February 19 Even as pro-Musharraf party PML-Q was today routed in Pakistan’s parliamentary polls which threw up a hung assembly, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) emerged the single largest party with 87 of 269 National Assembly seats for which elections were held while Pakistan Muslim League-N, headed by Sharif, two-time prime minister who was toppled in a bloodless coup by President Pervez Musharraf in 1999, got 66, providing a clear majority if they come together. What Next? Record 11 women win A step towards democracy: US

Here’s waiting for you, mate: Nawaz Sharif relaxes after Monday’s results and (right) Asif Zardari of the largest gainer, the PPP. — AFP, PTI

ELECTION COMMISSION OF PAKISTAN - NARESH KADYAN