Asif to host ‘show of strength’ party today By Amir Waseem ISLAMABAD, Feb 26: The first show of strength by three major parties -- Pakistan People’s Party, Pakistan Muslim League-N and Awami National Party -- which emerged victorious in the Feb 18 elections will be held here on Wednesday at a luncheon hosted by PPP co-chairman Asif Zardari for the newly-elected MNAs. PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif, president Shahbaz Sharif and ANP president Asfandyar Wali Khan are expected to attend the luncheon meeting where the ... Read More

Published in The Independent, it is definitely worth reading. ‘Since you were so kind as to greet us in London at Downing Street last month, the President would like to return the favour,” announces Major-General Rashid Qureshi, President Pervez Musharraf’s PR man over the phone. Only in Pakistan could the government’s head of spin be a retired major-general. He is referring to my last encounter with the President on 28 January – when, along with a 2,000-strong, placard-waving, slogan-jeering mob, I ... Read More

39 killed as Pakistan vote campaign ends (AFP) 16 February 2008 PARACHINAR, Pakistan - A suicide car bomber struck a rally by slain Pakistani politician Benazir Bhutto’s party Saturday, killing 37 people and increasing security fears with just two days to go until elections. As the final day of campaigning for Monday’s crucial parliamentary polls drew to a close, another suicide attacker detonated an explosives-laden vehicle outside an army media centre, killing two civilians. The United States, which counts embattled President ... Read More