Rezaul H Laskar In Islamabad

Stories by Rezaul H Laskar In Islamabad

'Hindu forced to convert, held in Pak madrassa'

'Hindu forced to convert, held in Pak madrassa'

Rediff.com   23 Apr 2010

A Hindu girl from Punjab province was kidnapped and forced to convert to Islam and is currently being held in a madrassa, leading Pakistani rights activist Ansar Burney said on Friday.Burney said his rights organisation, the Ansar Burney trust international, had learnt that 15-year-old Gajri, the daughter of Mengha Ram, was abducted by a Muslim neighbour from her home at Katchi Mandi, Liaquatpur, in Rahim Yar Khan district on December 21, 2009.

No role in Benazir assassination: US

No role in Benazir assassination: US

Rediff.com   21 Apr 2010

The United States on Wednesday dismissed as 'false and outrageous' the allegations made by former Inter-Services Intelligence agency chief Hamid Gul that the United States government was involved in the assassination of former premier Benazir Bhutto.Noting that Gul had 'repeatedly asserted the outrageous and baseless claim' during appearances on two TV news channels, a spokesman for the US embassy said, "The US rejects this and other false allegations."

Benazir probe:Pak to take action against Musharraf

Benazir probe:Pak to take action against Musharraf

Rediff.com   20 Apr 2010

The Pakistan government will take action against Pervez Musharraf after concrete evidence is obtained against him, after a United Nations panel blamed the former military dictator for failing to provide effective security to slain ex-premier Benazir Bhutto. "We welcome the UN (commission's) report because it is independent and transparent. The people already knew what the commission has pointed out," said Interior Minister Rehman Malik.

Pak court reserves order on Kasab,Ansari

Pak court reserves order on Kasab,Ansari

Rediff.com   20 Apr 2010

A Pakistani court reserved its decision on Monday, on a petition filed by authorities to challenge an anti-terrorism court's order rejecting a plea to declare Ajmal Kasab and Fahim Ansari as fugitives. A Rawalpindi-based bench of the Lahore High Court comprising Justices Rauf Ahmed Sheikh and Hasan Raza Pasha reserved its decision after hearing arguments by the counsel for the Federal Investigation Agency, which had filed the petition on April 10.

Pak army stage massive drill near India border

Pak army stage massive drill near India border

Rediff.com   18 Apr 2010

As Pakistan's armed forces on Sunday staged a massive drill in the Cholistan desert, close to the Indian border, the country's civil and military leadership said Islamabad's defence strategy is based on credible minimum deterrence and had 'no offensive design' against anyone.

Pressure mounts on Pak for Benazir murder probe

Pressure mounts on Pak for Benazir murder probe

Rediff.com   16 Apr 2010

Pressure mounted on Pakistan government to hold probe into the 2007 assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto as authorities remained tight lipped after an independent UN report blamed security officials for "failing" to protect her.

Bhutto report: 'We knew Musharraf was responsible'

Bhutto report: 'We knew Musharraf was responsible'

Rediff.com   16 Apr 2010

Pakistan on Friday expressed its satisfaction over a United Nations panel's report on the killing of former premier Benazir Bhutto, saying it had vindicated its stand that former dictator-turned-president Pervez Musharraf's regime was responsible for her assassination in 2007.

'Taliban planned to abduct Indian diplomats'

'Taliban planned to abduct Indian diplomats'

Rediff.com   13 Apr 2010

Two deserters from a paramilitary force arrested for terror links have told Pakistani investigators that Taliban had specific plans to abduct Indian diplomats, including the high commissioner, to swap them for detained militant commanders.

Pakistan lawmakers strip Zardari's powers

Pakistan lawmakers strip Zardari's powers

Rediff.com   8 Apr 2010

Amid the shouting of slogans against former dictators Zia-ul-Haq and Pervez Musharraf, the members of the lower house of parliament approved 102 amendments, including several that will transfer powers from the office of the President to the Prime Minister.

'Pak fully qualifies for civil N-deal' like India

'Pak fully qualifies for civil N-deal' like India

Rediff.com   7 Apr 2010

A "well established, foolproof safety and security culture fully qualifies Pakistan for equal participation in civil nuclear cooperation at the international level, which would help us in addressing our immediate energy problems and would bring greater stability as well," Yousuf Raza Gilani said.

India rejects allegations of 'water war' on Pak

India rejects allegations of 'water war' on Pak

Rediff.com   4 Apr 2010

Indian High Commissioner Sharat Sabharwal said on Saturday that reduced flow of river waters into Pakistan are not the result of any "violation of Indus Waters Treaty by India or any action on our part to divert such flows or to use more than our assigned share of water from Western Rivers".

Pakistan attorney general resigns

Pakistan attorney general resigns

Rediff.com   2 Apr 2010

Pakistan's Attorney General Anwar Mansoor Khan resigned on Friday citing "lack of cooperation" from the Law Minister, a day after he accused him of obstructing efforts to implement the Supreme Court's order to reopen graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari in Switzerland.

'SC orders on Zardari's cases will be implemented'

'SC orders on Zardari's cases will be implemented'

Rediff.com   2 Apr 2010

A day after Pakistan's Supreme Court gave the April 5 deadline to the government to reopen graft cases in Switzerland against Asif Ali Zardari, the President's spokesman on Friday said that all verdicts of the apex court will be implemented in letter and spirit.

Pak has no objection to India-Afghan ties: Qureshi

Pak has no objection to India-Afghan ties: Qureshi

Rediff.com   2 Apr 2010

Pakistan has no objection to India's relations with Afghanistan but these ties should not assume the dimension of encircling the country, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Thursday.

Zardari wanted UN to quiz Rice, Karzai

Zardari wanted UN to quiz Rice, Karzai

Rediff.com   1 Apr 2010

Zardari is "said to have quietly given names of four international personalities--Former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai, Saudi Arabian intelligence chief Prince Muqran bin Abdul Aziz and the UAE intelligence chief to the UN inquiry commission to ask them: how did they know the secret in advance that Benazir Bhutto would be killed?" The News Daily reported on Thursday.

Pak panel finalises landmark Constitution reforms

Pak panel finalises landmark Constitution reforms

Rediff.com   1 Apr 2010

A landmark constitutional reforms package, which includes proposals to strip the president of his sweeping powers, was on Thursday submitted to the speaker of Pakistan's Parliament by a key committee that finalised it, ahead of its possible introduction in the House on Friday.Raza Rabbani, the leader of the 26-member parliamentary committee on constitutional reforms, presented the package, popularly referred to as the '18th Constitution amendment'.

Musharraf to launch political party

Musharraf to launch political party

Rediff.com   31 Mar 2010

Former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has convened a meeting of his loyalists in Dubai on April 2 to formally launch a political party, which is likely to be named the All Pakistan Muslim League.

Pak asks Switzerland to reopen Zardari's cases

Pak asks Switzerland to reopen Zardari's cases

Rediff.com   31 Mar 2010

Authorities had written letters to Swiss Attorney General and other officials to reopen the corruption cases that were closed under a controversial graft amnesty issued by ex-military ruler Pervez Musharraf, National Accountability Bureau Chairman Naveed Ahsan's lawyer Abid Zubairi informed a seven-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry.

How Iranians freed diplomat abducted in Pakistan

How Iranians freed diplomat abducted in Pakistan

Rediff.com   30 Mar 2010

The diplomat, Heshmatollah Attarzadeh, who was working as commercial attache in Iran's consulate in Peshawar, was freed 'in a complicated intelligence operation', Iranian state-run television said on Tuesday.

'No country has the right to question Pak-US ties'

'No country has the right to question Pak-US ties'

Rediff.com   25 Mar 2010

Pakistan on Thursday said the success of its strategic dialogue with the United States should not be judged in the context of whether it can obtain a civil nuclear agreement similar to the one inked by America and India, as Islamabad failed to get a clear commitment from Washington on such a pact. "To judge the success or failure of our relations with the US or this particular dialogue in that narrow context is not appropriate," Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit said.