Ajay Kaul And Rezaul H Laskar In Islamabad

Stories by Ajay Kaul And Rezaul H Laskar In Islamabad

Pak parliament passes bill to protect leaders from contempt

Pak parliament passes bill to protect leaders from contempt

Rediff.com   12 Jul 2012

Pakistan's parliament has passed a bill aimed at protecting top government leaders from contempt of court proceedings and countering the Supreme Court's efforts to pressure the premier to revive graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.The Senate or upper house approved the Contempt of Court Bill of 2012 by a majority after a heated debate late on Wednesday night. The bill was passed by the National Assembly or lower house of parliament on Monday.

Pakistan should take control of their soil: Munter

Pakistan should take control of their soil: Munter

Rediff.com   11 Jul 2012

The United States has said Pakistan's civil and military leadership should have "its writ on its soil", making it clear that Islamabad needs to take more steps to tackle terrorism.

Militants threaten to attack Pak govt installations

Militants threaten to attack Pak govt installations

Rediff.com   11 Jul 2012

Taliban-linked militants have threatened to carry out more attacks on soldiers and government installations similar to an assault on a Pakistan Army camp that killed eight security personnel on Monday, according to a media report.

Pak MPs clear bill exempting top leaders from contempt

Pak MPs clear bill exempting top leaders from contempt

Rediff.com   10 Jul 2012

A bill aimed at shielding top Pakistani leaders from contempt charges and curbing the apex court's efforts to push Premier Raja Pervez Ashraf into reopening graft cases against the President has been approved by the lower house of Parliament.

Alliance of extremist groups demand closure of NATO routes

Alliance of extremist groups demand closure of NATO routes

Rediff.com   10 Jul 2012

An alliance of over 40 religious and extremist groups forged by Lashkar-e-Tayiba founder Hafiz Mohammad Saeed has vowed to march to the Afghan border to force Pakistan government to close NATO supply routes.

Militants attack camp, kill 7 soldiers in Pakistan

Militants attack camp, kill 7 soldiers in Pakistan

Rediff.com   9 Jul 2012

Suspected militants attacked a security force's camp near the city of Gujrat in Pakistan's Punjab province on Monday, killing six soldiers and a policeman. Five soldiers were injured in the pre-dawn attack, officials said.

Can't clarify Malik's citizenship status: UK border agency

Can't clarify Malik's citizenship status: UK border agency

Rediff.com   6 Jul 2012

The United Kingdom Border Agency has refused to clarify the exact status of Interior Ministry chief Rehman Malik's British citizenship, an issue that resulted in the suspension of his membership of Pakistan's parliament.

Pakistan rejects charges of state role in Mumbai attacks

Pakistan rejects charges of state role in Mumbai attacks

Rediff.com   5 Jul 2012

Pakistan on Thursday rejected India's assertion that state agencies were involved in the 2008 Mumbai attacks, saying New Delhi should share any evidence it has so that a thorough investigation can be conducted by Pakistani authorities.

First NATO trucks cross Pak border after blockade lifted

First NATO trucks cross Pak border after blockade lifted

Rediff.com   5 Jul 2012

For the first time in seven months, trucks carrying supplies for NATO troops crossed from Pakistan to Afghanistan on Thursday after authorities in Islamabad lifted a blockade of the vital routes ending a bitter standoff with the United States.

Pakistan, Kabul at loggerheads over border violence

Pakistan, Kabul at loggerheads over border violence

Rediff.com   2 Jul 2012

Against the backdrop of growing tensions over cross-border attacks by rebels, Pakistan on Monday accused about 60 Afghan soldiers of crossing into the country and triggering clashes that killed two tribesman.

'India should apologise for sending Surjeet Singh to spy'

'India should apologise for sending Surjeet Singh to spy'

Rediff.com   1 Jul 2012

Days after he claimed terror suspect Zabiuddin Ansari could have mounted a "sting operation" to carry out the Mumbai attacks from Pakistani soil, Interior Ministry chief Rehman Malik on Sunday demanded that India apologise for sending Surjeet Singh to spy in Pakistan.

New Pakistan PM defends Zardari's immunity

New Pakistan PM defends Zardari's immunity

Rediff.com   30 Jun 2012

In the face of pressure from Pakistan's Supreme Court to reopen graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf on Saturday defended the President's immunity, saying it would only end after he leaves office.

Special team to probe graft charges against Pak CJ's son

Special team to probe graft charges against Pak CJ's son

Rediff.com   30 Jun 2012

stan's anti-corruption agency has formed a Special Investigating Team to probe allegations that Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry's son was paid over Rs 342 million by a real estate tycoon to influence cases in the apex court. National Accountability Bureau Chairman Fasih Bukhari told a news conference on Saturday that the investigating team, comprising officials of the Federal Investigation Agency and police, will be headed by a NAB official.

US drone attack kills 4 terrorists in Pakistan

US drone attack kills 4 terrorists in Pakistan

Rediff.com   27 Jun 2012

A United States drone targetted a house in Pakistan's restive North Waziristan tribal region, killing at least four terrorists and injuring two others.

'Sarabjit's possible release is yet to be discussed'

'Sarabjit's possible release is yet to be discussed'

Rediff.com   27 Jun 2012

A day after its volte-face on the release of Sarabjit Singh, Pakistan on Wednesday went on a damage control mode saying there was no move to free the Indian prisoner and scotched speculation of pressure from army on the government.

Sarabjit fiasco an international embarrassment: Pak media

Sarabjit fiasco an international embarrassment: Pak media

Rediff.com   27 Jun 2012

What should have been the release of an Indian death row prisoner has turned into an 'international embarrassment' for the Pakistan government following the mix-up over the identity of two Indian nationals currently in a Pakistani jail.

Zardari's decree protecting Gilani's decisions challenged

Zardari's decree protecting Gilani's decisions challenged

Rediff.com   26 Jun 2012

Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari's ordinance giving constitutional protection to all decisions made by former premier Yousuf Raza Gilani during the period he was disqualified, was on Tuesday challenged in the supreme court.

Pak PM to neighbours: Don't interfere in our affairs

Pak PM to neighbours: Don't interfere in our affairs

Rediff.com   26 Jun 2012

Listing extremism and terrorism as "serious challenges", Pakistan's new Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf on Tuesday vowed to establish the writ of the State and said the country's soil will not be allowed to be used for attacking other nations. Addressing the first meeting of his Cabinet since assuming office last week, Ashraf said Pakistan values its relations with the Islamic world, the United States and China as well as neighbours like India and Afghanistan.

Abu Jundal: Pakistan says trying to collect details

Abu Jundal: Pakistan says trying to collect details

Rediff.com   26 Jun 2012

Close on the heels of India announcing the arrest of a key handler of terrorists who struck Mumbai in 2008, Pakistan has said that it was trying to collect details from India on the matter.

Pak power scam: PM could be summoned, says report

Pak power scam: PM could be summoned, says report

Rediff.com   26 Jun 2012

Pakistani authorities are still probing a multi-billion rupee scam involving private power projects and could summon Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf, who held the power portfolio when some of the projects were cleared, according to a media report.