Ajay Kaul And Rezaul H Laskar In Islamabad

Stories by Ajay Kaul And Rezaul H Laskar In Islamabad

Plot to attack Parliament foiled, many arrested in Pak

Plot to attack Parliament foiled, many arrested in Pak

Rediff.com   31 Mar 2012

Pakistani authorities have foiled a plot to attack parliament during President Asif Ali Zardari's address to a joint sitting of the two houses and arrested several terrorists and an employee of the foreign ministry, Interior Minister Rehman Malik said on Saturday. The terrorists had planned to attack Parliament when Zardari was addressing a joint session of the National Assembly and Senate on March 17, Malik said.

ISI 'funding' politicians: Probe reports can't be traced

ISI 'funding' politicians: Probe reports can't be traced

Rediff.com   30 Mar 2012

Pakistani authorities were unable to trace the reports of two commissions that investigated the funding of politicians by the Inter-Services Intelligence in 1990, the government's top law officer informed the Supreme Court on Friday.

Hindus in Pak protest for law to register their marriages

Hindus in Pak protest for law to register their marriages

Rediff.com   30 Mar 2012

Pakistan's minority Hindu community has protested the prolonged delay in the approval of a law to register their marriages, saying the lack of legislation affected the inheritance rights of women.

Pak SC rejects request to close case involving PM's son

Pak SC rejects request to close case involving PM's son

Rediff.com   30 Mar 2012

Pakistan's Supreme Court has turned down a request from authorities to close a case against irregularities in the import of a chemical that allegedly involved Premier Yousuf Raza Gilani's younger son Ali Musa Gilani.

Pak sacks doctor who helped CIA track Osama

Pak sacks doctor who helped CIA track Osama

Rediff.com   29 Mar 2012

Pakistan on Thursday sacked the government doctor who had helped the Central Intelligence Agency track down Osama bin Laden in the garrison town of Abbottabad in May last year, amid calls for trying him for treason.

Gilani may face second contempt case: Pakistan SC

Gilani may face second contempt case: Pakistan SC

Rediff.com   29 Mar 2012

Adding to woes of Premier Yousuf Raza Gilani, Pakistan's Supreme Court on Thursday warned him that a second contempt case could be initiated against him if he failed to act on its verdict that annulled a graft amnesty issued by former military ruler Pervez Musharraf.

Pak SC to hear Haqqani's plea for video-testimony

Pak SC to hear Haqqani's plea for video-testimony

Rediff.com   28 Mar 2012

Pakistan's Supreme Court will on Thursday hear former envoy Husain Haqqani's plea to testify via video link from abroad on a mysterious memo before a judicial commission, which has warned that an arrest warrant could be issued if he does not return to the country.

Pak cleric asks SC to order parl to enforce Shariah

Pak cleric asks SC to order parl to enforce Shariah

Rediff.com   28 Mar 2012

The chief cleric of the radical Lal Masjid in Islamabad has asked Pakistan's Supreme Court to invoke its suo moto powers and order parliament to enforce Shariah or Islamic law across the country.

Indian poets escape gunmen attack in Karachi 'mushaira'

Indian poets escape gunmen attack in Karachi 'mushaira'

Rediff.com   27 Mar 2012

Indian poets Manzar Bhopali and Iqbal Ashar were among those who had a narrow escape when unidentified gunmen attacked a 'mushaira' in the southern Pakistani port city of Karachi, one of the poets said on Tuesday.

Pak court to charge Osama's wives, family for illegal stay

Pak court to charge Osama's wives, family for illegal stay

Rediff.com   26 Mar 2012

A Pakistani court will formally charge slain Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden's widows and other family members for illegally entering and living in the country next week, a defence lawyer said on Monday.

Pak memo panel rejects Haqqani's plea to depose in London

Pak memo panel rejects Haqqani's plea to depose in London

Rediff.com   26 Mar 2012

A judicial commission probing a mysterious memo that sought United States help to stave off a military coup in Pakistan on Monday rejected former envoy Husain Haqqani's plea to testify via video link from London.

Slain governor, Oscar winner honoured on Pakistan Day

Slain governor, Oscar winner honoured on Pakistan Day

Rediff.com   23 Mar 2012

Slain Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer, Oscar-winning filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy and Interior Minister Rehman Malik were among those who were awarded the country's highest honour on Pakistan Day on Friday. Taseer, who was gunned down by a policeman last year for his calls for reforming the controversial blasphemy law, was awarded the Nishan-i-Imtiaz, Pakistan's highest civilian award. The award was received by his widow Aamna Taseer.

'Over 900 Pakistani women killed for honour'

'Over 900 Pakistani women killed for honour'

Rediff.com   22 Mar 2012

Over 900 Pakistani women were killed last year in the name of honour for allegedly shaming their families while nearly 4,500 others were the target of domestic violence, the country's top rights watchdog said in a report on Thursday.

Pakistan PM's lawyer feels he would not get a fair trial

Pakistan PM's lawyer feels he would not get a fair trial

Rediff.com   21 Mar 2012

Pakistan prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani's lawyer on Wednesday said he feared that would not get a fair trial in the contempt case and that the government could not act on the supreme Court's orders to revive graft cases against Asif Ali Zardari as long as he was the president.

Pak seeks end to drone strikes, nuke deal with US

Pak seeks end to drone strikes, nuke deal with US

Rediff.com   20 Mar 2012

The crucial joint session of Pakistan Parliament that will endorse new terms of engagement with the United States began in Islamabad on Tuesday, following a string of crises, including the November 26 strike by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, which took relations to an all-time low. The joint session of the Senate and National Assembly, summoned by President Asif Ali Zardari, will debate the recommendations of the Parliamentary Committee.

13 killed in Pak tribal region

13 killed in Pak tribal region

Rediff.com   20 Mar 2012

At least 13 people were killed and over 15 others injured in a bomb attack and clashes between security forces and militants in the restive tribal belt of northwest Pakistan, officials said on Monday.

ISI and Pakistan Air Force get new chiefs

ISI and Pakistan Air Force get new chiefs

Rediff.com   19 Mar 2012

The new chiefs of the Inter Services Intelligence and Pakistan Air Force on Monday assumed office, a day ahead of a crucial parliamentary session that will determine the contours of future relations with the United States. Lieutenant General Zahir-ul-Islam went to the ISI headquarters at Aabpara Islamabad to take charge as the new director general of the powerful spy agency.

Osama's family remanded to judicial custody

Osama's family remanded to judicial custody

Rediff.com   17 Mar 2012

A Pakistan court on Saturday remanded family members of Osama bin Laden, including his widows, to judicial custody for nine days. The Al Qaeda chief's youngest widow, Yemeni national Amal Abdulfattah, and her five children were among those remanded to judicial custody. Abdulfattah was with bin Laden in a compound in Abbottabad where he was killed by United States special forces in May last year.

Gilani says 'not afraid of anybody' ahead of SC deadline

Gilani says 'not afraid of anybody' ahead of SC deadline

Rediff.com   17 Mar 2012

Days ahead of the hearing of two crucial cases against him in the Supreme Court, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Friday made it clear he was not afraid to face the outcome of the judicial proceedings.

Pak panel for special cell to probe Hindu women abduction

Pak panel for special cell to probe Hindu women abduction

Rediff.com   17 Mar 2012

A Pakistani parliamentary panel on Friday directed police and other authorities in southern Sindh province to register cases on the kidnapping of Hindu women and to create a special cell to investigate such incidents.