Controversial Pakistani-American Mansoor Ijaz, who has been summoned to appear before a Supreme Court-appointed panel probing the memo scandal, on Saturday accused the Pakistan government of preventing him from testifying in Islamabad next week.
Political observers see in the continuing executive and parliament versus judiciary clash in Pakistan all the necessary conditions for a derailment of the democratic dispensation once again, reports Amir Mir from Islamabad
Pakistan's opposition leader Imran Khan on Thursday hardened his stand by withdrawing from dialogue with the government and vowed to continue his fight till the end, apparently buoyed by the Supreme Court's washing off its hands of the protests.
Rediff.com's Amir Mir analyses the controversial developments post the explosive Memogate scandal that rocked Pakistan and reveals President Asif Ali Zardari's resolve to take on forces that are out to topple him
The ongoing war of words between a former Pakistani chief of army staff general and a former ISI chief, trading allegations and counter allegations in the supreme court and blaming each other for payment of millions of rupees among anti-Pakistan People's Party politicians to influence the results of the 1990 general elections, has abundantly made it clear how Pakistan's powerful military and intelligence establishment has been manipulating domestic politics for decades now.
"Over a dozen Islamic countries such as Pakistan, Tunisia, Morocco, Iran and Egypt have regulated triple talaq. If Islamic countries can regulate the practice by enacting law, and it has not been found against sharia, then how can it be wrong in India, which is a secular country?" Prasad said.
Ujjwal Nikam, special public prosecutor in 1993 serial blasts case, on Thursday said the Supreme Court upholding death penalty to Yakub Memon will send a strong message to the absconding accused in Pakistan that they will also be brought to book.
The panel, which has been set up by the Supreme Court to investigate the scandal that has shaken Pakistan's politics, has permitted the Pakistan-American businessman to depose from the UK after his lawyer said his client was prepared to record his statement at the Pakistani mission in London.
Justice N Santhosh Hegde, a former Supreme Court judge, told rediff.com that if the court accepted Kasab's version prima facie and convicted him on that basis, many aspects related to the Pakistan link will remain a mystery.
How does the country's civilian government reclaim legitimacy after the names of many Pakistanis, including the family members of PM Nawaz Sharif, figured in the leaked documents.
In a major blow to beleaguered Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, the supreme court on Friday rejected his appeal, asking him to appear before it on February 13 to frame contempt charges for not reopening graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.
Controversial Pakistan-origin American businessman Mansoor Ijaz on Saturday announced that he would be travelling to Pakistan to depose before the Supreme Court on the "memo scandal" to tell the truth.
Jaitley also dubbed Gandhi's attack on Modi as an attempt to shift the focus due to people's 'revulsion' towards the Congress party.
Controversial Pakistani-American businessman Mansoor Ijaz on Wednesday submitted his BlackBerry phone and "other evidences" to a Pakistan judicial commission probing the memo scandal that shook the country's powerful military as well as political establishments.
The ruling Pakistan Peoples Party on Saturday nominated former premier Yusuf Raza Gilani's son to contest the by-poll in his parliamentary constituency following his father's disqualification by the Supreme Court.Four days after the apex court disqualified Gilani due to his conviction of contempt, the PPP said his son Abdul Qadir Gilani would contest the by-poll in Multan constituency scheduled for July 19.
Leaders of the ruling Pakistan People's Party believe that the allegations of corruption levelled against Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry's son have some link to the Supreme Court's decision to disqualify Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.
The Pakistan government's top law officer told the supreme court on Monday it had no role to play in the disqualification of the Prime Minister, which could be decided only by the National Assembly speaker or the election commission.
"Under this circumstances, what should we do? Should we allow Muslim women to be continued to be exploited," he said.
A Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice of India S A Bobde, hearing a petition filed by lawyer Vineet Dhanda seeking stern legal action against those disturbing peace and harmony in the country in the name of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, said, "The country is going through a critical time, the endeavour must be to bring peace and such petitions do not help."
Observers said the victory was significant as it came in the wake of the former premier's conviction and disqualification by the apex court for refusing to reopen graft cases against President Asif Ali Zardari as well as growing disenchantment with the PPP-led government at the centre following widespread allegations of corruption.
Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has said that certain hidden forces are conspiring against democracy and the government in the country.
The Pakistan government has rejected former defence secretary Lieutenant General (retired) Khalid Naeem Lodhi's claim that he was sacked on charges of misconduct without being given a hearing, saying he had been fired in the "national interest".
He may have gone home briefly with the Supreme Court's permission but Pakistani virologist Khaleel Chisti has left behind a controversy by his remarks against the judiciary in India.
At loggerheads with the powerful army, the Pakistan government has issued a show-cause notice to the defence secretary for submitting an affidavit on the memo scandal to the Supreme Court without seeking approval from the defence minister. Lieutenant General (retired) Khalid Naeem Lodhi, considered to be very close to army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, was issued the notice last week.
A special session of Pakistan Parliament will be convened on Friday to elect a new premier following Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani's disqualification by the supreme court.
The Supreme Court on Monday issued a notice to the Centre on a PIL seeking direction to the government to raise before the International Criminal Court the issue of beheading and mutilation of the bodies of two Indian soldiers by Pakistan.
The apex court, hearing a contempt case against Premier Raja Pervez Ashraf over reopening of graft cases against Zardari, adjourned the matter for a day after the government sought time to make changes to the draft.
Pakistan's Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry has expressed surprise at authorities being unable to produce the official notification for the creation of the ISI's political cell, which has been active for decades.
