Political activities will now be allowed in Pakistan's Federally Administrative Tribal Areas under a slew of reforms unveiled by President Asif Ali Zardari for the Taliban-infested tribal belt in a bid to extricate the lawless region from the grip of militants. Describing the move as a gift to the nation on Pakistan's 63rd Independence Day, Zardari said people in the seven tribal areas can now have an identity as they will be able to participate in political activities.
Pakistan's beleaguered President Asif Ali Zardari is ready to resign and call an early general elections if parties in the ruling coalition wanted him to take such a step, according to a media report on Thursday.
The Pakistani judicial commission investigating the memogate scandal on Wednesday issued a notice to President Asif Ali Zardari to present his views on the issue at the next hearing on January 9.
In a telephone conversation, senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Advani expressed hope that relations between the two neighbouring countries would improve during Zardari's tenure as president.
Pakistan's intelligence agencies are no longer backing outlawed groups like the Lashkar-e-Tayiba, which will not be allowed to use the country's soil for any acts of aggression, President Asif Ali Zardari has said.
Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari, who suddenly left Islamabad for Dubai reportedly to undergo some regular medical tests, is said to be on his way out, apparently under pressure from the powerful army.
In the first top-level contact between India and Pakistan after Mumbai attacks, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari will meet in Russia on the sidelines of a multilateral summit next week to break ice in the bilateral ties.
Dalbir Kaur, the sister of Sarabjit Singh -- who has been on death row in a Pakistani jail for over 20 years -- could not meet Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari during his visit to Ajmer Sharif where he offered a chaddar and prayed for peace in the Indian subcontinent on April 4.
Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Pawan Kumar Bansal on Monday asserted that terrorism issue had not taken a backseat in the talks with Pakistan President Asif Zardari and India had made this clear to him during his visit to the capital.
Tarun Vijay, the BJP MP, would like to ask President Asif Ali Zardari: 'Is the ease available to a Pakistani Muslim to visit his places of faith in India also available to an Indian Hindu to visit his places of worship in Pakistan?'
As India continues to push Pakistan to eliminate terrorism, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee has said he believes President Asif Ali Zardari is sincere about ending the menace, but underlined that his desire should be backed by actions. "I believe he (Zardari) has the desire to fight against terrorism," he said in an interview to a TV channel while describing the Pakistan President as a 'nice man and a gentleman'.
Acknowledging that his government had underestimated the threat from Taliban, Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari said the terrorist group was present in "huge amounts of land" in the country extending its reach beyond the tribal belt to larger cities like Peshawar.
The petitions challenging the NRO had said the law violated fundamental rights as no government has the right to quash corruption cases. The petitioners also contended that the ordinance was contrary to the constitution and asked for it to be scrapped.
Benazir Bhutto's husband said he would remain in politics and play an active role as a bridge between political forces for the restoration of democracy and the Constitution.
Speculation about Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari's future continued to run rife on Thursday despite US assertion that "a silent military coup" against him was unlikely.
Pakistan's ruling Pakistan People's Party chief Asif Ali Zardari appears set to sweep Saturday's presidential poll and would be expected to tackle problems like rising militancy and economic malaise after his election.Sources said that Zardari expects to poll over 60 per cent of the 700 members in the electoral college, in an election necessitated by former President Pervez Musharraf's resignation on August 18.
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.
Even as the talks between leaders of Pakistan's coalition government on restoration of deposed judges remain inconclusive, co-chairman of Pakistan People's Party Asif Ali Zardari has said the reinstatement would be brought about through a constitutional package. The PPP calls for reinstatement of judges through a constitutional package, but the PML-N insists that they should be restored through a parliamentary resolution, as initially agreed by the two parties.
The Swiss government has officially informed Pakistan that it cannot revive cases of alleged money laundering against President Asif Ali Zardari as the matter is time-barred, Law Minister Zahid Hamid has said.
Pakistan will move forward to resolve the Kashmir issue with India through a peaceful dialogue and the nation's new government will continue confidence-building measures initiated by the previous regime, Pakistan People's Party co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari said on Friday.
Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari says the raid by United States special forces to kill the world's most wanted terrorist Osama bin Laden deep inside his country was "not a joint operation."
Favouring a policy of 'soft borders' for Kashmir, Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has said greater contact between the people on the two side will pave the way for a final settlement of the issue.Citing the recent opening of the cross Line of Control trade 'as just one step to bring Kashmiris together', Zardari said this was a crucial move for ushering in peace and prosperity in the whole region.Zardari said his government is moving steadily to find an honourable solution
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh conveyed to Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari that India's concerns on terrorism have to be addressed and anti-India activities have to be stopped there if the people of India were to support and sustain progress in bilateral relations with Islamabad.
During his recent visit to China Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari proposed setiing up for an energy fund to finance projects in the country. B Raman reports
President Asif Zardari has said that he should have quit his position and led the Pakistan People's Party's campaign in order to ensure a better performance in the just concluded general election.
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.
Asked if he would agree to a power-sharing deal with Musharraf, Zardari told a magazine: "It's too early and our wounds are too deep to think of having any working relationship with the ruling party or President Pervez Musharraf."
Russia has promised all possible support to Pakistan in dealing with catastrophic floods, even as the second Russian Il-76 cargo plane with emergency relief is scheduled to land in Islamabad on Thursday.
The tussle between British Prime Minister David Cameron and Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari witnessed another twist with the latter rejecting Cameron's offer of hospitality.
In the first top-level meeting between India and Pakistan since Mumbai attacks, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will meet Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday and convey New Delhi's "unhappiness" over Islamabad's inaction against the terrorism.
President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday pledged that the people of Pakistan will continue the campaign against militancy and extremism to the finish as it was a fight for their survival and for protecting their values.
Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday said his country was 'fighting the war for its survival' and the military operation against the Taliban was the last resort against militants and extremists who challenged the writ of the state. He was talking to a delegation of parliamentarians from Swat and Malakand areas, where security forces are engaged in a major offensive against the militants, a statement from the President's Office said.
President Asif Ali Zardari has said the time has come for India and Pakistan to show greater understanding of each other's concerns and sensitivities and to "move beyond reiteration of their positions to more substantive results" in the peace process.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who left for New Delhi on Thursday morning on his way to Pakistan, is likely to meet Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf during his week long goodwill trip to the neighbouring country, according to an official in the state government.
"I say this because he is a man of courage and honour. He spent 11 years in prison without bending despite torture. He has the political stature to keep our party united," she said in the hand-written letter described by the PPP as Bhutto's political will, which was released to the media in Islamabad on Tuesday.
The US administration made hectic behind-the-scenes efforts to make the Pakistani president's India visit a success because US President Barack Obama wants the ongoing Washington-Taliban peace talks in Doha to be productive, which is impossible without Islamabad's support, reports Amir Mir from Islamabad
President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday granted a pardon and remitted two prison terms given to Interior Minister Rehman Malik hours after a Pakistani court dismissed the minister's appeal against his conviction in two corruption cases.
The United States on Wednesday dismissed Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari's view that the US-backed coalition forces are losing the war in Afghanistan, saying actions taken in the last several months were keeping in mind the hearts and minds of the Afghan people.
Under intense pressure from the United States and amidst escalating political standoff at home, the Pakistan government on Saturday decided to challenge the disqualification of Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz chief Nawaz Sharif and his brother Shahbaz from contesting elections, in a move seen as an attempt to defuse the crisis.
Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari decided to host a special Diwali dinner for Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on learning that his meeting with the visiting Indian leader coincided with the Hindu festival of lights, officials said on Tuesday.
