Pak premier turns down Bakhtiar146;s resignation

Bakhtiar, who was apparently miffed at being removed as the chief of the women8217;s wing of PML-Q soon after the edict was issued against her, had said she resigned because of the malicious criticism following the incident.

However, Aziz today clarified that her removal as president of the women8217;s wing had nothing do with the fatwa issued against her by radical clerics of Lal Masjid.

Aziz, apparently in consultations with President Musharraf, rejected Bakhtiar8217;s resignation and asked her to continue. He said Bakhtiar was needed in the cabinet and she should carry on with her duties, officials here said.

The radical clerics of Lal Masjid in Islamabad issued a fatwa against her after newspapers published a photograph of her hugging the para trainer at a show in Paris held to raise funds for 2005 earthquake victims.

It was believed that Bakhtiar was forced to quit the party post due to pressure from party leaders as PML-Q President Shujaat Hussain was appointed by the government to negotiate with the Lal Masjid clerics to end the stand off over imposing Shariah in the country.