The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)-led governments political crisis has finally come to an end. Daily Times reported on the Pakistan PMs press conference on January 10: PM Yousaf Raza Gilani… bowed to the oppositions demands and lured PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif to once again come into the fold of friendship by assuring that he had accepted the challenge of implementing the PML-Ns ten-point charter of demands. Dawn added: The demands included that the government investigate corruption scandals,reduce non-development spending by one-third,and set up an independent election body. One of the demands,that a controversial fuel price hike be reversed,was already met by the government on Friday. Sharif accepted the gesture… and termed it as political maturity. Quoting Sharif,Daily Times stated that he said his party does not seek mid-term elections and wants the elected government to complete its full term. The News quoted him saying that the days of dirty politics are now over.
Supporting the assassin
An interior ministry report,carried in The News on January 11,quoted minister Rehman Malik: Mumtaz Qadri… is not a religious fanatic having extremist ideologies. The News also stated that the security of Aasia Bibi,accused of blasphemy,has been increased,her family has gone into hiding and is now living with assumed identities after Salman Taseers murder,fearing they may be killed in the same manner.
The Pope in his New Years address to ambassadors to the Vatican called upon Pakistan to end its controversial blasphemy law. PM Gilani,reported The News on January 13,sent an unambiguous and loud message to Pope Benedict XVI that Pakistan would act upon its own law,spurning his call to abrogate the blasphemy law.
Legal eagles preyed upon
A storm is waiting in the wings for Pakistans judiciary once again,Dawn reported on January 13: The Supreme Court… rejected the challenge to the constitution of the bench hearing contempt of court charges case against PCO judges… The oath of Justice Dogar,who was named the Supreme Court chief justice soon after former president Pervez Musharraf imposed a state of emergency in November 2007,was held unconstitutional on July 31 last year. The verdict also held illegal all actions taken by the former president,including the appointment of a number of judges.
A chilling event in the life of Justice Javed Iqbal,one of Pakistans prominent legal lights of the day,took place this week,reported The News on January 12: The parents of Supreme Court judge Justice Javed Iqbal were found murdered on Tuesday night at their Lahore residence. Justice Iqbal was heading a panel hearing the missing persons case,which has been going on since Musharrafs days in the presidency. He had submitted the panels report earlier this week.
Ol Joe on Kabul
US Vice President Joe Biden,during his short trip to Islamabad,managed to stir up a debate with the government. It was reported that during a meeting between Biden and PM Gilani,the former was told that Pakistan wouldnt tolerate a new great game in Afghanistan. Biden assuaged Pakistans fears,reported Dawn on January 12: The US… assured Pakistan of no boots on the ground and said it fully respects Pakistans sovereignty. An official source privy to the meeting between PM Gilani and Vice President Biden… said the US… acknowledged as legitimate Pakistans apprehensions about foreign intervention through Afghanistan.
