Aaj ki Khabrein

US, Russia dominate arms sales to developing countries (Jerusalem Post)
According US congressional report, military rivals Pakistan and India top the list as buyers, followed by Saudi Arabia and Venezuela...

Bhutto amnesty signed by Musharraf (Al-Jazeera)
Pakistan's president grants amnesty for former leader, boosting power-sharing deal...

Pakistan awaits court ruling on vote, Bhutto deal (Reuters)
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistan's Supreme Court is expected to rule on Friday on whether to suspend an election President Pervez Musharraf is set to win, just as he closes in on a power-sharing deal with former prime minister Benazir Bhutto...

Musharraf, Bhutto Strike Accord (Wall Street Journal)
Musharraf and Bhutto struck a tentative deal designed to allow the old foes to shepherd Pakistan from military rule to civilian government amid political tensions and militant violence...

'Army has no role in politics' (Times Of India)
The military ruler, who came to power 8 years ago in a bloodless coup by ousting former PM Nawaz Sharif, is seeking a second term in the October 6 presidential poll...

Hearing of petitions challenging Musharraf’s nomination completed (The News Pakistan)
ISLAMABAD: A 10-member larger bench of the Supreme Court completed hearing of the constitutional petitions Friday, challenging validation of General Musharraf...

Pak prez polls: SC gives go ahead (Times Of India)
Pakistan's Supreme Court has ruled that the weekend elections expected to extend President Gen. Pervez Musharraf's eight-year rule can proceed as planned...

Aaj Ki Khabrein

Pakistan's Bhutto optimistic about Musharraf deal ( Reuters)
LONDON (Reuters) - Pakistan's former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto said on Thursday she was optimistic that a political deal could be reached with President Pervez Musharraf, but had yet to hammer out a conclusive text.

Iran has right to pursue peaceful nuclear program: India (The News, Pakistan)
NEW DELHI: India has said that Iran has right to pursue a civilian nuclear programme for peaceful purposes. Maintaining that India has the best

Pak power-sharing talks in final stage (Times Of India)
The statement by Sheikh Rashid Ahmad, a minister close to President Musharraf, came as Bhutto said in London that the government is about to issue an amnesty.

Musharraf admits ISI's role in politics (Times Of India)
The Pakistan president has said that the military and intelligence set-up should have no political role so as to allow an impartial and transparent general election.

Aaj ki Khabrein...

Talks with Musharraf totally stalled, says Bhutto
The former Pakistani premier dismissed the amnesty offer over corruption cases and termed it a disinformation campaign...

Musharraf may share power with Bhutto: Report
A media report quoted a Cabinet minister as saying that Musharraf will not hesitate to share power with Bhutto, if she gains enough seats to be part of a government...

Pakistan's Bhutto says talks with Musharraf stalled
LONDON (Reuters) - Talks with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf aimed a reaching a power-sharing deal have...

Benazir has a place in future political set-up in Pak.: Rice
WASHINGTON: Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto does hold a position in the evolving situation in Pakistan but the people would have to determine when...

Musharraf’s candidature: SC issues notices to parties
ISLAMABAD: A larger bench of Supreme Court Wednesday issued notices to the parties and Attorney General during hearing of three constitutional petitio...

Musharraf says to doff uniform by Nov. 15 after re-election
ISLAMABAD: President Pervez Musharraf has said he will doff military uniform till Nov. 15 after getting re-elected on October 06. The president...

Daily News

Former ISI chief to succeed Musharraf as Army chief
ISLAMABAD: The former head of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence, Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, will succeed President Pervez Musharraf as Army chief, a military statement said, but gave no date for the succession. Promoted to the rank ...

Bhutto not to be prosecuted for corruption
Pakistan government's move to grant an amnesty from prosecution to the former premier, satisfied one of her key demands for a power-sharing deal with Musharraf.

Pakistan to Throw Out Bhutto Charges
Musharraf named a trusted ally to take over as head of Pakistan's army, and began steps toward giving Bhutto amnesty on corruption charges, in moves aimed at cementing his power should he be re-elected president Saturday.

Sharif exiled to Saudia -- Again

In a dramatic turn of events in the Pakistan’s volatile political scene, Pakistan’s Military government lead by General Musharraf, resorted to power tactics to throw Nawaz Sharif, the last democratically elected Premier into his second exile, back to Saudi Arabia. The government/ Musharraf argues that there was a deal brokered by Saudi Government/ Mr. Hariri that Binds Mr. Sharif from a- Returning to Pakistan for 10 years, b- Taking part in Pakistani Politics for ten years, c- getting out of Saudi Arabia for 10 years.

The current Military backed government maintains that Nawaz Sharif is not keeping his end of the bargain that has been propagated as a DEAL that was brokered while Mr. Sharif was in jail. How much of an option did he have as a captive is not discussed in the media a whole lot.

The matters were complicated when the Supreme Court of Pakistan decided to intervene and pass a verdict allowing Mr. Sharif to come back to the country. In the process the highest court of the country dismissed the document shown by the Attorney General as ‘Not a binding agreement’ since it did not have the signatures of both parties involved.

AFP reported on his second exile, following the events unfolding at Islamabad Airport,

“In a dramatic showdown at Islamabad airport, the 57-year-old Sharif refused to hand over his passport as he came home from seven years abroad, sparking an immediate confrontation and prompting police to board his plane.
The two-time premier, ousted by close US ally Musharraf in a bloodless 1999 coup, was then arrested on corruption charges and put on a plane to the Saudi city of Jeddah four hours after he touched down.”
The PML(N) workers still consider this an ongoing struggles and all is not lost just yet in their minds. According to AFP’s report,

“Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz party condemned his deportation and filed a legal challenge in the Supreme Court, saying the government was in contempt of court.
"I believe that the Saudi government has also interfered in Pakistan's internal affairs and shown disrespect to the constitution and the Supreme Court," party spokesman Siddique-ul Farooq told AFP.”

Most of the west, still sees Pakistan through the lens of Terrorism and Militancy, had their own opinion about Sharif’s second exile. For instant, Washington Post chose to run Pakistan Military’s skirmishes with the Militants in NWFP rather than the unfolding political chaos. Most of the western claims do not truly line up with their argument of supporting democracy and restoring the rights of the people, there were some statements made that seemed to be helping Sharif’s quest for returning to Pakistan. For instance EU issued a statement about adhering to the law, avoiding direct mention of Supreme Court.

On the other hand Benazir seems to be getting her way by way of US brokered deal that will see her become the new Prime Minister. How true does that statement remains, it still needs to be seen. For now she seems on course to come back and win the elections since her main Rival – Sharif- has been ousted by force once again.

"Mrs Bhutto has decided to travel to Pakistan," Bhutto's spokesman Wajid Hassan told Reuters Television in an interview. "She has planned it next month, probably. She will announce it on Sept. 14 as to the date of her arrival in Pakistan."
"She has got to go back and lead the party into the elections, to campaign for the party in the elections," Bhutto's spokesman said.
"I'm sure that there will be no compromise on it. She will go back and she will compete for the party and she will definitely win the elections."

As with all political nautanki, there sure seems to be more twist in this saga as there are too many players still on the table.

Political game on a Chess table

As Musharraf entered into talks with Benazir thinking her involvement will keep the stronger player, Nawaz, out of Power and out of Pakistan, the emboldened Supreme Court Justice Iftikhar chaudhry slammed a verdict that might make him think that he entered into negotiations with the wrong party. With the twist of fate, it seems that all of a sudden there are far more players on the political chess board than Musharraf would ever have imagined before March 9th. Judiciary, empowered by Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, Media empowered by their coverage of Judicial strikes and events surrounding it which Musharraf tried to stop by passing a bill against it, Benazir whom Musharraf engaged into negotiations before the fall of events, Ameica -- Of course, due to war on terror, the hardliner Muslim right that Musharraf managed to infuriate by pressing over Red Mosque issue which resulted in many suicide bombings soon after, and Nawaz Sharif who Musharraf thought was done and dusted, is soon to come back into the political scene. With so many players vying for power it would test Musharraf's political wisdom he's conjured up in the last 8 years, to all ends.

Ever since Musharraf came into power he made it clear that there is no room for the two ex-prime ministers that have each held power twice in the country. He has been pretty adamant on not cutting them any concessions whatsoever the circumstances may be. As fate has it or should I say 'the hand of God' the current political situation in Pakistan has forced him to reconsider his options. Bitter enemies are once again being brought together albeit their dislike. There are all sorts of news and analysis in the media as to which direction the current scenario of Pakistan's political future will take .

Reuters - Allies of Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf have raised objections to a power-sharing deal he is negotiating with former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, casting fresh doubt on the future of the embattled president. But many members of Musharraf's ruling Pakistan Muslim League (PML) are alarmed at the prospect of their old rival Bhutto returning from eight years of exile to take power from them. PML president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain said he had conveyed his reservations about parts of the proposed deal to Musharraf.

"We told him that there are certain things which are harmful for the country and the nation and they should be asked to review them," Hussain told Reuters on Friday, referring to Bhutto and her party and some of the demands they have been making.
Bhutto, who has been prime minister twice, wants the lifting of a ban on a person serving a third term. She also wants the president stripped of the power to dismiss governments, but Hussain said his party opposed those demands.

The New York Times analyzes the turmoil with a heading "Pakistan's Bhutto gambles on Musharraf", alleging her 'Deal' is due to the fact that she wants to come back having dropped all the corruption charges against her.

NYT: Exiled former leader Benazir Bhutto is gambling her future on a power-sharing deal with President Gen. Pervez Musharraf, hoping to revive a political dynasty.
Bhutto is urging Musharraf to step down as military chief and drop corruption charges so she can come home and compete in parliamentary elections due by January. In return, the U.S.-allied Musharraf gets to stay on for another five years as a powerful civilian president.
"For the first time in the history of Pakistan, from one end to the other end of Pakistan, there's complete unanimity: No more dictatorship," said Ghulam Mustafa Khar, a senior politician who has broken with Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party over her talks with Musharraf. "Now, Benazir stands up and says, 'Stay, Musharraf, stay!' ... That is something which is a nightmare for the people of Pakistan," he said.
Bhutto and Musharraf also argue that joining forces will strengthen Pakistan's efforts to combat extremism and prevent the kind of political chaos that could prompt another burst of martial law. "I am trying to convince (party colleagues) that the international community and the armed forces have confidence in Musharraf, and therefore we need to work out a solution" with him, she told The Washington Post recently.
Khar was a close colleague of her father, party founder Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, who was hanged on murder charges in 1979 after his ouster in an earlier military coup. By entering talks with Musharraf, Bhutto has offended the party's "long history of struggle against dictatorship," Khar said. Khar accused her of betraying her party's values by reaching out to a man who toppled Pakistan's last civilian government and has lost public support at home and abroad for recently trying to fire the country's top judge. "This is one thing that I have not even visualized or dreamt," he said.
If Bhutto fights only for her own immunity from prosecution, she will lose further credibility, said political columnist Ayaz Amir. But if she gets Musharraf out of his army post, she can claim to have broken a political deadlock. "Then the People's Party will go to town and say, 'Look here, no one else could do this, and we've done it ... We won this great victory for democracy,'" said Amir, a former lawmaker in Sharif's party now writing for the Dawn newspaper.
Sharif, poised to profit from any hiccups, says Bhutto has committed a "gross violation" of an agreement with him and other opposition parties not to talk with Musharraf. But the embrace of an army discredited by eight years of military rule could see her lose the upcoming election, said Talat Masood, a former Pakistani army general turned political analyst. "As a pillar of anti-establishment, she has become the supporter of establishment. It's a big departure in ideological terms," he said. "The die-hard support that she had received from a certain class of people all along will be seriously impaired." Masood counted himself among Bhutto's well-wishers but worried that "she has lost touch with the people in these last few years that she has been away. It's the support of the people that's important. If you get that, you are in a much more advantageous position than even having the support of the uniform," he said.

Pakistan's politics will get to see more of the same old. In an interesting twist of turns it seems that both the heads of the strongest parties that Musharraf tried so hard to keep away for 8 years seem to be coming back, not exactly as he planned.

BBC analyzed that the government is keeping all it's options open after Sharif's announcement to come back on Sep 10th, before the holy Month of Ramadan, "Pakistan's government is keeping all options open after exiled former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif announced plans to return next month, a minister says...Another former Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto, is demanding a response before the weekend to her terms for a power-sharing deal with Gen Musharraf...On Thursday, the US reminded Gen Musharraf of his commitment to resign his army position before contesting elections. 'We expect him to honour that commitment," said a US spokesman'."

Muhammad Ali Durrani, the Information Minister, had a different say about the whole scenario. while speaking to BBC he said, "The government is keeping all options open on Nawaz Sharif's return, If he comes back, we will make a strategy."
That may also mean that government might consider negotiating with Sharif, since he still has quite a few well wishers in Mushrraf's own PML(Q), who'd rather align with Nawaz Sharif than Benazir.

Mr Sharif seems to be playing his legal and political position wisely. Let's not forget that pre-1998 coup, he was the only politician to have come into the office in Pakitan with clear majority. He announced his return a week after Pakistan Supreme court defied the government and ruled that being a citizen of Pakistan he has a legal right to go back to his home country.Government and independent think tanks say that Mr Sharif could still face jail if he returns.
Mr Sharif reiterated that he wants to "start a decisive struggle against dictatorship", and said that it would be unfortunate if Benazir made a deal with the General. "I disagree with Ms Bhutto's current policy of shaking hands with a dictator," he said.

Chronology of Current Events

9th March: Musharraf suspends Iftikhar Chaudhry ( Chief Justice) for "abuse of power". Lawyers start their protest which will go on for a couple of months to come.
April: Protests grow larger and violent with quite a few clashes with police.
12 May: Iftikhar Chaudhry arrives in Karachi for his pre-announced/ pre-planned visit which sparks clashes between rival political parties. 34 people die and images a broadcasted live on TV.
11 July: Stand off at Red Mosque picks up pace while the Chief Justice predicament is being played out. eventually on this date 102 people die when army decides to take action against alleged militants in the mosque. Opposition/Judiciary blames the government for trying to play 'kill bill' and taking the focus away from the Chief Justice issue.
July-Aug: Sharp rise in suicide attacks by pro-Taliban militants, the reasons are liked with the Red Mosque debacle.
20 July: Supreme Court reinstates chief justice in a historic decision.
9 Aug: Musharraf rejects emergency rule after a call from Condoleeza Rice, even though the media reports that it was imminent and decided by Musharraf in a meeting.
23 Aug: Supreme Court says exiled ex-PM Nawaz Sharif can return and dismisses the evidence provided by attorney General as a legal agreement since it was only signed by Nawaz and not by any 2nd party.