Washington, Sept.18: The increasing challenges to President Pervez Musharraf's grip on power are forcing the United States to explore an alternative course to keep its crucial ally on board in the "war against terror," former State Department officials and Pakistan experts in the US say.

Experts say that there is a sense in Washington that Pakistan is going through a period of political transition and that President General Musharraf needs greater popular legitimacy in order to muster grassroots support for the US counter-terrorism agenda.

Chandigarh: The giant Akali leader and the Punjab Chief Minister, Parkash Singh Badal has demanded a public apology from the UPA government.

London: Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has said that she cannot be deported from Pakistan like Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) chief Nawaz Sharif.

Bhutto said that she did not know how she would be welcomed on her return to Pakistan, but was not in the same boat as Sharif.

The News quoted her as saying that Sharif had bargained for his release from imprisonment and other cases in exchange for living abroad with his family and the foreign guarantees were provided for this.

Islamabad, Sep 14: Pakistan’s Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed has said that President Pervez Musharraf might face Constitutional problems in his re-election by the current assemblies if no deal is reached between him and former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

Rashid said it would become difficult for Musharraf to get re-elected by the present assemblies or pass any Constitutional amendment if a deal is not reached with Benazir.

Islamabad, Sep 14: The ruling Pakistan Muslim League (Qaumi) President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain has said that Sehba Musharraf would be a covering candidate for her husband President Pervez Musharraf in the presidential election.

Chaudhry Shujaat said that the PML-Q was ready to consult other parties to remove their reservations on the presidential poll.

The Daily Times quoted Shujaat as saying that he had no objections to the return of Kulsoom Nawaz, wife of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, to Pakistan.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said that there is a great need to pay more attention to the education of minorities and underclass pupils.