New York, Mar. 14 : The Pak-American Society is gathering in New York on Saturday to stage a protest against the ban on Geo News transmission in Pakistan.

"This is a dictatorial act perpetrated by a so called civilian government," The News quoted Pak-American Society President Sham-us-Zaman, as saying.

Many prominent politicians and lawyers, including Qazi Hussain Ahmed, Imran Khan and Ali Ahmed Kurd, are expected to address the protest gathering.

Later, a conference by the name `Geo and Jeevay Pakistan' will be held here which will be addressed through telephone by PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif, former President Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) Aitzaz Ahmed and PML-N Information Secretary Ahsan Iqbal.

Prague, Mar. 14: Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said that US drone strikes are causing “alienation” within his country.

“There is collateral damage that accompanies these attacks, and it leads to alienation,” The News quoted him, as saying.

Qureshi said any measure to root out extremism from Pakistan’s borders would have to be in consent with the regional population.

Lahore, Mar. 14: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz chief Nawaz Sharif has opened the door for reconciliation with President Asif Ali Zardari, by saying that he was ready to give Zardari “the next five years if he delivers on his pledges”.

“There is no need for back channel diplomacy or private and secret dialogue. I have not slammed my doors on dialogue. If Zardari showed sincerity, I am ready to give him another five years (after his tenure expires),” The Daily times quoted Sharif, as saying.

Lahore, Mar. 14 : The British Foreign Secretary, David Miliband called the former Prime Minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif to discuss the current political turmoil in the country, and to broker talks between the government and the PML-N.

According to The Daily Times, during the telephonic conversation between the two leaders, issues such as the current political situation and the scenario emerging out of the country wide lawyers' protest were discussed.

Islamabad, Mar 14: Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari outrightly rejected the US-UK backed reconciliation formula involving Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani and ordered a crackdown on the media to stifle the lawyers’ Long March.

After returning from Iran, Zardari held a series of meetings at the Presidency with his top constitutional aides and political friends who had actually advised him to get the Sharif brothers disqualified through the courts and then slap Governor’s rule over Punjab.