Islamabad, Mar 8 : The wife of Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari's close friend has got a lucrative diplomatic posting abroad.

Observers alleged that Shehnaz Mazhar had won the position - a community welfare attaché in London - on political grounds.

Shehnaz is the wife of Pir Mazharul Haq, a senior minister in the Sindh cabinet and a close aide of Zardari.

"This is not a new appointment. It was made a couple of months ago," The Dawn quoted Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit, as saying.

Islamabad, Mar. 8 : Last Tuesday's attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team re- emphasizes the fact that the civilian government of President Asif Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani is no more effective than the military rule promoted by President General Pervez Musharraf.

The present administration, according to The Independent, has abjectly failed to stem the brutal advance of militancy across Pakistan.

Lahore, Mar. 7: Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (PML-N) leader and deposed Punjab Chief Minister, Shahbaz Sharif has charged President Asif Ali Zardari of fooling Pakistani civilians.

Addressing a public rally here, Sharif said Zardari is making mockery of democracy in the country.

“President Zardari repeatedly mocked the people of Pakistan. The nation will not forgive him for his sins,” The News quoted Sharif, as saying.

Islamabad - Businesses remained closed and thousands held protest rallies in Pakistan's largest province of Punjab on Friday against President Asif Ali Zardari, the widower of slain former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.

Thousands of people thronged in Lahore, the provincial capital of Punjab, to register protest against a court ruling that banned the top opposition leader and two-time Premier Nawaz Sharif from elected office.

Sharif says Zardari's loyal judges gave the ruling on his orders, because of a criminal conviction after his government was ousted in 1999 by the then military chief Pervez Musharraf.

Islamabad, Mar. 6 : Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has said that he is ready to mend ways with former Prime Minister and Pakistan Muslim League -Nawaz (PML-N) chief, Nawaz Sharif.

In a meeting with Awami National Party (ANP) leader Asfandyar Wali Khan and Jamiat Ulema Islam (JUI) chief, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Zaradri asked the PML-N to restrain itself from attacking the government, and added that he was ready to think about confidence building measures with Sharif.

Islamabad, Mar. 4 : Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has assured Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama that the investigation into the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team on Tuesday, is making progress.

"Progress has been made in the investigation and the perpetrators will be exposed and brought to justice," The News quoted Zardari, as saying.

Zardari told Bogollagama that the terrorists would be caught and dealt "with iron hands".