Islamabad, Feb 20 : President Asif Ali Zardari has directed the provincial government of Punjab to take immediate steps to provide speedy relief to Mukhtaran Mai and also ensure her security against harassment by culprits.

Taking notice of various media reports in which it was pointed out that Mukhtaran Mai is being subjected to harassment by some influential people, Zardari instructed the provincial government that justice should be delivered without fear or favour.

London, Feb. 19 : Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari considers his critics and supporters of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, as rivals and a potential threat to his supremacy, a Telegraph report suggests.

Zardari has initiated disciplinary action against Dr Safdar Abbasi and his wife, Naheed Khan, a close associate of Bhutto, for their open criticism of his rule.

Lahore, Feb. 19 : Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl chief Fazlur Rehman has said the sharia-deal between the NWFP government and the TNSM in Malakand division enjoyed the complete backing of President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.

Fazl said the pact had been approved after a meeting of representatives of the NWFP government with President Zardari and Prime Minister Gilani, the Daily Times reports.

Earlier, the North West Frontier Province Government had signed a pact with Tehreek-e-Nifaz-e-Shariat Muhammadi leader Maulana Sufi Muhammad on the implementation of `sharia' in the Swat Valley's Malakand division.

Islamabad, Feb. 18 : Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has said Pakistan is facing a difficult situation as terrorist groups want to impose their agenda across the country, thus posing a direct threat to democracy.

Speaking on the occasion of first anniversary of the general election here, Zardari urged his countrymen to unite and fight against the threat.

Lahore, Feb 17 : Four Pakistan cricketers whose contracts have been `suspended' by the Indian Premier League (IPL) have appealed to President Asif Ali Zardari to compensate them for the loss in earnings brought about by the government's decision to not allow them to travel to India to take part.

Though the federal sports ministry had allowed the players to travel across the border for the tournament, the Foreign Ministry barred them from doing so, reportedly over concerns about the players' security in India.

Islamabad, Feb 17: Pakistani Information Minister Sherry Rehman has said that an agreement between a provincial government and an Islamic group to set up Islamic courts has not been signed by President Asif Ali Zardari yet.

Dawn News TV quoted Sherry Rehman as saying that President Zardari would not sign the agreement unless the peace was restored in the district.