Pakistan

Benazir to land in Karachi on October 18

Islamabad, Sept 14: Pakistan People's Party chairperson, Benazir Bhutto will be landing at the Karachi airport on October 18, ending her eight years of exile.

This was announced today simultaneously by her party from eight different locations in Pakistan.

PPP vice-chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim and information-secretary Sherry Rehman announced the programme of Benazir's return in Islamabad amidst a huge crowd of former Prime Minister's supporters.

After landing at Karachi, she is expected to visit the mausoleum of Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

French missile sale to Pakistan may ultimately land in Chinese hands

New Delhi, Sept 14: Pakistan is presently negotiating with the French Government to buy air-to-air missiles and radars for its JF-17 fighter aircraft, but there are apprehensions that this European technology could fall into Chinese hands.

Experts say a possibility exists of circumventing a European arms embargo on China that has been in place since the Chinese military crushed pro-democracy protests in 1989.

Famed Pak singer Reshma seeks Musharraf’s help to get land

Lahore, Sep 14: Ailing Punjabi folk singer Reshma has requested President Pervez Musharraf to help her get a residential plot that he had ordered for her in Islamabad, and also support her in the completion of a mosque she started five years ago near Shahdara.

The 59-year-old singer, admitted to a Gulberg hospital, is suffering from high blood pressure, general weakness and a sore intestine.

Prior to her present illness, Reshma was admitted to a hospital in London, a couple of weeks ago.

I cannot be deported from Pakistan like Sharif: Benazir

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.

Musharraf may face problems in re-election without deal with Benazir: Pak minister

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.

US for peaceful transfer of power in Pak: Negroponte

Islamabad, Sep 14: The United States wants free and fair elections in Pakistan, and a peaceful transfer of power to strengthen democracy in the country, US Deputy Secretary of State, John D Negroponte, has said.

Negroponte briefed Musharraf about progress in the Pakistan-US Strategic Dialogue, Geo TV quoted sources in the presidential camp, as saying.

Musharraf told Negroponte that Pakistan’s commitment to the war on terrorism was beyond doubt, as the fight was in the country’s interest.

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