Washington, Mar. 14: The new United States strategy for Pakistan and Afghanistan would revolve around reconciliation with militants operating in tribal areas, because the US regards that at least seventy per cent insurgents in the region are reconcilable.

Dawn sources claimed that the Commander of US forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, General David Petraeus and special envoy Richard Holbrooke, met on Friday at Capitol Hill, and spent two hours explaining salient features of the new strategy to lawmakers.

Islamabad, Mar. 14 : Pakistan's Information and Broadcasting Minister, Sherry Rehman's resignation has surprised President Asif Ali Zardari.

On receiving the resignation, worried Zardari told Rehman that she had left him in difficult times.

In reply, Sherry Rehman said that she has resigned on principle that of late Benazir Bhutto.

Several sources, confirmed that Rehman had sent her resignation to the Prime Minister, Yousuf Raza Gilani who also expressed surprise over the decision.

Lahore, Mar. 14 : The Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (PML-N) has put in place several plans to avoid arrests of its leaders, and foil any attempt by the government to clamp down on the protest march participants.

According to sources, the party leaders held a meeting at an undisclosed location to discuss its strategy and future course of action, and to thwart the highhandedness of the Zardari administration.

Islamabad  - Pakistan's beleaguered President Asif Ali Zardari is seeking negotiations with opponents to end anti-government protests, his spokesman said Saturday as authorities intensified efforts to block a march for an independent judiciary.

Spokesman Farhatullah Babar said the government had decided after a meeting lasting several hours to pursue efforts to defuse tensions through dialogue, reconciliation and respect for the constitution.

Islamabad, Mar. 14: After the US and the UK advised their citizens against visiting Pakistan due to security threats, Western embassies may request the Pakistan Government to allow them to import armoured personnel carriers (APCs) for the protection of their senior staff.

Particularly, High Commissions of Commonwealth member countries in Islamabad are so anxious, that some of them have already acquired such vehicles for their senior officials.

“I am not aware of such measures, but our security staff does take measures from time-to-time, according to fresh advisory and threats,” The News quoted British High Commission spokesperson Jennifer Wilkes, as saying.

Karachi, Mar. 14: The former Pakistan Prime Minister and PML-N chief, Nawaz Sharif and his brother, sacked Punjab Chief Minister, Shahbaz Sharif may have garnered huge public support against the PPP led government and especially against President Asif Ali Zardari, but their voracious verbal attack on Zardari and continuous call to defy the government’s orders has now seen a case filed against them in the Sindh High Court (SHC) on charges of orchestrating a mutiny.