Pakistan's Imran Khan on the Taliban and Nawaz Sharif

We speak to the politician and we ask Bernie Sanders adviser, Jeffrey Sachs, if he will vote for Hillary Clinton.

Pakistans Premier kritisiert Steinigung

Nawaz Sharif hat die Steinigung einer schwangeren Frau in der pakistanischen Metropole Lahore als «vollkommen inakzeptabel» bezeichnet.

Nawaz Sharif Placed under House Arrest
Nawaz Sharif of Pakistan. Photo courtesy of Times Online
TIMESONLINE: Nawaz Sharif, the Pakistani opposition leader, was placed under house arrest for three days early this morning to stop him from joining an anti-government protest march that has raised fears of a return to military rule.

Hundreds of riot police surrounded his home in the eastern city of Lahore after negotiations with the government collapsed, despite the intervention of Hillary Clinton, the U.S. Secretary of State.

Police moved in after Mr Sharif, a former Prime Minister, gave a rousing speech to his supporters last night, urging them to take to the streets to "fight this obsolete system" of government.

"The winds of change are blowing, and nobody can stop them," he said.

"Whoever tries to stop them will be destroyed." >>> Jeremy Page, Lahore and Zahid Hussain, Islamabad | Sunday, March 15, 2009

TRIBUNE DE GENÈVE: Pakistan: l'opposant Nawaz Sharif défie son assignation à résidence

LAHORE | Le principal dirigeant de l'opposition pakistanaise, Nawaz Sharif, est sorti dimanche de sa villa de Lahore (est) pour prendre la parole devant ses partisans, défiant son assignation à résidence qu'il a qualifiée "d'illégale".

"Nous ne pouvons accepter cette décision. L'assignation à résidence est illégale et immorale. Toutes ces décisions sont contraires à la Constitution", a déclaré Nawaz Sharif, qui est sorti de sa villa où il était assigné à résidence depuis le matin pour s'adresser à une foule de ses partisans.

"Venez me rejoindre. Je quitte ma maison. L'heure est venue de marcher main dans la main. Ils ne peuvent nous arrêter", a lancé l'ancien Premier ministre.

"Ils ne peuvent contenir les émotions du peuple. Les gens ont attendu ce jour depuis longtemps", a-t-il ajouté. >>> AFP | Dimanche 15 Mars 2009

The Dawning of a New Dark Age (Paperback – USA) >>>
The Dawning of a New Dark Age (Hardcover – USA) >>>

Clouds Gather as ‘Sulky’ Musharraf Retreats to Bunker
THE GUARDIAN: In some ways life has changed little for Pakistan's president, Pervez Musharraf, since Monday's election. The retired general still trots out for afternoon tennis, aides say, and enjoys a game of bridge a few times a week. In the evenings he pulls on a cigar and, although he can't admit it, nurses a glass of whisky.

Visitors still call to see him at Army House, the marble-floored Rawalpindi residence of Pakistan's military chiefs, even though he retired three months ago. "It has been renamed Presidential Lodge," said spokesman Rashid Qureshi. "The normal routine is functioning."

But outside clouds are gathering. The spectacular rout of his Pakistan Muslim League (Q) party at the polls has shorn the retired commando of his political base, leaving him isolated and exposed.

"He's been sulking," said a senior party official. "He's retreated into a mental bunker, which is not healthy. He thinks everyone is out to get him and only listens to a small circle. It's a dangerous mindset to be in at this point in time. He could decide to hit back."

Musharraf's bad mood stems from the prospect of Nawaz Sharif, the rotund prime minister from Punjab he ousted in a 1999 coup and banished to Saudi Arabia a year later, returning to power. Sharif, who controls the second biggest party in parliament, the Pakistan Muslim League (N) has vowed to oust Musharraf at the earliest opportunity. "The nation has given its verdict. The sooner he accepts it the better," said Sharif.

But Musharraf, targeted at least twice by al-Qaida assassins, has a knack for survival. And he has at least one loyal friend left. Shortly after the electoral drubbing George Bush paused on a trip to Africa to pay warm tribute to him. He sounded less enthusiastic about Sharif's ascent. The message filtered quickly through the lines. In Washington the state department urged the opposition to work with Musharraf. In Islamabad American diplomats engaged in frantic talks with the opposition.

Senior officials from all parties told the Guardian they were trying to broker a deal that would ensure Musharraf stays in power. The PML (Q) official said his party was being pressured by US embassy officials hoping for a coalition between their party with Benazir Bhutto's Pakistan People's party, now led by her widower, Asif Ali Zardari.

"The Americans want a German-style grand coalition including the PPP," he said. "They want Musharraf to stick around, even if it's a diminished Musharraf." Clouds gather as 'sulky' Musharraf retreats to bunker: Despite US support, president is isolated in battle for power >>> By Declan Walsh in Islamabad

Mark Alexander (Paperback)
Mark Alexander (Hardback)

Gemeinsam gegen Musharraf
NEUE ZÜRCHER ZEITUNG: In Pakistan haben sich die früher rivalisierenden Oppositionsführer Benazir Bhutto und Nawaz Sharif auf ein Bündnis gegen den amtierenden Präsident Musharraf geeinigt. Dieser bemühte sich unterdessen um die Bildung einer Übergangsregierung, die bis zur geplanten Parlamentswahl am 9. Januar im Amt bleiben soll.

(sda/afp) Die beiden ehemaligen Regierungschefs hätten in einem Telefonat am Mittwoch vereinbart, ihre Differenzen zu vergessen, um einen «gemeinsamen Kampf» für einen Rücktritt Musharrafs zu führen, sagte der Chef von Sharifs Muslim-Liga (Nawaz), Raja Zafar-ul Haq, am Donnerstag der Nachrichtenagentur AFP.

Bhutto habe zugesichert, den Kampf im Land fortzusetzen, bis Musharraf sowohl die Armeeführung als auch das Präsidentenamt aufgebe. Sharif lebt derzeit in Saudiarabien im Exil. Gemeinsam gegen Musharraf: Pakistanische Oppositionspolitiker Bhutto und Sharif schliessen Bündnis (mehr)

Mark Alexander

Sharif’s Brief Return to Pakistan
BBC: Former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has been deported within hours of returning from exile.

After arriving at Islamabad airport he was arrested on charges of money laundering and put on a plane which later landed in Saudi Arabia.

Mr Sharif says he wants to challenge President Pervez Musharraf, who ousted him in a 1999 coup, ahead of elections.
Mr Sharif arrived in Pakistan weeks after the country's Supreme Court affirmed his right to return.

On board the plane which flew him to Pakistan from London, Mr Sharif told the BBC he wanted to help restore the rule of law.

"It's democracy versus dictatorship," he said. Pakistan deports ex-PM on return (more)

WATCH BBC VIDEO:
Nawaz Sharif Deported from Pakistan

Mark Alexander