Pakistan Taliban Leader Reportedly Dead – But not true.

Baitullah, blamed by the government and US intelligence for the assassination of Bhutto late last year, was the most wanted man by Pakistani and US intelligence agencies. He has strongly denied responsibility and accused the army of propagating such reports to cover the alleged involvement of military officers in the assassination.

Bhutto’s Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has not accepted the government claim and said that before the assassination Baitullah had sent a message to Bhutto that he would pose no threat to her. >>>>>

Pakistan heads for fresh crisis as coalition collapses in acrimony

…Sharif and the Pakistan People’s Party were vicious rivals in the 1990s, alternating in power until the military coup in 1999 – led by then army chief General Musharraf, who described the period as the “dreadful decade of democracy”. The power struggle between the two parties, now revived, is likely to be first felt over the provincial government of the Punjab, currently held by Mr Sharif’s party.  >>>>>

Accord on deposed judges

Islamabad: Pakistan ruling coalition on Friday agreed to move a parliamentary resolution this week to restore the dozens of judges deposed by former president Pervez Musharraf last year.  >>>>>

Deadlock and death in inauspicious start to Pakistan post-Musharraf

Post-Musharraf Pakistan got off to an inauspicious start yesterday, after a meeting of the coalition government resulted in deadlock over the key issue of the judiciary, and Taliban militants demonstrated that their violent campaign would continue with a suicide bombing that killed at least 27.

Pervez Musharraf resigned as Pakistan’s president on Monday in order to avoid impeachment following a series of crises, starting with the sacking in March 2007 of the country’s chief justice.  >>>>>

President Musharraf of Pakistan Resigns

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Under pressure over impending impeachment charges, President Pervez Musharraf announced he would resign Monday, ending nearly nine years as one of the United States’ most important allies in the campaign against terrorism.  >>>>>