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Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf declared his resignation from his post on Monday. Meanwhile Senate Chairman Mohd Mian Soomro will take over as Acting President.

Ending his nine-year reign since 1999, Musharraf said, “For the sake of the nation and people, I’m resigning. I don’t want anything from anybody. I’m not vindictive. Let the people be the judges. Let them do justice. I’m going with the belief that I have done everything for the nation with honesty.”

While addressing to nation Musharraf said, “I’m worried Pakistan is going down abyss rapidly, poor people are being affected.” Quoting recent opinion polls, Musharraf said that 80% of the population wanted him to stay.

“But I’m resigning so that there should be no more uncertainty in Pakistan,” he added.

Musharraf resigned in wake of a humiliating impeachment move, but his tenure was in a state of decline ever since he imposed emergency to pre-empt a judicial ruling on his October 2007 re-election, revoked the measure and quit as army chief under intense international and domestic pressure, entering uncharted waters as a civilian president.

“I may win or lose impeachment, but the people, the nation will definitely lose. I love Pakistan. I’m ready to give my life for the nation. I will never do anything that puts nation in the peril.” He said.

Musharraf recalled the days of his time in power. He talked about the GDP which was at 7% as late as December 2007 and that Pakistan was rated high by international rating agencies. But over the past eight months, the economy has begun a downslide, with foreign exchange reserves, stock exchange, currency rates falling. Prices of all essential commodities have also increased, he added.

Worried and emotional Musharraf said, “When I took over Pakistan’s reign in 1999, the country was in tatters. It was set to be declared a terrorist state. I have worked hard for last eight years and turned challenges into opportunities. I am proud I have kept Pakistan intact.”

During his farewell, Musharraf inspected the guard of honor presented by a tri-services contingent on the forecourt of the Presidency. A military band played martial tunes during the brief ceremony.

Musharraf then shook hands with members of his staff at the Presidency before leaving the imposing building in the heart of Islamabad for the last time. He then drove to his camp office in the nearby garrison city of Rawalpindi.

Finally before leaving, Musharraf said, “I thank the defence forces for their loyalty and also the people of Pakistan for the love they bestowed on me. I’m a common man, part of the middle class. I know their difficulties. I hope the government looks into it.”

He prayed for his nation. He called upon ‘Allah’ to keep his Pakistan safe and solve the problems of its people. He ended his words saying, “Pakistan Khuda Hafiz.”

There are rumors that Musharraf might go in exile. Reports also suggested that a Saudi plane is on a standby at the Rawalpindi airport, fuelling speculation that Musharraf might fly to Saudi Arabia after his address to seek asylum in the Islamic Kingdom.

Tags: Musharraf, Pakistan, Parvej Musharraf, President, Resignation

A day after a bomb blast near Pakistan’s capital city Islamabad’s Lal Masjid killed 20 people, one more deadly serial bomb blast in Pakistan’s port city of Karachi killed 5 persons and left more than 50 others injured on Monday.

The six “low-intensity” explosions occurred in Banaras Chowk, Orangi town, Shahrah-e-Noor, Paharganj, Qasba mor and Mangho pir areas, police said.

“There were a series of blasts in Karachi which were of low intensity and have not caused any damage to property,” Karachi police Chief Waseem Ahmed said.

Reportedly, at least nine people were injured in Banaras Chowk while five people were wounded in a blast in a minibus in Shahrah-e-Noor area.

Ahmed claimed that the blasts were apparently carried out to create an atmosphere of fear and tension only.

Hours after Islamabad explosion, Islamic hardliners took out a rally demanding President Pervez Musharraf’s public hanging.

The police were on high alert and have taken all measures the secure the life and property of people. Injured were already rushed to hospitals. People are scared of the successive incidents of bombing.

Tags: bomb blast, Karachi, Musharraf, Pakistan

Former Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif targeted President Pervez Musharraf on Saturday saying that “he must be hanged”.

While about 20,000 protesters assembled on Friday night near Parliament in Islamabad to demand the restoration of judges sacked by the embattled ex-military ruler, Sharif said that he should be held accountable for abrogating the constitution and the 1999 coup, when then army chief Musharraf ousted Sharif.

Crowd was demanding the reinstatement of the judges deposed during last year’s emergency and was chanting slogans like “Go Musharraf go” and “Hang Musharraf”

Attacking at Musharaff Sharif said in his speech, “Listen Pervez Musharraf! We had said that you should accept the people’s verdict (in the February 18 general election) and give up your post and go home with dignity. You did not accept the people’s decision.”

“Now the people have given a new judgment for you — they want you to be held accountable.”

Sharif added: “Mr Musharraf, the people’s jigar does not want just your removal. You must account for all your actions over the past eight and half years. You cannot be given a safe exit.”

Tags: Musharraf, Nawaj, Nawaj sharif, Pakistan

All hopes of the release of Indian national Sarabjit Singh is shattered when Pakistan President’s office on Thursday said that no mercy petition for him is currently pending with it and hence Sarabjit’s death sentence stands as it is.

Sarabjit’s family, who finally reached Pakistan yesterday afternoon to meet him in Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat jail, were thinking to meet Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to appeal for his release.

President Pervez Musharraf’s spokesman Maj Gen (retired) Rashid Qureshi said a mercy petition received by the presidency some time ago from Sarabjit’s family had been forwarded to the interior ministry.

“There is nothing (related to Sarabjit Singh’s case that is currently pending) with the presidency,” Qureshi said.

The spokesman made it clear that he was speaking on behalf of the presidency and not the government. The interior ministry will have to consider the petition from Sarabjit’s family and pass on its recommendations to the Prime Minister’s secretariat.

Former Pakistani human rights minister Ansar Burney also had submitted a fresh mercy petition on behalf of Sarabjit to Musharraf, asking for his death sentence to be converted to life imprisonment as the case against him was “weak”.

However, Qureshi made it clear that no fresh petitions had been received by the President’s office.

“The President acts only on the recommendations of the Prime Minister,” Qureshi said.

Sarabjit has already spent 18 years on death row. Sarabjit is scheduled to be hanged on May 01.

Official sources said the Indian government had taken up Sarabjit`s case with the new coalition government led by the PPP shortly after it assumed office last month.

Sarabjit is suspected by Pakistan government for alleged involvement in four Lahore bomb blasts in 1990 that killed 14 people.

Tags: India, Musharraf, Pakistan, Sarabjit Singh

Pakistan’s new government has conducted first missile test firing a 2000 Km range, nuclear-capable, ballistic missile after assuming office last month by Prime Minister Yousuf Gilani.

The successful launch of nuclear-capable Hatf-VI or Shaheen-2 missile was conducted on Saturday successfully from an undisclosed location.

“The missile Hatf-VI (Shaheen-2) has a range of 2000 km and can carry both nuclear and conventional warheads,” the military said in a statement.

The launch was “part of the process of validation and technical improvements to consolidate and verify various land-based strategic missile systems”, the statement said.

The Shaheen-2 was first tested in 2004. Pakistan conducted a series of missile tests between December last year and February in the run-up to the General Election that was swept by Musharraf`s opponents in the Pakistan People’s Party and PML-N.

New Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani watched the missile test and congratulated engineers and scientists for achieving an “important milestone” in Pakistan`s quest for sustaining strategic balance in South Asia, it said.

In a message, President Pervez Musharraf too congratulated the strategic organizations on the successful testing of the missile.

The South Asian neighbors, who conducted tit-for-tat nuclear weapons tests in 1998, inform each other of missile tests in advance.

The military cited Gillani as saying the missile and nuclear program enjoyed complete national consensus and would continue to be consolidated and strengthened.

“He made it clear that Pakistan`s strategy of credible minimum deterrence is fully in place and is a guarantee of peace in the region,” the military said.

Gilani assured that the country’s defense needs would remain a high priority with the elected government.

Tags: Missile, Musharraf, Pakistan

Pakistan Government has finally granted five visas to Indian prisoner Sarabjit’s family. The family of Sarabjit, who is on the death row in Pakistan jail, will finally get to see him after around 18 years.

His wife Sukhpreet Kaur, daughters Swapandeep and Poonam, Sister Dalbir Kaur and her husband Baldev Singh are going to reach Lahore and Nankana Sahib, and meet Sarabjit perhaps once before he goes to the gallows on April 31.

All the family members are very excited to see him and there is a ray of hope to take him back from Pakistan. Dalbir Kaur said the family would leave for Pakistan Sunday by road. ‘I am so happy that I can’t express it. I have hope that he will be pardoned now,’ she said.

‘The Pakistani people are like my kith and kin. So, if I go to my brothers and sisters and put my plea to them, I am sure they will listen,’ she said.

Sarabjit’s wife Sukhpreet Kaur said in Amritsar that they will carry sweets for him. ‘He was very fond of kheer (sweet milk and rice) and petha. We will carry it for him,’ she said.

The visas have to be availed within a month and are valid for a stay of 7 days only. The family is allowed to visit Lahore and Nankana Sahib only.

Sarabjit is going to be executed on April 1 which was later deferred to April 30 after a plea of clemency from the Indian government.

Last week, Burney traveled to India to meet with the family members to ‘check their story’. He had then promised to fight Sarabjit’s case in Pakistan in ‘light of new evidence’.

Sarabjit’s family claimed that he is innocent and unknowingly crossed the border but the Pakistan government accused him as a spy and blamed him for Lahore bomb blast killing 14 people in 1990. Pakistan government identifies him as Manjit Singh instead of Sarabjit.

The members want to meet President Musharraf and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani to present their petition for mercy.

Tags: India, Musharraf, Pakistan, Sarabjit Singh

As soon as Yousuf Raza Gillani is elected the new Prime Minister of Pakistan, he gave an order of the release of the Pak Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.

The barricades around the judge’s enclave and the security forces deployed in front of Chaudhry’s house in the Judges Enclave in Islamabad were immediately removed and the justice enjoyed a breathe of freedom.

The justice came out of the house after five long months of custody and celebrated his release with his supporters at the streets of Islamabaad.

The order is in keeping with the terms of an accord of signed by the PML (N) and the PPP, as part of a power sharing deal. The accord lists reinstating the chief justice and other sacked judges and one of the first goals of the new governments.

PML (N) chief Nawaz Sharif has reiterated that the judges would be reinstated within 30 days of the new government taking office.

Gillani bagged 264 votes out 342 trouncing the opposition leader, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain who got just 42 votes. The PPP stalwart will be sworn in tomorrow by Musharraf at a ceremony at the Aiwan-e-Sadr or presidency at 1130 IST.

Tags: Chaudry, Gilani, Musharraf, Pakistan