Sharif Under House Arrest as Crisis Builds in Pakistan

Staff / Truthdig Mar 15, 2009 Pakistan's former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was placed under house arrest in Lahore on Sunday as opposition groups prepared to march on Islamabad to call for the reinstatement of judges deposed by former President Pervez Musharraf Pakistan's current president, Asif Ali Zardari, had said shortly after taking power last fall that he would reverse his predecessor's ruling but has yet to make good on his pledge Update 2: Crisis averted (sort of) for now. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Fatwa Issued Against Pakistani President for ‘Flirting’ With Palin

Staff / Truthdig Sep 30, 2008 Tina Fey, in character again as Sarah Palin for last weekend's "Saturday Night Live," made light of how the Republican vice presidential candidate was "literally" embraced by "a couple of them Pakistani guys" she met at the United Nations last week. Unfortunately for Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, though, the prayer leader of Islamabad's Red Mosque isn't laughing about Zardari's encounter with Palin last Thursday. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Dozens Killed in Pakistan Hotel Bombing

Staff / Truthdig Sep 20, 2008 At least 40 people were killed and scores more injured Saturday when a truck bomb detonated near the entrance of the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad, Pakistan -- a destination for Westerners and other visitors to the Pakistani capital city -- as heads of state dined at the prime minister's house nearby. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Quagmire, Phase 2: The Invasion of Pakistan

William Pfaff / Truthdig Sep 12, 2008 The United States has just invaded Cambodia. The name of Cambodia this time is Pakistan, but otherwise it's the same story as in Indochina in 1970. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Bhutto’s Widower Assumes Presidency in Pakistan

Staff / Truthdig Sep 11, 2008 Asif Ali Zardari, widower of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, assumed the presidency of Pakistan on Tuesday, concluding a transfer of power that began with the resignation of former President Pervez Musharraf just two weeks ago. Zardari's presidency is likely to be one of conflict, as an ongoing Taliban resurgence and a 26 percent approval rating already riddle his first days in office. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Bhutto’s Husband Wins Pakistan Presidency

Staff / Truthdig Sep 7, 2008 Pakistan will have a new president, Asif Ali Zardari. The widower of slain Pakistani politician Benazir Bhutto has successfully continued along his wife's path, drawing upon the support of her allies to emerge the victor by a wide margin in the election held to replace Pervez Musharraf, who stepped down as president in mid-August. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Pakistani President Musharraf Resigns

Staff / Truthdig Aug 18, 2008 After months of mounting pressure and speculation, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf announced Monday that he is stepping down, but not before defending his legacy, challenging his detractors and admitting that he "may have committed follies." Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Impeachment Threat Looms for Musharraf

Staff / Truthdig Aug 8, 2008 For several months, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf's political fate has hung in the balance, as last year's state-of-emergency ordeal made all too clear. Now, the situation in Pakistan is becoming critical, with Musharraf's opponents calling for his impeachment. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Bush Hosts Pakistani PM Right After U.S. Attack

Staff / Truthdig Jul 29, 2008 President Bush had words of praise for Pakistan during his first meet-and-greet with Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani at the White House on Monday, a meeting in which the subject of the U.S. missile attack on the Pakistani-Afghan border mere hours before was not brought up by either party. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

McCain’s $300M Sweepstakes

Staff / Truthdig Jun 24, 2008 John McCain is showing his commitment to lessening America's dependence on foreign oil by offering a $300 million prize to anyone who can conjure up a superior automobile battery, energy-wise, than the current standard. But at the same time, he's supporting Bush's push to lift the ban on drilling in U.S. coastal waters. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Pakistan Assembly Elects First Female Speaker

Staff / Truthdig Mar 19, 2008 The Pakistani National Assembly on Wednesday elected Fehmida Mirza to be the country's first female speaker. The selection of Mirza, a leading member of the late Benazir Bhutto's Pakistan Peoples Party, marks the first significant transfer of power since opposition parties won a majority of seats in February's general elections. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Bhutto’s Husband Won’t Seek PM Position

Staff / Truthdig Feb 21, 2008 Although the late Benazir Bhutto's party, the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), fared well in Monday's parliamentary election, her widower, Asif Ali Zardari (a controversial figure known in some circles as "Mr. Ten Percent"), isn't planning to follow in her footsteps as Pakistan's prime minister. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )