The delicate balance of power in the wake of Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf's resignation took a heavy blow Monday, as the ruling political coalition collapsed. Merely one week after Mr. Musharraf was forced out as leader of Pakistan, the coalition that was united in its dislike of the military leader fell apart over how to deal with the courts. Nawaz Sharif, the former prime minister who had been overthrown by Mr. Musharraf, announced Monday that he was pulling his party out of the coalition because it failed to restore judges fired by Mr. Musharraf or agree to a neutral replacement for the ousted president.Mr. Musharraf purged more than 60 judges last November in an effort to consolidate his support. With their common foe gone, the coalition that drove him from office has frayed over unkept promises to restore the judges and Mr. Zardari's decision to seek the presidency.The announcement came shortly after Asif Ali Zardari, the coalition leader and widower of the slain premier Benazir Bhutto, announced his candidacy in the election to replace Mr. Musharraf. "We have been forced to leave the coalition," Mr. Sharif said in Islamabad. "We joined the coalition with full sincerity for the restoration of democracy. Unfortunately all the promises were not honored."Mr. Sharif vowed to play a "constructive" role while in the opposition.
__________________
Legendary Urdu poet Ahmed Faraz, a passionate proponent of progress and democracy in Pakistan, has died after a prolonged illness at the age of 77.
Faraz, who was suffering from a kidney disease and had returned to Pakistan from the US after falling seriously ill there last month, died in a private hospital here late on Monday night. He is survived by wife and two sons.
Outspoken on political issues, Faraz went into self-imposed exile during the rule of military dictator General Zia-ul-Haq.
He was also arrested during that period for reciting poems critical of military rule. He stayed for three years in Britain, Canada and Europe before returning to Pakistan.
Faraz, considered one of the best poets of Pakistan, was born in Nowshera on January 14, 1931. His real name was Syed Ahmed Shah.
The Pashto-speaking Faraz learned and studied Persian and Urdu at the Peshawar University, where he also taught later.
He also served as chairman of the Academy of Letters and headed the Islamabad-based National Book Foundation for several years.
The recipient of many national and international awards, he was inspired by Pakistan People's Party founder Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. In 2004, he was awarded the 'Hilal-e-Imtiaz' in recognition of his literary achievements.
However, he criticised the government of the day and its policies and returned the award in 2006.
__________________
__________________
Legendary Urdu poet Ahmed Faraz, a passionate proponent of progress and democracy in Pakistan, has died after a prolonged illness at the age of 77.
Faraz, who was suffering from a kidney disease and had returned to Pakistan from the US after falling seriously ill there last month, died in a private hospital here late on Monday night. He is survived by wife and two sons.
Outspoken on political issues, Faraz went into self-imposed exile during the rule of military dictator General Zia-ul-Haq.
He was also arrested during that period for reciting poems critical of military rule. He stayed for three years in Britain, Canada and Europe before returning to Pakistan.
Faraz, considered one of the best poets of Pakistan, was born in Nowshera on January 14, 1931. His real name was Syed Ahmed Shah.
The Pashto-speaking Faraz learned and studied Persian and Urdu at the Peshawar University, where he also taught later.
He also served as chairman of the Academy of Letters and headed the Islamabad-based National Book Foundation for several years.
The recipient of many national and international awards, he was inspired by Pakistan People's Party founder Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. In 2004, he was awarded the 'Hilal-e-Imtiaz' in recognition of his literary achievements.
However, he criticised the government of the day and its policies and returned the award in 2006.
__________________
No comments:
Post a Comment