Pakistan

United States Must Tie Aid to Restoration of Freedoms

7 November 2007 -- Atlanta -- The Carter Center condemns recent actions by Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf to suspend the country's Constitution and proclaim a state of emergency. In the process, members of the independent judiciary, news media, and human rights defenders have been abused and imprisoned. Many activist lawyers demanding restoration of the Pakistani Constitution and rule of law have also been arrested.    » read more »

08 November 2007 -- U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte told Congress Wednesday the Bush administration strongly opposes Pakistani President Musharaff's declaration of emergency rule, but he resisted calls for sharp cuts in U.S. aid to that country. The second-ranking State Department official said General Musharraf has been an "indispensable" ally of the United States against terrorism.    » read more »

November 05, 2007 -- Chicago, IL -- Obama for America today released to the following statement on the state of emergency declared by President Pervez Musharraf in Pakistan this weekend.    » read more »

Nov 5, 2007 -- Chapel Hill, North Carolina – Today, Senator John Edwards released the following statement on the current situation in Pakistan:    » read more »

November 5, 2007 -- [Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) chairs the Senate’s Subcommittee On State And Foreign Operations – the Appropriations Committee panel which handles funding for U.S. assistance to Pakistan and which has budget jurisdiction over the State Department.]

“General Musharraf has made a colossal blunder. He says he needs emergency laws to fight terrorism, but his crackdown targets the courts, lawyers, the press, political opponents and human rights defenders. It seems clear that his primary goal is to keep himself in power as president and as army chief.    » read more »

November 5, 2007 -- "I oppose General Musharraf’s declaration of emergency rule. America stands with Pakistanis in their struggle for democracy and against terrorism. But arresting opposition leaders, suspending the constitution, and suppressing human rights can only undermine the struggle against extremism. I call on General Musharraf to cancel the state of emergency, restore the Constitution, release arrested opposition leaders, and hold free and fair elections on schedule.    » read more »

November 5, 2007 -- Washington, DC – Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (D-DE) issued the following statement today:

“Since his imposition of de-facto martial law on Saturday, Pakistani President Pervaiz Musharraf has given no indication of when or how he plans to return his nation to the democratic path. I strongly urge General Musharraf to guarantee now that free and fair parliamentary elections will be held in January as planned, establish an independent commission to oversee those elections and lift the State of Emergency.    » read more »

November 5, 2007 -- SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: I want to talk a little bit about the situation in Pakistan. I want to try and give you a little bit of background, a little bit of sort of our thinking at this point in time about the way ahead. And then I'd be delighted to answer your questions.    » read more »

22 September 2007 -- Pakistani police reported more deaths Saturday from poisoned bootleg liquor in the port city of Karachi, raising the death toll to at least 40.

Several people are still being treated at a local hospital after consuming the toxic batch of liquor late Thursday.

Liquor is banned for Muslims in Pakistan, although a few shops are allowed to sell alcohol to non-Muslims.

But some Muslims drink alcohol, resorting to black-market supplies smuggled from abroad or homemade liquor that is sometimes tainted.    » read more »

For Third Consecutive Year, Citi Wins Majority of Internet Bank Awards in Asia

August 28, 2007, Singapore/Hong Kong – Citi has picked up the majority of awards for the World's Best Internet Banks in Asia Pacific from Global Finance magazine. This is the third year in a row that Citi has dominated the Global Finance magazine awards in Asia Pacific, underscoring Citi's continued commitment to invest in technology to meet the evolving needs of its clients.    » read more »

20 August 2007 -- A Pakistani suicide bomber drove his explosives-laden car into a military checkpoint near the Afghan border Monday, killing three soldiers and wounding more than a dozen people.

The attack took place outside the town of Thal in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province.

The country has experienced a surge of violence since a 10-month peace deal with pro-Taleban militants, designed to drive out extremists from North Waziristan, broke down last month.    » read more »

20 August 2007 -- Pakistani officials say a man accused of being an al-Qaida computer expert has been released without charge following three years in custody.

Mohammed Naeem Noor Khan was arrested in Lahore in July 2004. Pakistani officials said investigations of his computer led to information on active al-Qaida networks.

Khan's lawyer Babar Awan told reporters Monday that he has returned to his home in the southern port city of Karachi.

Officials alleged that Khan acted as a link between top al-Qaida leaders and the organizations' operational cells.    » read more »

14 August 2007 -- The headless body of one of 16 kidnapped Pakistani soldiers was found Tuesday in a tribal area near the country's border with Afghanistan.

Pakistani officials say pro-Taleban militants beheaded the soldier and threatened to kill more unless authorities release 10 of their men.

Gunmen abducted the soldiers on August 9in South Waziristan, a frontier tribal region and stronghold of Taleban and al-Qaida sympathizers.

Residents found the body in the town of Jandola. A note found nearby warned that other soldiers would be killed if the demands are not met.    » read more »

August 14, 2007, 09:30 (CET) -- Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERIC) and leading Pakistani operator Warid Telecommunications Limited (Warid Telecom (Pvt.) Limited) today announced a new three-year managed services agreement that will deepen the existing strategic partnership between the two companies and marks Ericsson's first multivendor deal in Pakistan. Under the agreement, Ericsson will provide a range of new services for Warid.    » read more »

10 August 2007 -- Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has decided against declaring a state of emergency following a series of domestic crises.

Pakistan's information minister, Mohammed Ali Durrani, says General Musharraf rejected calls from some aides to curtail freedoms and strengthen military control to stabilize the country.

The minister says the president did not want to undermine upcoming elections.    » read more »