Benazir Bhutto: Third Time Lucky?

Nobdy is Lucky all the time...well whenever she steps in Pakistan now she have to face charges against her..Alhamdulilah
plus we shud have a law which state dat a prime minister can not come into power for a thrid term just as in USA

Nawaz Sharif to miss father`s funeral because of conditions: Spokesman

ISLAMABAD (AFP)- Former Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif will not make a brief return from exile to bury his father because the government wants to impose strict conditions on his stay, his party spokesman said Sunday.

Mian Mohammad Sharif, 85, who had been living in exile along with his sons and close family members, died at a hospital in Jeddah late Friday.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz party spokesman Siddiqul Farooq said Mian Sharif`s body would be flown to Pakistan late on Sunday after being taken for prayers at Mecca, Islam`s holiest shrine near Jeddah.

He will be laid to rest on Monday near the eastern city of Lahore in the town of Raiwind, where the Sharif family has built a hospital and they have farmland.

Farooq said Pakistan`s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Abdul Aziz Mirza, met Nawaz Sharif and other family members in Jeddah on Saturday to pay his condolences and ask the Sharifs to submit an official request for permission to visit Pakistan.

He said Mirza had told the Sharifs they would have to travel from Lahore airport to the graveyard and then immediately fly back to Jeddah.(Nation)

---

Musharraf is a COWARDLY Cobra -- a double-headed reptile with a Kargillian brain -- he is still mortally afraid of unarmd civilians....

to expect RECONCILIATION from Mussharraf -- is to expect a scorpion change its nature......as they say in persian: Nesh-e aqrab nu uz paye keeN ust/muqtazaaye tabeeutush eeN ust......all that arrogance did no good to Zia -- will do no good to Musharraf.... either

Mr. Ghori, thanks for a profound and balanced article. I might add my two-pence to this analysis:

Despite the friction between MMA and Musharraf on the issue of operation in South Waziristan, Shariah Bill and Madrassahs... Musharraf can trust MMA more than PPP. MMA needs Musharraf more than Musharraf needs the MMA. This strengthens Musharraf`s negotiating position vis-a-vis the MMA. On the other hand, PPP is quite capable of winning an election and forming at least a coalition government (if not a majority govt) without the Army`s help. This reduces Musharraf`s leverage with the PPP.

Under the present circumstances, Benazir will happily strike any deal with Musharraf that promises her withdrawal of corruption cases, release for Asif Zardari and Prime Ministership (even if it is a nominal one).

Once back in Pakistan, Benazir is fully capable of revitalizing her party, horse-trading the PML-Q politicians and shunting Musharraf out of both his offices. Unless the Americans pressurize Musharraf, he will not willingly strike a deal with Benazir simply because he can`t manipulate her like the MMA.

For Pakistan however, a Musharraf-PPP government is ideal. Given the liberal, pro-US and progressive outlook of PPP and Musharraf, this would be a natural alliance. It will certainly spell trouble for the MMA and obscurantist elements within the PML-Q.