Musharraf ‘shedding crocodile tears’, says ex- Pak SCBA chief

Islamabad, Sep.19 (ANI): Pakistan Supreme Court Bar Association’s former President Aitzaz Ahsan has said that former President General Pervez Musharraf is ‘shedding crocodile tears’ while admitting that removing Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry from office in 2007 was a mistake.

Referring to Musharraf’s speech at Trinity University in Saint Antonio, Texas, where the former general admitted that he had committed a mistake while sacking the then Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) from office, Ahsan said Musharraf had committed not only one but two mistakes by removing the higher judiciary and imposing an emergency in the country on November 3, 2007.

Talking to a private television channel, Ahsan said the government and the ‘independent’ judiciary should play their role in trying Musharraf under high treason charges.

He said it was not the right time for lawyers to take their struggle to roads, as they did previously while demanding restoration of the judiciary, The News reports.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) has denied that Musharraf had taken the cabinet into his confidence before promulgating the Provisional Constitutional Ordinance (PCO) and imposing the emergency rule in 2007.

Interacting with media persons during an Iftaar party hosted by PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, several party leaders rejected the notion regarding Musharraf consulting the cabinet before taking the illegal and extra-judicial actions. (ANI)

Pak Govt asked to review blasphemy law

Islamabad, Sep. 2 (ANI): The Pakistan Government has been asked by the National Assembly Standing Committee on Human Rights to re-examine the blasphemy law so that incidents like Gojra’s anti-Christian riot can be prevented.

Human Rights Ministry Secretary Farid Khan told Committee chairman PML-Q member Riaz Fatiyana that the Gojra incident reflected “a complete failure of our system.”

The Daily Times quoted Punjab Human Rights Minister Kamran Michael as saying that the government should review the blasphemy law.

He said the law should also be used against those who levelled baseless allegations against others.

PML-N leader Javed Hashmi seconded Michael’s views, and said he regretted that people were languishing in jails for the last eight to ten years under the blasphemy law.

Fatiyana said the killings were a failure on the part of administration and intelligence agencies. He urged the government to take measures to prevent such incidents in the future.

He added that the committee will meet Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, and request him to fix a time period for trial of people arrested under blasphemy law.

Pakistan’s blasphemy law forbids-damaging a place of worship or a sacred object, outraging religious feelings, defiling the Quran and defaming Prophet Mohammed.

The Criminal Code provides penalties for blasphemy up to death and a fine.

Critics have pointed out that the blasphemy law is being used to victimise minorities. (ANI)

Pak Punjab Govt has ‘confidential evidence’ against Saeed, withdraws case

Islamabad, July 14 (ANI): The government in Pakistan’s Punjab province has decided to disassociate itself from the Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed case and filed a plea for its withdrawal.

On Monday, the provincial government informed the Supreme Court that it has challenged the release of Saeed due to certain “confidential evidence” against him.

According to Punjab Advocate General Raza Farooq, Saeed was put under house arrest on the directive of the federal government, which failed to provide solid evidence to maintain his house arrest.

Therefore, Farooq said the Punjab Government has decided to disassociate itself from the case and a petition for withdrawal has been filed with the Supreme Court.

Farooq on Monday told the three-member bench hearing pleas against a Lahore High Court (LHC) decision to release Saeed and Colonel (retired) Nazir Ahmed that Saeed was detained under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance 1961.

However, Section 3 was not mentioned in the detention order. The three-member bench consisting of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Muhammad Sair Ali and Justice Jawwad S Khawaja, asked the Punjab AG to satisfy the apex court, the Daily Times reports.

The AG said there was sufficient evidence against Saeed, but it could not be made part of the case record because it was confidential.

Farooq also submitted that it was binding on the government to implement resolutions adopted by the UN.

He said the detention of Saeed had become necessary, as the UN had levelled allegations that Saeed was linked to Al Qaeda and was allegedly involved in some terror-related incidents at an international level.

The Pakistan and the Punjab Governments, through their petitions, requested the court to set aside the LHC decision of ending the detention of Saeed and Col (retired) Nazir Ahmed.

The petitions claimed the LHC had not considered the sensitivity of the case, especially in light of the prevailing security situation. (ANI)

Chaudhry not restored under any deal: Aitzaz Ahsan

Lahore, Apr.9 (ANI): Pakistan Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry was not restored as a result of any deal, former Supreme Court Bar Association president Aitzaz Ahsan said on Thursday.

Addressing the lawyers here, he said that Chaudhry would continue to provide justice to the masses through suo motu notices.

Last month, Chaudhry said that the real judiciary had been restored after a long time and now the dignity of the court and institution would have to be restored. He also said that the judiciary would have to be cleaned of corruption.

Speaking after resuming his duties as Chief Justice, Chaudhry said that irregularities would not be tolerated in dispensing justice.

He added that the stories of corruption from civil judge to Supreme Court were common, and urged upon the lawyers to co-operate with him in stamping out corruption.

Justice Chaudhry further said if there was any complaint of irregularity, then a petition could be filed in the Registrar Office.

He said he was thankful to the people on their struggle for restoration of judiciary. (ANI)

Pak Supreme Court rejects govt.’s request for in-camera trial in flogging case

Islamabad, Apr. 7 (ANI): Pakistan’s Supreme Court has rejected the government’s request for an in-camera trial of suspects involved in the teenaged girl’s flogging in Swat and ruled that the facts be brought before the public.

An eight-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry is hearing a suo motu case of the flogging incident.

The court has directed the federal interior secretary, the NWFP inspector general of police and the NWFP chief secretary to prepare a detailed report of the flogging case.

Attorney-General Sardar Latif Khosa described the flogging case as a sensitive issue that required an in-camera hearing.

Chief Justice Chaudhry turned down the request on the ground that as news of the flogging was revealed through the media, the facts should be brought before the public.

The flogged victim, Chand Bibi, didn’t appear before the Supreme Court, saying that it was against her traditional values.

Bibi’s statement before the magistrate was presented through Khosa.

Earlier, Malakand Commissioner Syed Mohammad Javed and a senior judge visited Kala village situated in the far-off area of Kabal Tehsil and recorded the statement of the girl’s statement.

The NWFP chief secretary also presented a confidential report.

The Supreme Court, however, refused to accept the report, saying it was not required. (ANI)

Swat girl denies flogging incident due to social pressure, militants’ fear

Peshawar, Apr 6 (ANI): The girl who was reportedly flogged in Swat has denied the incident, and termed the happening as baseless and not based on facts due to social pressure and Taliban militants’ fear.

A team of two high officials comprising Commissioner Malakand Syed Mohammad Javed and a senior judge reportedly visited Kala village situated in the far-off area of tehsil Kabal and recorded the statement of the girl.

The two officials recorded the statements of the girl and her husband, in which they completely denied the incident; The Nation quoted sources, as saying.

They maintained that the team reached the area in full security, met the girl and showed her a video in which she was being flogged publicly somewhere in Kabal.

The sources informed that the girl had told the officials that she was happily married and had never been flogged.

After recording the statement, the team reached the provincial capital, as the report is likely to be submitted to the Supreme Court on Monday.

Meanwhile, the NWFP Chief Secretary and the Inspector General of police (IGP) may not produce the girl, as the officials appear before the larger bench of the Supreme Court.

Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry had taken a suo moto notice of the public lashing of the teenaged girl in Swat after a footage of the incident appeared on private television channels.

Apart from the federal Interior Secretary, the NWFP Chief Secretary, IGP, Advocate General and president of the Peshawar High Court Bar Association (PHCBA) were directed to appear and produce the victim before the larger bench of the Supreme Court.

“We are yet to take the girl into our protection and that’s why we may not produce her before the court on Monday,” Malakand Division Commissioner Syed Muhammad Javed said. (ANI)

Pak CJ takes notice of Swat girl flogging

Islamabad, Apr. 4 (ANI): Pakistan’s Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has taken suo motu notice of the flogging of a girl in the Swat Valley.

Chaudhry has asked the federal interior secretary, the NWFP chief secretary and the NWFP inspector general of police to appear before the court on Monday.

The two-minute video shows a veiled girl, face down on the ground with two men holding her arms and feet. A third man whips her backside repeatedly for allegedly having ‘illicit relations with her father-in-law’ – causing her to scream: “Either stop it or kill me.”

Chaudhry ordered the fixation of the matter under Article 184(3) of the constitution before an eight-member larger bench of the Supreme Court, to be headed by him.

The CJP also directed the federal interior secretary to find the victim and produce her before the court.

Notices have also been issued to the attorney general of Pakistan, the NWFP advocate general and the president of the NWFP High Court Bar Association.

Earlier, Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani had ordered a probe into the case.

Pakistan based human rights groups and civil society activists had lodged protest against the flogging case in Swat. (ANI)

Shahbaz Sharif reinstated as Punjab Chief Minister

Islamabad, Mar.31 (ANI): Deposed Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has been reinstated on the post following a Supreme Court’s stay order against its earlier judgment which disqualified the Sharif brothers’ from contesting elections and holding office.

The apex court bench headed by Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jilani ordered Shahbaz Sharif’s government to be restored with immediate effect till the court announces a final verdict in the eligibility case.

“The supreme court has suspended the February 25 decision,” The News quoted a lawyer and leader in PML-N, Syed Zafar Ali Shah, as saying.

Shahbaz Sharif and Pakistan Muslim Laegue -Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif were disqualified from contesting election by the Supreme Court on February 25 following which a large scale public protest was carried out across the country, and an unprecedented political turmoil was witnessed.

Later, after the government reinstated the judiciary and Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, after which a review petition was filed in the Supreme Court on March 19.(ANI)

Petition in Pak Supreme Court to bar Musharraf from travelling abroad

Lahore, Mar 29 (ANI): A petition has been moved in the Lahore Registry of the Pakistan Supreme Court to put former President Pervez Musharraf’s name on the Exit Control List (ECL).

Advocate Akmal Saleemi filed the application in an already pending constitutional petition, seeking action against Musharraf and others for killing of innocent students in a military operation launched against the Lal Masjid.

Dr Akmal stated that his main grievance was against Pervez Musharraf as he was the one who had ordered “surrender or die”.

He said it had been learnt through reliable sources that he (Musharraf) was about to leave the country.

Dr Akmal said Musharraf might leave country for good so his name should be put on the Exit Control List and the pending petition in this regard be fixed before any appropriate bench of the SC at the earliest.

In his main petition, he also made federal interior secretary, district administration, Wafaq-ul-Madaris and Jamia Hafsa Scrutiny Committee respondents.

Dr Akmal contented that the military operation against Lal Masjid was barbaric and in violation of the constitution.

He also demanded formation of an inquiry committee consisting of retired judges of the Supreme Court to probe into the military operation. He said the attendance record of all students of Lal Masjid should also be sought.

Chief Justice Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry took up Dr Akmal’s petition in 2007 and notices were issued to respondents, but it had not been fixed for hearing so far. (ANI)

Sharif brothers’ file petition in Supreme Court to make them parties in disqualification case

Islamabad, Mar.28 (ANI): Former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and deposed Punjab chief minister Shahbaz Sharif have filed a petition in the Supreme Court pleading to the apex court to make them parties in the disqualification revision petitions’ hearings.

Advocates Abid Hassan Manto and Khawaja Haris filed the petition on behalf of the leaders, and also urged the court to declare the earlier ex-party decision as obsolete.

According to The News, two other petitions were also filed for issuing a stay order against the disqualification verdict till the review petition is heard.

The review petition was filed soon after the Pakistani government decided to reinstate the judiciary and Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry to the November 2007 position, following a country-wide protest by the Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif.

The Supreme Court of Pakistan in its verdict on February 25 had termed the Sharif brothers’ ‘ineligible’ for contesting elections and holding office. (ANI)

Petition filed in Pak SC for trial of Musharraf on charges of sedition

Lahore, Mar.25 (ANI): Following the reinstatement of deposed judiciary in the country, former Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf is headed for some trouble as a petition has been filed in the Supreme Court (SC) seeking his trial on the charges of sedition.

A petition filed by one Zahid Hussain Malik accuses General Musharraf of disseminating subversion of the Constitution by appointing the PCO’s after dismissing superior judges including the Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.

The petition asks for trial of the former President through Courts Martial under Pakistan Army Act for savagely violating the provisions relating to officers of the Army, The Nations reports.

It also states that all the persons who assisted General Musharraf to carry out his illegal activities should also be punished according to the law of the country.

The apex court has been requested to bar General Musharraf from moving out of Pakistan.

Malik, in his petition has also tabled the order passed by a seven-member bench of the Supreme Court to suspend operation of the PCO on November 3, 2007, stating that those who acted against this order were liable for the contempt of the court.

The petition further states that the matter is of high public importance as it involves violation of fundamental rights with respect to access to freedom and independent judiciary enshrined under Articles 9,10, 14, and 26.

Earlier, the Pakistan Ex-Servicemen Association (PESA) demanded that Musharraf be stripped-off from all the special privilege he is being receiving from the Pak Army.

The association, in a special meeting, also decided to constitute a special committee to make a proposal for the trial of former president Musharraf for violating the Constitution and committing various other crimes, and a general body meeting in this regard would be held on March 28 under the chairmanship of Admiral (retired) Fasih Bukhari.

It also had demanded General Musharraf be thrown out from the Army House. (ANI)

Foreign Policy magazine ranks Zardari fifth biggest loser in World

Washington, Mar.23 (ANI): The famous Foreign Policy magazine has ranked Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari as the fifth biggest loser in the world.

“Zardari was known to be a bad guy long before he became Pakistan’s president. Many of the closest friends of his late wife, Benazir Bhutto, could not stand him. Now, as it turns out, neither can most of the Pakistani people,” the magazine stated.

According to the magazine, Zardari’s giving in to the demands of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s of reinstating the judiciary and particularly former Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has made him weaker.

“He’s on the ropes, his opposition is gaining strength, and meanwhile fraught, dangerous, complex Pakistan is hardly being governed at all,” the magazine said.

Other biggest losers in the list are US Democratic Senator, Chris Dodd at number four, US swindler Bernie Madoff at number three, and the Roman Catholic Pope on the second spot for his ‘out of touch with the real world’ view.

The magazine has termed Pope’s papacy as a ‘disaster’, The News reports.

Austrian businessman, Josef Fritzl has been ranked the number one loser.

Fritzl, 73, is currently facing trial for putting his own daughter in a dungeon beneath his house and raping her for over 24 years continuously.

The list also has British Prime Minister Gordon Brown on number ten, and Israeli politician Benjamin Netahanyahu on the ninth spot. (ANI)

Chaudhry officially takes charge as Chief Justice of Pakistan

Islamabad, Mar.22 (ANI): Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry took over the charge as Pakistan’s Chief Justice (CJP) on Sunday here.

According to The News, a statement released by the Supreme Court has confirmed that Chaudhry has officially taken the charge.

Chaudhry, right after taking the charge approved setting-up of a five-member bench in Principle Seat in Islamabad, and also a Shariat Appellate Bench.

According to sources, the Supreme Court will mostly hear petitions related to criminal and civil cases.

“The purpose is to dispose of criminal matters, especially the pending cases of convicts and undertrail prisoners, so as to grant relief to prisoners, who are languishing in jail,” sources said.

Meanwhile, reports filtering from different sources added that the outgoing Chief Justice, Abdul Hameed Dogar may be appointed as Pakistan’s ambassador to the Saudi Arabia.

The post has been lying vacant after the completion of Admiral (retired) Shahid Karimullah’s term. (ANI)

Jamaat-e-Islami to file petition against Musharraf

Karachi, Mar. 20 (ANI): Pakistan’s Jamaat-e-Islami party has decided to file a petition against former Pakistan President General (r) Pervez Musharraf over the Lal-Masjid operation, and ongoing army operation in tribal areas of the country.

JeI leader Asadullah Bhutto told The Nation that the Central Shoora of party would decide the future course of action about to file the petition against Musharraf, and the party has not finalized its strategy so far.

Bhutto said has expressed satisfaction and happiness on the reinstatement of Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry and other judges, who had been deposed by Musharraf.

“The PCO judiciary has not been able to provide justice to the people, and it was the major reason why JeI did not make party’s policy to file the petition against Pervez Musharraf,” The Nation quoted him, as saying.

All sacked judges of the Supreme Court and the high courts, including Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, will resume their earlier positions from March 22. (ANI)

Sacked judges to resume their positions on March 22

Islamabad, Mar. 18 (ANI): The Pakistan Government has notified that all sacked judges of the Supreme Court and the high courts, including Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, will resume their earlier positions from March 22.

Addressing a press conference, Federal Law Secretary Agha Muhammad Rafique narrated two separate notifications from the Law and Justice Division announcing the move.

“The president of Pakistan is pleased to restore Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, the deposed CJP (chief justice of Pakistan), to the position he was holding immediately before November 3, 2007. He will assume office of CJP on March 22, after the retirement of CJP Abdul Hameed Dogar on March 21,” the Daily Times quoted one notification, as saying.

Another notification said other sacked judges would assume office with immediate effect.

According to the notifications, the reinstated judges of the Supreme Court are: Justice Javed Iqbal, Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday, Justice Raja Fayyaz Ahmed and Justice Chaudhry Ijaz Ahmad.

The reinstated judges of the High Courts are: Justice Khawaja Muhammad Sharif, Justice Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry and Justice Iqbal Hameedur Rehman, Justice Mushir Alam and Justice Maqbool Baqar, and Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan.

However, the law secretary told reporters the sacked judges would not be administered a fresh oath. (ANI)

Zardari says he was waiting for Dogar’s retirement to reinstate Chaudhry

Islamabad, Mar 17 (ANI): President Asif Ali Zardari has said that he was only waiting for the retirement of present Chief Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar before restoring Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry as the country’s Chief Justice.

“I never said that I am against Justice Iftikhar. I was only waiting for the retirement of Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar, who took oath as the Chief Justice in the Musharraf regime. Dogar will retire on March 21 and Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry will become the chief justice again in his place,” Zardari said.

“I had made it clear on March 9, 2008 after signing the Murree Declaration that no sitting judge would be disturbed. I said it in the presence of Nawaz Sharif to the media and that was why I never disturbed Dogar,” The News quoted him, as saying.

“It was a small thing, but this small thing exposed many big people,” he said.

Zardari was more concerned about some people from his own party who resigned from their ministries last week rather than his political brother Nawaz Sharif.

Zardari said the political crisis was over, but Pakistan was still facing an economic crisis and terrorism.

Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry was twice removed in the last two years was restored twice. It’s a record in the world judicial and legal history.

His first removal resulted in the launching of a movement for the independence of the judiciary, which was initiated by the lawyers, the media and the civil society. The political parties later joined this movement. (ANI)

NRO, Lal Masjid operation will be challenged in court: Imran

Lahore, Mar 17 (ANI): Former cricketer and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan has said the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) was against basic human rights and would be challenged in court.

A private TV channel quoted Khan as saying that incidents like May 12 and the Lal Masjid operation would also be challenged in court.

He said Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry had been reinstated through the people’s power and would stand by the people.

Khan warned that the nation would not accept any move to curtail the powers of the CJP, the Daily Times reported.

He also said the people had a one-point agenda of restoration of the judiciary, and dispelled the impression that they wanted to destabilise the government.

The NRO was signed between then President Pervez Musharraf in 2007, paving the way for a power-sharing deal with former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

Musharraf signed the ordinance giving amnesty to Bhutto and other political leaders — except exiled former premier Nawaz Sharif — in all court cases against them. (ANI)

No foreign pressure on PPP Govt. to restore judges: Kaira

Islamabad, Mar 17 (ANI): Information Minister Qamar-uz-Zaman Kaira has said that Pakistan People’s Party led government had fulfilled promises made by its slain leader Benazir Bhutto, and rejected the impression that there was foreign pressure on the government for the reinstatement.

“The government was not forced by any quarter other than the lawyers and the political parties to announce the restoration of deposed judges”, he told reporters here.

“Deadlocks have never borne good results in the past and the PPP Government has broken the deadlock on judicial issue by showing political maturity and farsightedness,” he said.

Kaira also clarified that Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry did not need to take fresh oath of his office.

“Iftikhar Chaudhry does not need to take oath of his office as he has been restored with administrative process and will only take charge of his office on 21st March 2009,” The Nation quoted him, as saying.

Kaira rebutted the impression that the deposed judges had been restored with terms and a condition. “All stakeholders were consulted before announcing the decision and if Pakistan Army has also been consulted in this regard it is not strange”, he stated.

“The restoration of Chief Justice is the manifestation of the political insight of the PPP, which is a flag bearer of democratic values and the freedom of the press and judiciary,” he added.

Kaira said that the PPP had always remained in forefront in the struggle for rights of the masses, civil society and media.

The Information Minister appreciated the role played by the political parties and lawyers to take judges restoration movement to the logical end.

He further said that PPP had always fought for the independence of judiciary, adding, “PPP is the only party which has given more sacrifices than any other party in judicial struggle.” (ANI)

Pak steered out of turmoil for the moment

Islamabad, Mar 16 (ANI): Intense and hard negotiation backed by major foreign powers led to reconciliation, steering Pakistan out of the turmoil and changing the charged up political atmosphere ahead of the lawyers ‘Long March’.

Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani’s announcement regarding reinstatement of the deposed judges of the Supreme Court, doing away with February 25 actions and the road map to implement Charter of Democracy (CoD) defused the crises.

The move would go long way in Pakistan’s political history and definitely help promote stability in the country on one hand and strengthening of country’s justice system, democracy and the national economy on the other.

Though it is premature to give any objective assessment about the modalities of reinstatement of the deposed judges, particularly the Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and implementing CoD, ostensibly it looks certain that apart from the Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervez Kiyani some major foreign powers had played crucial role in securing the deal.

This is significant in relation to Pakistan’s future role in the war on terror in line with US strategy, The Nation reports However, it was still not clear about the fate of former President Pervez Musharraf’s pre-November 3, 2007 actions pertaining to second emergency he imposed under a constitutional cover.

Moreover, the political pundits are of the view that the PML-N would most likely rejoin the ruling coalition at the Centre and PPP-PML-N government in Punjab.

The PML-N had left the federal cabinet last year as mark of protest over the PPP failure to implement the Murree Accord signed by the two parties for reinstatement of deposed judges sacked by General (Retd) Pervez Musharraf.

The political pundits were of the view that the move would pave way for the appointment of non-controversial governor at the most populated Punjab province, the paper says They believed that lawyers Long March supported by the PML-N and other opposition parties might have resulted into a bloody showdown with the PPP-led coalition government had the reconciliation efforts failed. (ANI)

US welcomes Pak move to restore deposed CJ

Washington, Mar.16 (ANI): The Obama administration here has welcomed the Pakistan Government’s decision to reinstate deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.Washington gave its reaction after uthorities in Islamabad informed it about its decision.

According to sources, Chaudhry will assume his responsibilities on March 22.

Meanwhile, a report requested by United States President Barack Obama on overhauling US policy in Afghanistan and Pakistan has warned that Pakistan needs urgent help to fight its challenges, saying it could be the launch pad for the next 9/11 otherwise.

The report published in the Telegraph said President Obama had entrusted the task to overhaul the US policy to former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Middle East expert Bruce Riedel.

Riedel’s working group has concluded that stabilizing Pakistan was now the higher priority, the paper quoted its source.

Riedel said in the report, prepared in conjunction with the National Security Council (NSC), that he believed that unless serious action was taken, Pakistan would become a ‘terrorist university’, representing a far greater threat to the security of the US and Europe than Afghanistan did before 9/11.

“Recent apocalyptic intelligence on the situation in Pakistan has shocked the Obama administration and convinced Riedel’s review team that radicals trained in Pakistan are the greatest threat to western security,” the paper said.

It quoted a source familiar with the White House Pak-Afghan policy review discussions as saying that Riedel said on the record that a failed state in Pakistan was America’s ‘worst nightmare’ in the 21st century.

“The Pakistani government seems unable to control its military or intelligence people. The Tribal Areas are already a failed state and a safe haven for terrorists. If that spreads, the whole country will become a terrorist university. The chances of a spectacular in the US or Britain is exponentially increased. And Pakistan has nuclear weapons,” Telegraph cited the review report, as saying.

It said the Riedel review had reportedly concluded that seven out of 10 Taliban and other militants in Afghanistan and Pakistan were “reconcilable”, who could be bribed, cajoled and persuaded to turn away from extremism.

“The review, likely to be published within days, will recommend that non-military aid to Pakistan is quadrupled. Payments to Afghan tribal chiefs will also increase. In return, the Pakistani government will be expected to agree to a wholesale overhaul of its military which will see US special forces retrain Pakistani soldiers in counter-insurgency warfare,” The Telegraph said.

Richard Holbrooke, the US special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan, and a co-chairman of the Riedel Review, has warned that the international effort in Afghanistan could only succeed if Pakistan’s Tribal Areas were under control. (ANI)