Baithak Desi May 27: From News, Our Man Haqqani - Anjum Niaz, Headines, Cartoons

Washington appears to be engaged in a last ditch effort to persuade the PPP to allow President Musharraf to retain office, even if it is without his powers, or else to work out a face saving 'minus two' formula under which both the president and Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry would make an exit. While the US embassy has denied any plans for a visit by the State Department's John Negroponte, who has so far stood in Musharraf's corner throughout his contest with democratic forces, two visiting US senators are reported to have brought with them this message. The senators have been meeting key figures in Islamabad, including the president, the prime minister and the PPP co-chairperson, Asif Ali Zardari. Indeed it is Mr Zardari's latest attacks on Musharraf that seem to have prompted Washington to begin a new effort to rescue its floundering friend. The senators have also discussed bilateral trade and the war on terror during their visit. Editorial from the News

The co-chairman of the PPP is currently a very busy man accommodating his loyalists. I am sure he must be inundated with reminders from all those bounty hunters claiming to have been his foot soldiers during his "dark" days in exile. So far the pattern has been predictable. Without any waste of time, Husain Haqqani, Rahman Malik, Siraj Shamsuddin and Salman Farooqi were appointed as soon as the Dogar court made the NRO (National Reconciliation Ordinance) a permanent fixture. Malik, Haqqani and Farooqi, who had cases of wrongdoing filed with the NAB (National Accountability Bureau), not only earned reprieve but got appointed to high positions. (Even Farooqi's brother Usman Farooqi has received a fiduciary clean bill of character.) Our Man Haqqani - Anjum Niaz

Headlines

real or doctored? taped coversations
Elahi to sue Ahsan over Nawaz charges
Nisar says PPP’s package meant to divert attention
Abbas Ansari on protocals and priviledges
Emran Qureshi and Heba Raouf Ezzat - Are Sharia Laws and Human Rights Compatible?
Musharraf has bought an island in Turkey- Nazir Naji
Science books in Urdu soon
Osama in White House Basement?

Maxim - Today's Cartoon