Asif Ali Zardari, swept to victory in a presidential election on Saturday to replace former army chief Pervez Musharraf, who stepped down last month rather than face impeachment.

Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, a Zardari nominee, formed a coalition led by the Pakistan People’s Party five months ago. Last month, former army chief Pervez Musharraf, who came to power in a coup in 1999, stood down rather than face impeachment.

“Since investor confidence has not yet been fully restored, cautious investors are booking profits at higher levels,” said Shuja Rizvi, director of broking at Capital One Equities Ltd.

The Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) benchmark share index ended 0.49 percent lower, or 45.91 points, to 9,296.23, having rallied more than one percent in early trade.

KSE index which rose for six consecutive years from 2002, and was one of the top performers in Asia during that period, but plunged 41 percent from a lifetime high in April and is down more than a third since the start of the year due to political uncertainty and weak economic fundamentals.

The authorities have taken a series of measures to stop the freefall since mid-year.

On Aug. 28 they put a floor of 9,144 on the index to stop the rot, and this limit will be reviewed at a meeting on Monday due to start at 2:45 p.m. (0845 GMT).

Among the most active companies, Oil and Gas Development Co Ltd was flat at 97.93 rupees, Engro Chemicals fell 4.02 percent to 180.44 rupees, and Nishat Mills shed 4.75 percent to 46.71 rupees.

ISLAMABAD:The National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) has called its board meeting on September 12 in Karachi.

The board is expected to review the repurchase of its share available in the market, it was said in a statement issued by the bank in Karachi Stock Exchange (today) on Monday, private news channel Geo reported.

According to analysts, the decision is aimed at stabilizing sliding stock as better prices are offered by the treasury stocks in comparison with market.

The date for share’s purchase and volume will be announced after the board meeting.

Talking with media persons at the Parliament House he said that his party despite sitting in the opposition, would not destabilise the PPP-led government at the Centre and hoped that the PPP would also reciprocate his party’s gesture.

He said his party would fully co-operate with the ruling PPP in removing the 17th Amendment from the Constitution.

He said that the delegation of the PML-N which met president-elect in the Prime Minister House under the leadership of Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif was meant to create new democratic traditions in the spirit of Charter of Democracy.

To a question he said that his party while sitting in the Opposition would play constructive role and cooperate in facing the challenges being faced by the country including law and order situation, inflation and unemployment.

Replying to a question about Punjab situation, he said he believed that the PPP does not want to repeat the confrontational politics of the 1990s. He said that the his party minister’s quit ministries on the principles and hoped that the PPP ministers would do the same in the Punjab.

Sharif led a delegation of top leaders of his Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) party at the meeting held at Prime Minister’s House.

“Sharif’s basic aim was to personally extend felicitations to Zardari on his election as president,” party spokesman Siddiqul Farooq told AFP.

“He also assured support to Zardari in strengthening the democratic set up in the country,” Farooq said.

Zardari is under pressure from the opposition to reverse controversial constitutional changes made by Pervez Musharraf, which give him the right to dismiss parliament, as well as make key military and judicial appointments.

PML-N has already demanded that Zardari resign as co-chairman of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), which won general elections in February.

PNL-N quit the country’s coalition government late last month over differences with Zardari on the reinstatement of judges deposed by former president Musharraf last year.

The split came one week after Musharraf resigned under threat of impeachment.

PML-N Secretary Information Ahsan Iqbal said Zardari expressed his desire that PML-N would rejoin the government but he declined to say if his party would continue to play the role of a constructive opposition.

“We are in the opposition but we don’t want to weaken the system,” Iqbal said. “We will play a positive role in helping the government steer the country out of economic crisis and extremism and terrorism,” he added.

War planes pounded positions of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in support of ground troops advancing in rebel-held territory, the ministry said.

There were no immediate reports of casualties from the latest air strikes, but the ministry said 22 rebels were killed and another 24 wounded in fresh fighting on Sunday.

Official reports show the government has intensified air strikes against the Tigers since the weekend.

There was no comment from the Tigers about the latest fighting, which came as Sri Lankan troops were on an offensive to capture Kilinochchi, the political capital of the Tigers in northern Sri Lanka.

Hyderabad, (IANS) Samajwadi Party general secretary Amar Singh and party MPs Jayaprada and Jaya Bachchan Sunday called on Telugu superstar-turned-politician Chiranjeevi to greet him on his entry into politics but said the question of an electoral alliance was not discussed.

( This post is from an independent writer. The opinions and views expressed herein are those of the author and are not endorsed by APakistanNews.Com.)

New Delhi, (IANS) Even as a cocktail of movie releases like “Singh Is Kinng” and “Rock On” is keeping film aficionados gleeful, a lull seems to be setting in at the Bollywood box-office that should up the craving for the big October offerings.

( This post is from an independent writer. The opinions and views expressed herein are those of the author and are not endorsed by APakistanNews.Com.)

Mumbai, (IANS) Zayed Khan-starrer “Mission Istaanbul” might not have worked at the box office, but that hasn’t stopped its director Apoorva Lakhia from signing on the actor for another project.

( This post is from an independent writer. The opinions and views expressed herein are those of the author and are not endorsed by APakistanNews.Com.)

According to sources, the guided missiles targeted the madarssah and house of Afghan commander Jalaluddin Haqqani in Miranshah.

Commander Haqqani was surfaced during war against Russia in Afghanistan and his guerrilla activities gave tough time to Russian forces during wartime.

According to sources, security forces have arrested a suicide bomber at Lal Kurti road in Noshera cantt. Bomb disposal squad and police officials have reached the scene soon after the arrest.

A suicide jacket filled with Five kilograms of explosives and bullets and a hand grenade have been recovered from the bomber.

Security forces have shifted the suicide bomber at undisclosed location after defusing the suicide jacket.

Sources said that the attacker is 15 years old and belonged to Makken area of Waziristan.

Brazil’s president tells the Buenos Aires-based newspaper that exports and imports between the two nations will be bought and sold in local currency reals and pesos.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva did not say when the measure would take effect.

Silva says the move will boost bilateral trade, which reached $US17.6 billion so far this year through July.

During that time, Brazil sold more to Argentina than it bought, building a US$3 billion trade surplus.

The PML-N lawmakers would present a formal request in this regard to Speaker Fehmida Mirza on Monday. PML-N will sit on opposition benches in the National Assembly and Senate.

Ch. Nisar Ali Khan said keeping in view the record of last six months, his party had not much expectation from President-elect Asif Ali Zardari, but added PML-N conceded his win as election was held in democratic manner. He offered best wishes for newly elected President Zardari also.

“Parliament’s sovereignty according to 1973 constitution and charter of democracy (CoD) could change the scenario completely for Zardari,” he noted.

He further said repeal of 17th amendment and former president’s negative steps, judiciary’s independence and complete restoration would be beneficial for the new president.

However when Amrita was offered Welcome to Sajjanpur by Shyam Benegal, the actress immediately agreed. “It’s a great honour to be working with a of his calibre.

A brilliant director, a superb script and a beautiful role. What else can an actress ask for? Very few filmmakers can handle every character as sensitively and working with him was almost like a dream come true for me,” said Amrita excitedly. And while she can’t stop praising the veteran director, Amrita’s also very impressed by her co-star Shreyas Talpade.

“He’s a powerhouse of raw talent. I had cried buckets while watching him in Iqbal and laughed like crazy watching him in Dor. He is really versatile and a very nice human being,” added Amrita. Not surprisingly the two bonded really well even off the sets, what with Shreyas also admitting to being extremely impressed by Amrita’s acting poweress. In fact, Amrita even visited his house for Ganpati to seek blessings. Here’s hoping that their prayers are answered!

Just weeks after billions around the globe enjoyed the breathtaking opening to the Olympics, Beijing showed once again it had raised the bar for such events. In a nation in which the handicapped have long suffered discrimination, the themes of the performance were “One World, One Dream” and “Transcendence, Integration, Equality.”

The ceremony started at 8:00pm (1200 GMT) after a dramatic countdown. Fireworks rocked the stadium and lit up the night sky as the flag-waving crowd screamed and shouted in anticipation.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, among the dignitaries after holding talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao, looked on as the athletes entered the futuristic stadium to roars of approval.

The 91,000-capacity crowd gave rousing welcomes to Iraq and Taiwan but went berserk when China’s massive team entered the stadium, shouting “China. Go!” Tens of thousands of flashlights formed a stunning backdrop to the three-hour show, during which 300 deaf girls performed a sign language dance dressed in white.

Chinese President Hu Jintao then officially declared the 13th Paralympic Games open before the crowd watched spellbound as gold medallist Hou Bin, in a wheelchair, pulled himself up on a rope to the roof of the stadium to light the flame in the show’s denouement.

More than 4,000 competitors from nearly 150 countries and regions will battle for 472 gold medals in 20 sports at the eye-catching venues used for last month’s Olympics such as the “Bird’s Nest” and the Water Cube.

The 21-year-old Scotsman defeated the reigning Wimbledon, French Open and Olympic champion 6-2, 7-6 97/5), 4-6, 6-4 in a match that began Saturday but was halted by rain in the third set.

That storm pushed the showdown with 12-time Grand Slam champion Federer to Monday, the first time since 1987 that bad weather has postponed the year’s last Grand Slam tournament to an extra day.

Murray became only the third British man to reach a Slam final in the 40-year Open era, after Greg Rusedski in the 1997 US Open and John Lloyd at the 1977 Australian Open, and twill be the first to win a title by beating Federer.

“He’s probably the greatest player ever,” Murray said of Federer. “To get the chance to play against him in a Slam final is an honor. I’ve played well against him in the past. Hopefully I can do the same again.”

Murray slept on a 6-2, 7-6 (7/5), 2-3 lead but was down a break in the third set with Nadal serving when play resumed at Arthur Ashe Stadium after a delay of about 26 hours from Saturday’s stoppage at adjacent Louis Armstrong Stadium.

“I’m very relieved to come back,” Murray said. “Obviously tough to sleep on it but I’m very glad I came through in the end.”

After a fierce firefight, soldiers shot dead two “divisional commanders” of Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad fighter groups in Sopore area of north Kashmir, a police spokesman said.

Another freedom fighter and one soldier were killed in a separate clash in a remote area, police said. They said Indian soldiers also killed three suspected freedom fighters late on Saturday when they tried to sneak into Kashmir, northwest of Srinagar, Kashmir’s summer capital.

New Delhi says Islamist guerrillas regularly slip into India under cover of shooting by Pakistani troops to join an anti-Indian insurgency in Kashmir. Islamabad denies the charge. The latest clashes came on a day when police had to fire teargas shells to disperse hundreds of stone-throwing demonstrators protesting against Indian rule in Kashmir.

At least five policemen and three protesters were injured in day-long clashes in many parts of Srinagar, police said. A dispute over forestland near a Hindu shrine has sharply divided Hindu-majority Jammu and mainly Muslim Kashmir, the two main parts of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Government forces in the Muslim-majority Kashmir Valley have killed at least 36 protesters since last month and 1,000injured in some of the largest pro-independence rallies since are volt against New Delhi’s rule began in 1989.

New Delhi, (IANS) “Piya tu ab to aaja” and “Dum maro dum” crooner Asha Bhonsle turns 75 Monday, and the evergreen singer is launching a new album of romantic songs to mark the occasion.

( This post is from an independent writer. The opinions and views expressed herein are those of the author and are not endorsed by APakistanNews.Com.)

Mumbai, (IANS) Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt is having a whale of a time in Bangkok. He has hired a 40-foot-long luxury catamaran for his close friends while he shoots for the thriller “Blue”.

( This post is from an independent writer. The opinions and views expressed herein are those of the author and are not endorsed by APakistanNews.Com.)

Toronto, (IANS) Canada-based Indian filmmaker Deepa Mehta’s “Heaven on Earth”, her Punjabi production about domestic violence in the immigrant community here, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival.

( This post is from an independent writer. The opinions and views expressed herein are those of the author and are not endorsed by APakistanNews.Com.)

Two swollen rivers flooded the town, destroying and damaging many homes, a legislator from the village said.

The toll adds to the 500 deaths already recorded by the United Nations over the past week as massive storm flooding caused a humanitarian crisis that was worsening by the day.

Damaged infrastructure and continuing rains left aid organizations struggling to bring emergency assistance to hundreds of thousands of storm victims.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper says he expects the Oct 14 vote to produce another minority government but recent polls show the Conservatives could win the majority they need to rule without help from opposition parties.

Analysts said Harper’s party has a better shot of winning now than if they had waited until being forced into a vote later when the Canadian economy might be worse off or after Canadians could be influenced by the U.S. presidential election results.

In 2006, the Conservatives unseated the Liberal Party, which had held power for nearly 13 years in power, but as a minority government they have been forced to rely on opposition lawmakers to pass legislation and adopt budgets.

Electoral legislation that Harper helped enact after he came to power in 2006 fixed the date for the next election in October 2009.

But a loophole allows the prime minister to ask the governor general to dissolve Parliament, which Harper did Sunday after signaling in recent weeks that he was leaning toward an early election. Harper said he is running on economic issues and has stressed his opposition to an energy tax proposed by the Liberals.

A blast at the Casablanca club left two men, aged 30 and 53, in critical condition, said the statement. Two women were also injured in the explosion.

A blast at a strip club, Pantera (Panther), seriously injured a 36-year-old man.

Bulgaria’s criminal underworld regularly uses bomb attacks as a means of settling scores with their rivals. An explosion on Tuesday evening near the capital’s law courts injured two people, who were reportedly trying to set the bomb in front of lawyers’ offices.

Bulgaria, which joined the European Union in 2007, has been regularly criticised by Brussels for its failure to take more effective action against crime and corruption in the country.

Abdullah Gul arrived in Armenia to watch a Turkey vs. Armenia World Cup qualifier game with President Serge Sarkisian that many hope will help the two countries overcome decades of antagonism rooted in Ottoman-era massacres of Armenians.

Gul is the first Turkish leader to set foot in Armenia since the ex-Soviet nation declared independence in 1991. The two neighbors have no diplomatic ties and their border has been closed since 1993.

Historians estimate up to 1.5 million Armenians were killed by Ottoman Turks around the time of World War I, an event widely viewed by genocide scholars as the first genocide of the 20th century. Turkey, however, denies the deaths constituted genocide, saying the toll has been inflated and those killed were victims of civil war and unrest.

As Gul left the airport, the presidential motorcade drove along streets lined with thousands of people holding up placards, mostly in English and Armenian, that read: “We want justice,” “Turk admit your guilt,” and “1915 never again.”

He was talking to a six-member bi-partisan US Congressional delegation which called on him here at the Prime Minister House this afternoon.

While briefing the US Congress delegation on Pakistan’s Presidential elections, the Prime Minister said that with the election of Asif Ali Zardari as President of Pakistan with overwhelming majority, the democratic process in the country had been completed.

The delegation included Congressman Jim Cooper, Democrat Tennessee, Member of the House Armed Services Committee, Congresswoman Nancy Boyda, Democrat

Kansas, Member of the House Armed Services Committee, Congressman Thomas Petri, Republican Wisconsin, Member of the House Committee on Education and Labour, Congressman Jon Porter, Republican Nevada, Member of the House Ways and Means Committee, and Congressman Dave Reichert, Republican Washington, Member of House Homeland Security Committee.

US Ambassador Ms. Anne W Patterson was also present in the meeting.

The IRNA report says the maneuver is aimed at improving defensive capabilities and will involve new weapons and tactics.

Sunday’s announcement comes amid heightened tension in Iran following Israel’s major military exercises involving war planes over the eastern Mediterranean in June. The exercise was described in the U.S. press as a possible rehearsal for a strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities.

The free float market capitalisation based KSE-30 index registered a meagre gain of 43.20 points on weekly basis and settleed at 10,241.25 points level. The market witnessed low trading activity and the average daily volume of ready market declined by 67 percent to 22.776 million shares as compared to previous week’s average of 69.6 million shares. The average daily turnover of the futures market decreased by 90 percent to 1.774 million shares against 17.416 million shares last week.

Market capitalisation increased by Rs 40 billion to Rs 2.921 trillion. Foreign investors remained net sellers of shares and withdrew $3.305 million from the country’s equity market.

Dull trading was evident from the first day of the week due to investors’ lack of interest and the KSE-100 index witnessed a meagre gain of 1.89 points to close at 9,210.15 points level on Monday. The index increased by 19.36 points to close at 9,229.51 points on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, the index gained 9.64 points to close at 9,239.15 points level, while the index remained almost flat on Thursday to close at 9,239.26 points, up by only 0.11 points. However, trading activity increased on the last day of the week and the index surged by 102.93 points to close at 9,342.19 points level on Friday.

Bilal Hameed, an analyst at JS Global Capital, said that after the regulators decided to implement a price floor on share trading on August 27, 2008, very little activity was witnessed at KSE. Although the market gained 134 points, average daily volume made a 9-week low to 22.776 million shares. KSE imposed this floor in order to provide a breather to the investors. However, this measure was not liked by certain sections in the local as well as foreign community. Worsening balance of payments situation continued with its pressure on the forex reserves which fell to $9.13 billion, more than five year low. All eyes were on the presidential elections as market expects things to stabilise and political uncertainty will remove, he added.

In Asian morning trade, New York’s main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in October rose 2.37 dollars to 108.60 dollars a barrel from its close in New York floor trading on Friday.

Brent North Sea crude for October surged 2.57 dollars to 106.66 dollars a barrel.

The hurricane slammed into Cuba on Sunday, becoming the second major storm to hit the island in little over a week, making landfall in the eastern province of Holguin, weather officials said.

Ike, packing 120 mile (195 kilometre) per hour winds, earlier left dozens of people dead in a rampage across Haiti.

“Oil prices are reacting to the threat of Hurricane Ike, which is heading toward the Gulf of Mexico,” said Victor Shum, an analyst with energy consultancy Purvin and Gertz in Singapore.

“In the short term, hurricanes will determine the price direction of crude oil,” he added.

Prices had been declining due to weakening energy demand as global economies slow down.

Shum said the market was also closely watching the results of a policy meeting on Tuesday by oil ministers of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) in Vienna.

OPEC ministers are expected to wrestle with the issue of falling oil prices. Some analysts were expecting the ministers to agree to trim output to help keep crude above 100 dollars a barrel.

The problem is, however, that Pakistan may not be able to wait that long.

He and others have warned that mass anger at rising food prices and lengthening electricity cuts could combine with hostility to the government’s campaign against the insurgents and to Pakistan’s alliance with America.

Pakistan’s new president, Asif Zardari of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), is already hated by much of the population, in part because he is seen as too pro-American.

Sharif’s popularity has soared in recent months, partly due to his opposition to Pakistani help to the Americans in Afghanistan and criticism of the Pakistan Army’s campaign against the insurgents.

This does not mean that the United States should treat Sharif as an enemy. If he comes to power, he will probably follow a course of pragmatic cooperation with Washington.

America should give emergency aid to the hundreds of thousands of people displaced by the Pakistani military offensives in Bajaur in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Swat in the North West Frontier Province.

These should be focused on the North West Frontier Province. The planned $750 million for the tribal areas is a good idea in itself, but given the security situation and lack of basic infrastructure in these areas, it will be many years before this money can be spent effectively. Meanwhile, the North West Frontier Province itself is in grave danger from the militants.

The loan is to be released in several instalments over 10 years to support Islamabad’s 5.2 billion-dollar power distribution enhancement programme, the Manila-based lender said.

National power grid is short of generating capacity, and suffers from poorly maintained transmission and distribution systems that lead to supply disruptions, ADB said.

System losses from distribution companies range between 10 and 33 percent.

“A secure and predictable electricity supply will lead to social and economic benefits and improve conditions for schools, hospitals and other social services,” said ADB energy specialist Rune Stroem.

The funding will focus on the distribution sector, which is burdened with worn out and overloaded infrastructure, power losses, capacity shortfalls and other constraints.

The top 5 scrips, by CFS investment, were AHSL, JSCL, OGDC, NBP and BAFL, which cumulatively accounted for 35 percent of total CFS investment. Open interest at the futures counter stood at Rs 2.90 billion, an increase of 14.67 percent, or Rs 0.37 billion. Top 5 scrips, by futures investment, were JSCL, Engro, ANL, AHSL and ATRL, cumulatively contributing 29 percent of total futures investment.

The LSE-25 index marginally improved by 29.60 points and closed at 2901.61 as compared to previous Friday’s closing of 2872.01, while transaction volume significantly reduced to 7.686 million shares as compared to 31.914 million shares of the last trading session of the previous week.

The unabated foreign selling discouraged the investors, who kept themselves at distance throughout the week, while the KSE board’s decision to cap the market also contributed to the market sluggishness. The bearish sentiments remained intact during the entire week and investors adopted ‘wait and see’ policy to avoid any loss.

On Monday, the market witnessed a record dull trading day and the index could just show a marginal gain of 1.69 points while shares volume also declined to considerably low of 1.237 million shares. All the shares were closed with marginal loss or marginal profit at the end of trading. The sentiments remained upset also because of the rising outflow, which can be evident from the depleting special convertible rupee account that registered a withdrawal of $213 million by the end of August 2008. The experts believed that artificial measures could not rescue the market for long-term and it has to move according to the market mechanism.

On Tuesday, the market remained once again under the grip of foreign sellers who kept on putting their offloading on sale at every level. However, the artificial measures adopted in a bid to check free-fall helped restrict market in narrow range that also resulted in low trading volumes. The deteriorating law and order situation, worsening balance of payment, and rapid decline in the rupee’s value were among the negative factors that kept the market under pressure. The investors also started eyeing on the results of the presidential elections so as enable to take their position in future.

On Wednesday, the market took start on positive note and kept on moving in the green zone throughout the day. Because of the artificially introduced measures, the market was forced to stay in green zone but it kept on moving around the opening level. Majority of the investors remained at distance and did not take interest in buying.

The market amid bullish sentiments fractionally improved by 0.23 points with slight increase in trading volume to 1,032 million shares. Among other factors, the rising interest rate also encouraged the investors to get out of the market, which did not remain more attractive for them as compared to banks’ profit.

The market kept on moving down on Thursday with insignificant increase in transaction volume. All the prime shares, including MCB Bank, Engro Chemical, PSO, Allied Bank, Kot Addu Power, Pioneer Cement, Bosicor Pakistan, and Pakistan Cement Company remained under pressure and closed with losses. The experts were of the view that market is unlikely to take direction till September 6 and its future mainly depends upon the post-election scenario.

The political instability has shattered the investors’ confidence very badly while the foreign investors have been persistently offloading their holdings since the worsening of the political situation. The investors were expecting that after the presidential election, the government would focus on improving the economic situation and also ensure political stability.

On the last trading session - Friday, the changing situation helped market recovery by over 36 points with marginal improvement in the trading volume. The market after opening on positive note kept on moving in narrow range due to lack of interest on the part of investors. The equities suffered losses for a short time, but aggressive buying in selective shares dragged the market into green zone during last 45 minutes’ trading.

The sentiments are likely to change in the current week mainly because of Asif Ali Zardari, who has been elected as 12th President of Pakistan. The experts were of the view that the single party government would be in a better position to evolve business-friendly policies and ensure their implementation. The Friday closing has also reflected the expected upward move on Monday.

Besides, the KSE board is also expected to hold its meeting on September 8 to review its earlier decision under which market was capped at August 27 level. Because of the celebration of presidential election, the market is expected to continue Friday’s bullish sentiments on Monday.

A suicide bombing killed 35 people. A U.S.-led raid from Afghanistan into Pakistan’s volatile northwest, apparently aimed at Taliban and al-Qaida militants, set off a firestorm of public criticism after it left at least 15 people dead.

The flagging economy showed no signs of rebounding, and the public wants quick results on all of them. Asif Ali Zardari may have easily won Saturday’s election by legislators, setting off jubilation by supporters of him and late wife Banazir Bhutto, but he is unlikely to have much time to relish the victory. Zardari kept out of the spotlight Sunday, preparing to be officially sworn in within a couple of days.

His party PPP and former ally PML-N are sure says Zardari’s election was simply a stop along the way to restoring full democracy in Pakistan.

But PML-N believes the transition requires yielding some presidential powers, which predecessor Pervez Musharraf increased since coming to power in a1999 military coup.

The president has the power to dissolve Parliament and appoint army chiefs, and chairs the joint civilian-military committee that controls Pakistan’s nuclear weapons.

Zardari is on the sharp edge of the learning curve now, a process that includes absorbing nuances of the complicated relationship Pakistan has with Washington, which provides billions of dollars in aid to its ally in the war on terrorism but wants Islamabad to do more to crack down on Islamic extremists in the militant-plagued tribal belt along the border, worried about rising violence in neighboring Afghanistan.

Even as legislators were voting Saturday, a massive suicide blast on the edge of the northwest city of Peshawar killed at least 35 people.

Zardari has vowed to be tough on militancy, but has a fine line to walk. Coming down too hard on insurgent activity risks inflaming public opinion and even a tribal reaction.

According to the Pakistan embassy, this was the first time that US government had disclosed the actual number of Pakistani prisoners being detained at Guantanamo bay.

US officials on the 19th of August handed over one prisoner to the custody of the Pakistan government, following successful negotiations.

The Pakistan embassy is also continuing to press for the release of Dr. Aafia Siddiqi, demanding that she be given access to any facilities she requires while in the U.S. and, eventually, repatriated to Pakistan.

Asif Zardari bagged 162 votes out of 163 cast in the house of 166 with one vote declared invalid. The result was announced by Presiding Officer, Chief Justice Sindh High Court, Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali immediately after the counting was over.

As soon as the Presiding Officer announced the result, the house burst into slogans of “Jiay Bhutto” and all the members hugged and congratulated each other.

The three MPAs who did not cast their votes were former chief minister Dr. Arbab Ghulam Rahim (PML-Q) who was in Dubai, Mir Nadir Ali Magsi (PPP) who has gone to Balochistan and Dr. Mohammed Ali Shah (MQM) who too has gone abroad.

All the 8 MPAs of PML-F, led by Jam Madad Ali, came to house during the final half- an- hour and cast their vote.

The three members of National Peoples Party of Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi also cast their votes earlier.

In the house of 166, not a single vote was cast in favour of any of the other two presidential candidates Sayed Mushahid Hussain and Justice (Rtd) Saeeduzzaman Siddiqi.

Nazim Union Council Shah Hussain Khan told Geo News that a group in agency has already announced to observe one-sided ceasefire.

The members of Hangu Peace Jirga had called for ceasefire in the area few days ago, which the other five extremist tribal groups have positively responded as they announce ceasefire on Sunday here, he added.

He said that tribes’ leaders have assured to settle their disputes through rounds of peace dialogues.

Kurram Agency witnessed months of clashes among the extremist tribes for several months, which have claimed several precious lives.

The participants which included Members of the Parliament, mostly women, also offered special prayers for the departed souls of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.

They prayed for the success of PPP Co-Chairman and President-elect Asif Ali Zardari in his endeavors to make the country more strong, stable and prosperous.

The participants also prayed to Allah Almighty to grant courage to President-elect Asif Ali Zardari to serve the country and nation with full dedication and make Pakistan as one of the developed countries in the comity of nations.

The political parties in Balochistan are saying that Balochistan issue is constitutional and Political therefore it needs to be solved through political means.

The major issues to be addressed are law and order situation, financial crises faced by provincial government and brining the nationalist forces out side the parliament on board.

The Baloch militants groups have already announced the suspension of militant activities for indefinite period that has welcomed from all political quarters in Balochistan.

People are optimistic and waiting when and how the PPP leadership would fulfill their promises. Only time can tell us till what extend Mr Zardi would meet their expectations.

PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif will go to Islamabad to congratulate President Elect Asif Ali Zardari which would be the first meeting between two leaders since August 7, when they had signed an agreement for restoring judges.

President elect Asif Zardari has already invited PML-N chief to attend oath-taking ceremony.

PML-N chief will leave for Lonon on Tuesday to meet his ailing wife who is going through a treatment in London.

Although meeting between two leaders seem to be a formal however political circles say both leaders cannot ignore judges issues since PML-N chief determine to restore remaining judges.

Political circles says some ice has broken between two leaders since PML-N left coalition and contested against Asif Zardari in the Presidential elections.

In his felicitation statement issued by MQM, Altaf Hussain also congratulated the leaders and workers of PPP, leaders, political and religious parties and the people on the victory of Asif Zardari for the office of the President nominated by PPP and MQM and other coalition partners.

He further said that expression of confidence by the elected members in Asif Zardari is a good omen for Pakistan.

Altaf Hussain hoped that the new President-elect Asif Ali Zardari would now use his expertise for the progress and prosperity of the country and well being of the people.

Altaf Hussain also congratulated Chief of the Pakistan Muslim League (Functional), Pir Pagaro and leader of National Peoples Party (NPP), Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi during his telephonic conversion and expressed his gratitude on casting their respective elected members votes to Asif Ali Zardari and added that his victory is a triumph of the people for that they deserve applauds.

Pir Pagaro said that the credit of galvanizing his support in favour of Asif Ali Zardari goes to Governor of Sindh, Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan.

“China and Pakistan are good neighboring countries linked by common mountains and rivers, and our two peoples are enjoying profound all-weather friendship,” Hu Jintao said in a message addressed to President-elect Asif Ali Zardari.

The Chinese President said, over the past 57 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China and Pakistan have politically been enjoying mutually beneficial, treating each other as equals, economically conducting mutually beneficial cooperation and common development, resulting in remarkable achievements and continuous expansion of exchanges and cooperation in many other areas.

“We have also been supporting each other and maintaining close coordination in international and regional affairs.”

He said the Sino-Pak friendship has brought concrete and tangible benefits for our two peoples and made positive contribution to the peace, stability and development of the region and the world at large.

According to the sources, those who showed the ballot papers before casting included Chief Minister, Amir Haider Hoti, Senior Minister, Bashir Bilour, Information Minister, Mian Iftikhar Hussain, Nargis Sameen and other MPAs.

It may be mentioned here that the presiding officer had to stop the voting after Nargis Sameen showed the stamped ballot paper. The process was resumed after the situation was brought under control.

Chief of Indian Congress party, Sonia Gandhi also congratulated Asif Zardari on the phone.

“The formation of new government in Pakistan has created new opportunities for both the countries to work jointly towards achieving the goals of peace, development and prosperity of the region,” Manmohan Singh said.

He said it is his political commitment to work with Asif Ali Zardari for making the most of the new opportunities and bringing positive improvement in bilateral ties.

“You will find India as your friend,” Manmohan told Zardari in his message.

New Delhi, (IANS) “Pichle Saat Dino Me” to “Sindbad the Sailor” - the “Rock On” cast enthralled the audience with their unconventional and contemporary numbers, as they performed their first-ever concert in the capital.

( This post is from an independent writer. The opinions and views expressed herein are those of the author and are not endorsed by APakistanNews.Com.)