Pakistan: A Week in the Headlines

A bus in Pakistan, taken from the PCR Project Co-Directors trip to Pakistan in April 2008. The “ U.S. attack” in Damadola last week dominated headlines in Pakistan. The nearly 20 killed prompted an outcry from the Pakistani public at Washington’s silence on the attack. Many view the attack as Washington trying to subvert the negotiations between the Pakistan government and the militants. Over the weekend, there was a suicide attack in Mardan, (NWFP), many say as a rebuke to the attack last week (14 killed). During the ongoing peace negotiations between the ANP and Baitullah Mehsud's Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in the NWFP, twenty militants were released from jail in exchange for twelve security personnel soldiers. A spokesman for Mehsud said on Sunday that the government and TTP militants were ready to swap about 330 prisoners in exchange for 80 soldiers and government officials as the two sides prepared to sign a formal agreement for peace in the NWFP and tribal region. PM Gilani provided a different view: “One thing should be clear,” Gilani told journalists at the World Economic Forum for the Middle East . “We will not have a dialogue with militants, we will not have dialogue with extremists or terrorists.” ”We only have dialogue with those forces, these tribals, who decomission themselves.” The NWFP government has agreed to implement Shariah laws in Malakand division within a month. The Jaipur bombings in India created a stirring in Pakistan. India’s foreign secretary is set to head to Islamabad to jump-start a peace process with the new civilian government. Some are speculating Washington could use India to pressure Islamabad in taking a "tougher stance" against terrorism and its spread across Pakistan's borders. In political news, PM Gilani rejected the notion of restoring the chief justices, saying parallel justices are impossible. He went on to explain, his party is, however, committed to the restoration of the 1973 constitution and a free media and judiciary. The PPP's “controversial” appointment of business-cum-media tycoon Salman Taseer as new Governor in the Punjab province caused a small alarm to the PML-N, however a spokesman for the party claims the “irritant” appointment will not lead to a total breakdown in ties with the PPP. (He was the federal minister in the last caretaker government and is very close to President Pervez Musharraf. He was also an active leader of the PPP in both in the 1988 and 1993 PPP government and was appointed at an important position. The PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari is also a friend of Salmaan Taseer -- The News). Some speculate that the appointment was an attempt by Musharraf, who ultimately has the power to select the governor out of three nominees, to exert his influence. Others say Musharraf’s influence is overstated and the PPP were the ones who wanted Taseer as governor.