Zardari

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani appeared Thursday before a Supreme Court panel to defend himself in contempt-of-court proceedings, staving off an immediate ruling in a high-stakes case that could lead to his ouster and jeopardize his party's hold on government. The high court initiated contempt proceedings against Gilani this week, contending that he had deliberately ignored its frequent demands to pursue long-standing corruption allegations against his boss, President Asif Ali Zardari.

Ratcheting up pressure on Pakistan's embattled civilian government, the nation's Supreme Court on Tuesday threatened to dismiss Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani from office if he does not revive corruption proceedings against President Asif Ali Zardari. Gilani and Zardari, who heads the ruling Pakistan People's Party, are struggling to survive withering attacks from the country's military and judiciary, both powerful institutions that harbor long-standing animosity for the two civilian leaders.

Did he, or didn't he? All over Pakistan, people are asking whether Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari approved a memo asking for Washington's help in reining in the country's powerful military. The answer could play a role in whether Zardari, already deeply unpopular with both the public and the military, stays in power. The scandal scorching the airwaves in Pakistani cities and towns now has a name — Memogate — and it is sparking talk of early elections. At the center of it all is Pakistani American businessman Mansoor Ijaz, who says a senior Pakistani diplomat asked him to convey a letter to Washington seeking its help in preventing a military takeover of Zardari's administration.

During the stormy years Benazir Bhutto ruled Pakistan, her husband was a top power broker and a prime target of corruption allegations that toppled her. The assassination of the former prime minister has pushed her husband, Asif Ali Zardari, back into the heart of the storm. Their political party this week named Zardari to run its day-to-day affairs while appointing the couple's 19-year-old son to the ceremonial role of chairman.

In a determined show of solidarity, the presidents of Afghanistan and Pakistan declared Tuesday that they stood together in the fight against the Taliban and Al Qaeda, but they discreetly acknowledged that their common alliance with the United States was fraught with political peril for each of them. The unusual joint appearance came just hours after Asif Ali Zardari, the widower of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, was sworn in as president of Pakistan. Many of his compatriots view Zardari as an untested leader who will have to work hard to overcome a corruption-clouded past and a wheeler-dealer image.

The ascension of Benazir Bhutto's widower to the presidency marked an emotional moment Saturday for the slain leader's supporters, but many Pakistanis wondered whether a political novice such as Asif Ali Zardari could successfully tackle the country's daunting problems. Chants of "Long live Bhutto!" rang out in parliamentary chambers as regional and national lawmakers cast ballots overwhelmingly electing Zardari to replace Pervez Musharraf, the longtime U.S. ally who stepped down last month to avoid impeachment charges.

In its standoff with President Asif Ali Zardari's administration, Pakistan's powerful military is relying on an institution that experts say is equally antagonistic toward the civilian government: the country's high court. The Pakistani capital has been awash with rumors that the army, which is fed up with a civilian government defined by corruption and ineffectiveness, is planning a coup. But as the rift between civilian leaders and the security establishment widens, it's becoming clear that a military takeover isn't what the generals envision.

SHAH BANDAR, Pakistan - In his dreams, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari sees a spectacular metropolis rising up from the vast stretches of mangrove swamp and sea-salted wasteland along the mighty Indus River Delta. High-speed rail zips people from place to place. Vacationers soak up the South Asian sun at seaside resorts. Universities, factories and a new seaport pump vitality into the region. Miles of bike lanes crisscross the city, whose population would eventually reach 10 million.

Pakistan has made a good start in detaining two suspected commanders of last month's coordinated assault on the Indian financial capital of Mumbai, and now it must persevere against the banned Islamic militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba and its network of support. The arrests of Lashkar operations chief Zaki ur Rehman Lakhvi and his deputy, Zarrar Shah, come amid mounting evidence that extensive planning and training went into the attacks from Pakistan. The nine dead gunmen came from Pakistan, and a survivor in custody reportedly told Indian police that another 20 militants trained with them there for such suicide missions.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - Throughout his presidency, Pakistan's Asif Ali Zardari has looked over his shoulder. Would the military bounce him from office? Would an aggressive Supreme Court find a legal lever to send him packing? Would infighting and dissent erode his fragile coalition government? Now, as he and his government make history by becoming the first civilian administration to ever complete its five-year term - despite public approval ratings as low as 14% - Zardari's legacy is clear.