Pervez Musharraf

August 18, 2008 -- Chicago, IL - "President Musharraf has made the right decision to step down as President of Pakistan. It is in the interests of his country and the Pakistani people to end the political crisis that has immobilized the coalition government for too long. I have long said that the central terrorist threat to the United States lies in northwest Pakistan and Afghanistan, and not Iraq.

US policy must focus on assuring that all elements of Pakistan's government are resolute in shutting down the safe havens for al Qaeda and the Taliban. There can be no safehaven for terrorists who threaten the American people.    » read more »

Call Comes During Four-Day Visit to Pakistan

May 27, 2008 -- Islamabad, Pakistan - Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI), during a four-day visit to Pakistan, called for the immediate and unconditional restoration of Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry and all other judges illegally removed by President Pervez Musharraf during last year's emergency rule.

A colorful bus in Pakistan: Photo by Steve Evans (CC)

Senator Feingold also urged the Bush Administration to end its silence on the issue.    » read more »

12 January 2008 -- Pakistan's President Prevez Musharraf has ruled out a U.N. inquiry into the assassination of opposition leader and former prime minister, Benazir Bhutto.

Ms. Bhutto's party has been calling for a U.N. investigation, comparing her death to the 2005 killing of former Lebanese prime minister, Rafik Hariri. Many Lebanese blame Syria for that killing.    » read more »

21 December 2007 -- Pakistani officials say at least 50 people have been killed in a suicide bombing at a mosque in the restive northwest, during prayers for the Muslim Eid al-Adha festival.

Officials say dozens more were wounded in the blast that took place Friday at the mosque inside the residential compound of former interior minister, Aftab Sherpao, in Charsadda - a district in North West Frontier Province.

Local police say the attacker blew himself up in a row of worshippers behind Sherpao and his son. A spokesman said both father and son escaped unhurt.    » read more »

December 17, 2007 -- Washington, DC – Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (D-DE) issued the following statement today after speaking by phone with Pakistan’s President Pervaiz Musharraf:    » read more »

07 December 2007 -- A senior U.S. State Department official predicts elections in Pakistan scheduled for January 8 will not be perfect, but he says it will be an important step in the country's transition to democracy. At a congressional hearing on Capitol Hill, the official defended U.S. aid to Pakistan, a key ally in the "war on terror".

Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Richard Boucher offered his prediction about upcoming parliamentary elections in Pakistan. "It is not going to be perfect," he said.    » read more »

28 November 2007 -- Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has stepped down as chief of the army in a ceremony transferring power to his hand-picked successor, General Ashfaq Kayani.

The resignation fulfills Mr. Musharraf's promise to resign his military command once his re-election as president was confirmed by the Supreme Court. That confirmation came last week.    » read more »