Sharif, Zardari to join hands
In a major pre-poll political development, Pakistan’s two main opposition parties have decided to form a coalition government if they emerge as the largest groups in the February 18 general election to prevent the military from usurping power from elected lawmakers.
PML-N chief and former premier Nawaz Sharif assured Pakistan People’s Party co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari that his party would provide support to the PPP in forming a government without seeking a share in power.
Sharif told Zardari he would not seek any share in ministries for PML-N’s support in forming a government. Sharif also said he had been supporting the PPP despite the reservations of some leaders of his party, sources in the PML-N and PPP told the Dawn newspaper. Addressing reporters along with Sharif, Zardari said the PPP would invite the PML-N and “other democratic forces” to join a coalition even if the party won a majority.
Less time to read?
Try Quickreads
-
Salman Rushdie off ventilator and 'road to recovery has begun,' agent says
Salman Rushdie, the acclaimed author who was hospitalized on Friday with serious injuries after being repeatedly stabbed at a public appearance in New York state, is off a ventilator and his condition is improving, his agent and a son said on Sunday. One of Rushdie's sons said his father remained in critical condition but was able to say a few words after getting off the ventilator.
-
US lawmakers arrive in Taiwan amid China tensions
The de facto US embassy in Taipei said the delegation is being led by Senator Ed Markey, who is being accompanied by four other lawmakers on what it described as part of a larger visit to the Indo-Pacific region.
-
EU scolds Taliban after crackdown on women's rally
The EU on Sunday said it was "particularly concerned" about worsening conditions for women and girls in Afghanistan after the country's ruling Taliban violently broke up a women's rally. Taliban fighters on Saturday fired in the air and beat up protesters taking part in a women's "bread, work and freedom" march in Kabul. It also stressed that "Afghanistan must also not pose a security threat to any country" per UN Security Council resolutions.
-
41 killed in fire at Cairo Coptic church: Officials
A fire that broke out Sunday in a Coptic Christian church in Egypt's capital Cairo killed 41 people, church officials said. President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi declared on his Facebook page that "I have mobilised all state services to ensure that all measures are taken". Copts are the largest Christian community in the Middle East, making up at least 10 million of Egypt's 103 million people. Egypt has suffered several deadly fires in recent years.
-
One dead, 20 injured in explosion at Armenian market
An explosion at a retail market in the Armenian capital Yerevan on Sunday sparked a fire, killing one person and injuring 20, the emergency situations ministry said. Photos and videos posted on social media showed a thick column of black smoke over the market and successive detonations could be heard. The ministry said there were 10 firefighting trucks on the spot and another 10 were on their way.
