Coalition meeting to discuss Musharraf's replacement

Leaders of Pakistan's ruling coalition are to meet later today to discuss a replacement for Pervez Musharraf and the fate of dozens of deposed judges, a party spokesman said. The meeting comes a day after key US ally Mr Musharraf resigned in the face of impeachment charges, nine years after he seized power of the nuclear-armed nation in a military coup. "The leaders will discuss the post-Musharraf resignation issues, including the election to the presidency, the restoration of judges and the political situation," Farhatullah Babar, a spokesman for the party of the assassinated former premier Benazir Bhutto said. Ms Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party is the biggest in the coalition, followed by the Pakistan Muslim League-N of 1990s prime minister Nawaz Sharif and a clutch of ethnic and religious parties. The meeting will take place at the Islamabad residence of Asif Ali Zardari, Ms Bhutto's widower, Mr Babar said. The senate chairman Mohammedmian Soomro took over as acting president yesterday and will hold the office until the election of a new head of the state. "The election of a new president must take place within 30 days of the post being vacated," the election commission spokesman Kanwar Dilshad said. Officials say the coalition is considering a candidate from one of Pakistan's smaller provinces, including Mehmud Khan Achakzai from southwestern Baluchistan province, and Aftab Shoban Mirani from southern Sindh province. It could also opt for a female candidate including the speaker of the national assembly, or lower house of parliament, Fehmida Mirza, or Mr Zardari's sister Faryal Talpur, the officials added. Separately, a law minister, Farooq Naik, said the coalition was likely to decide the future of judges sacked by Mr Musharraf under a state of emergency in November in order to push through his re-election as president. "The issue of judges is likely to be resolved today," Mr Naik said. Mr Zardari and Mr Sharif agreed in May to restore the judges, including former chief justice and anti-Musharraf icon Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, but have failed to do so. Information Minister Sherry Rehman however said that the meeting was unlikely to reach any final conclusions. "Important political issues will be discussed by coalition partners. I cannot say final decisions will be announced today. No decision will be taken in haste," she told reporters. *AFP

A new relationship with the old country

Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates

The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:

ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.

ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.

ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.

ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.

DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.

Signed

Geoffrey Arthur Sheikh Zayed

Coalition meeting to discuss Musharraf's replacement

Leaders of Pakistan's ruling coalition are to meet later today to discuss a replacement for Pervez Musharraf.

A new relationship with the old country