March 25, 2008

New Pakistani Prime Minister Sworn In Today!

The shift has occurred in Pakistan FINALLY! At least Benazir Bhutto's life was NOT taken in VAIN! May she rest in peace. At least NOW we have one LESS Military Dictatorship Regime in power... Click here to read what I wrote about Benazir Bhutto the day she was assassinated!

Understand that we must allow this NEW democratic government to represent their country INDEPENDENTLY and lead their people to become a more unified nation. President Bush should have waited at least a day or two before he sent his U.S. convoy into Pakistan to begin meddling! How can this NEW democratic government work effectively against the terrorist if the U.S. is standing right in front of them?! It is NOT our country. Pakistan is a sovereign NATION! Even INDIA is happy with the new political changes that are taking place in Pakistan. Now that is a beautiful thing...

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) — President Pervez Musharraf swore in a loyalist of slain ex-leader Benazir Bhutto as prime minister Tuesday, while two top American envoys held talks with Pakistan's old and new leaders in what some viewed as an ill-timed visit.

Yousaf Raza Gilani, who will front a new government vowing to cut back the U.S.-backed president's powers, took the oath from Musharraf at a stiff ceremony in Islamabad.

Members of Gilani's party chanted "Long Live Bhutto!" after the formalities were complete.

The new government will include the party of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who was ousted when Musharraf first seized power in a military coup in 1999.

The coalition partners have vowed to shift power from the presidency to parliament and review Musharraf's counterterrorism policies. Many Pakistanis resent his support of Washington's aggressive campaign against al-Qaida and the Taliban — which are believed to operate in Pakistan's tribal and border regions — claiming it has stoked a bloody backlash.

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte and Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Richard Boucher arrived in Islamabad early Tuesday and held talks with Sharif just as the new premier was being sworn in. They then visited Musharraf at the presidential palace.

Their presence on the day when the new prime minister was inducted would signal to both Islamic extremists and moderates that "here are the Americans, right here in Islamabad, meeting with senior politicians in the new government, trying to dictate terms," Abbas said.
"The problem with the Americans is they don't understand the domestic pressure on the new government," Abbas said. "People are expecting this government to explore other possibilities for a solution to what's happening in the tribal areas."

The new civilian rulers have said they would negotiate with some militant groups, rather than rely on military force. Parliament elected Gilani as premier on Monday, five weeks after the opposition swept parliamentary elections supposed to return Pakistan to democracy after eight years of military rule under Musharraf. Bhutto's party, now led by her widower Asif Ali Zardari, earned the most votes.

In a move that heralds a showdown with the former army strongman, Gilani immediately prompted authorities to release senior judges ousted and put under house arrest when Musharraf imposed emergency rule last year.

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