US envoy meets Fazl

Published November 21, 2007

ISLAMABAD, Nov 20: The US ambassador to Pakistan met Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Tuesday, the embassy said, in the latest in a series of encounters with the country’s opposition leaders.

Anne Patterson met Maulana Fazl, embassy spokeswoman Elizabeth Colton said.

Patterson’s meeting with Maulana Fazl, who has previously voiced support for Afghanistan’s Taliban movement, came a day after she held talks with opposition leader Benazir Bhutto.

Patterson and Maulana Fazl discussed a range of issues, including “the importance of having free and fair elections”, Colton told AFP.

“She also discussed importance of lifting the state of emergency,” Colton said, adding that “it was a good meeting”. It was the US envoy’s second meeting with Maulana Fazl, Colton said. The first was before the imposition of emergency rule on Nov 3.

The ambassador is expected to meet other political leaders in coming days, she added.

Chief Election Commissioner Qazi Mohammad Farooq announced on Tuesday that general elections would be held on Jan 8 despite threats of a boycott by some opposition parties.

Reports here say neither Bhutto nor Rehman favour a boycott, while former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal leader Qazi Hussain Ahmad, do.—AFP

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.