Pakistani journalist claims life under threat following U.S agency expose

October 24th, 2009 LAHORE - For the first time in history, Pakistan is facing diplomatic and domestic challenges at the same time, with deteriorating bilateral relations with the US, Iran and India and dismal security situation within the country, a senior Pakistani journalist has said. A private TV channel quoted Daily Times Editor-in-Chief Najam Sethi, as saying that Pakistan's situation would further deteriorate if President Asif Ali Zardari and PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif fail to pull the country out of its current crises by putting their political differences aside.

October 9th, 2009 WASHINGTON - The United States has rejected apprehensions regarding a threat to the Zardari government following the Pakistan Army's open criticism of the controversial Kerry-Lugar Bill. US Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs PJ Crowley told media persons here that there was no threat to the Pakistan government in view of the military's opposition of the Kerry Lugar Bill.

October 8th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Dispelling fears raised by the Pakistan Army that the Kerry Lugar bill is a compromise on the country's sovereignty, US Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs P.J. Crowley said "we are not going to impose US solutions on Pakistani problems".

September 26th, 2009 LAHORE - Pakistan Ambassador to the United States Hussain Haqqani has once again raised the issue of India being a threat to the country, The Daily Times reports. In an interview to a private television channel, Haqqani said: "India posed the greatest security threat to Pakistan and the Pakistan Army would play its role in this regard." It is worth mentioning here that, in the recent past, the United States has been pressing Pakistan to focus more on the internal threat posed by the Taliban and other extremist groups based on its soil rather than remain in 'war preparedness' against India.

August 16th, 2009 LAHORE - Threat from India still looms large over Pakistan, well known Pakistani journalist and Chairman Nazria Pakistan Trust Majid Nizami has said. Addressing the seventh ideological training workshop of teachers organised by Nazria Pakistan Trust, Nizami criticised President Asif Ali Zardari for saying that India no longer remained a threat for Pakistan.

August 12th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Around 500 prisoners out of 80,000 will benefit from the remissions approved Wednesday by Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari ahead of Independence Day, Aug 14. The approvals came on the advice of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, APP news agency reported.

July 27th, 2009 MELBOURNE - An Indian journalist, who was working undercover to expose migration and education scams in Australia, was assaulted over the weekend. The scribe was attacked when she was working on a report for the Four Corners programme, ABC News online reported Monday.

July 3rd, 2009 ISLAMABAD - The Pakistani police have arrested a terrorist considered to be an expert in making suicide bomb vests, a media report said Friday. Zahid Iqbal was captured in a joint operation by the police and the Crime Investigation Department (CID) in the Pakistani capital.

June 13th, 2009 LAHORE - Pakistan has rejected the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) chief, Leon Panetta's claims that Osama Bin Laden is hiding in the country. Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari's spokesman Farhatullah Babar rebuffed Panetta's claims, saying reports about Bin Laden's presence in Pakistan do not have an iota of truth in them.

May 28th, 2009 LAHORE - The US Central Command chief General David Petraeus has said that Pakistan has now realized the existential threat posed by the Taliban. In an interview to a foreign radio channel, General Petraeus said : "The four major elements of Pakistani society, the government, the opposition, the military and the civilians, realise that Pakistan must oppose and confront the Taliban, who pose a threat to the Pakistani state." He said there has been a major shift of opinion among the people of the country towards the Taliban, as they now realize that the outlawed outfit only fosters oppression.

April 29th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistani Taliban have threatened the media of dire consequences if any statement or report is published against them, the Online news agency reported. Posters have been put on display before the offices of news channels and newspapers on behalf of a Taliban commander, wherein it is alleged that the media has published negative reports about Taliban.

April 25th, 2009 WASHINGTON - The United States has once again urged Pakistan to focus more on the Taliban threat that is challenging its very existence rather than its arch rival India. Addressing the House Appropriations Committee, CENTCOM chief General.

April 18th, 2009 TEHRAN - An American-Iranian journalist has been jailed for eight years in Tehran after being accused of spying for the United States. er lawyer and family revealed that 31-year-old Roxana Saberi had been convicted and sentenced.

February 17th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - A Pakistani journalist with Geo TV was shot dead Wednesday in the country's northwest, two days after Islamabad allowed the Taliban to impose Shariat (Islamic law) in the area. Geo TV said unidentified gunmen shot dead Musa Khan Khel in Matta area of Swat Valley in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP).

February 17th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistani journalist Mosa Khankhel, a correspondent for Geo TV and The News, died with his boots on as he headed for Swat in the country's restive northwest to report on peace talks between a radical cleric and his son-in-law who heads the Taliban that controls the area. Unidentified gunmen shot Khankhel dead at Matta, near Swat, where the peace talks were to be held.