Pakistani lawyers and opposition parties prepared to launch a cross-country protest on Thursday, heading for a showdown with the government.

Pakistan was already under intense western pressure to act against extremists based in its tribal area.

Two politicians accused of brutal attitudes towards women have been made Cabinet ministers in Pakistan, causing outrage among human rights activists.

A US diplomat whose armoured vehicle was ambushed by suspected Islamic militants in Peshawar in August was unharmed.

With the army poised for a coup and the Taliban winning hearts, Zardari doesn’t stand a chance.