1. Pakistan: Domestic Situation
In a speech televised live both in India and Pakistan, President Pervez Musharraf announced a wide-ranging crack down on five militant Islamic groups. Political parties in Pakistan had mixed response to the President's speech. The Pakistan police has shut down the offices and arrested the leaders of the five banned groups. Over 1,900 members of militant religious groups have been arrested so far.
"Crackdown on banned religious groups"
"Lashkar, Jaish, TJP, TNSM & SSP banned; ST under watch"
"Pakistan may ban Al Badar,"
"PPP, PML-N criticise speech, others hail"
"Religious parties, Jihadi outfits assail ban"
According to a report in the daily News, Pakistan, supporters of the five banned militant groups have moved underground.
"Jihadi outfits going underground"
A government building in Islamabad, Pakistan, that housed offices of several federal ministries, including the Home Ministry, was completely destroyed in a fire. There have been speculations that the fire might have destroyed, among other government papers, records on extremist religious groups kept by the Home Ministry. According to Syed Saleem Shahzad of the Asia Times, the fire "sends a very strong message of just what the reform process in Pakistan can expect."
"Terrorism feared in fire"
"Confidential record of militant groups not destroyed in fire"
"Not all are in step with the general"
Uwe Parpart, editor of the Asia Times, believes that Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf "wants to transform Pakistan into a modern secular and prosperous state."
"Musharraf: Can this man change Pakistan?"
Writing for the Far Eastern Economic Review, journalist and author Ahmad Rashid reports on President Musharraf's crack down on militant Islamic groups.
"Tackling the militants"
Muzaffar Iqbal, a freelance journalist, argues that reforming religious schools is not enough; rather the whole education system of Pakistan needs to be reformed. In his essay for the daily Dawn, Pakistan, Shahid Javed Burki suggests various steps to improve education in Pakistan.
"Madaris reform"
"Saving education sector"
The Pakistan government has announced basic changes in the country's electoral system.
"Next polls on basis of joint electorate"