Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari has expressed support for a main rival to take power in a key province.
In an address to parliament Saturday, Mr. Zardari called for an end to federal government rule in Punjab province.
He said he would support a government in Punjab headed by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
The
move aims to mend a political rift that flared last month when the
Supreme Court upheld a ruling that banned Mr. Sharif from elected
office. The decision also removed his brother, Shabaz, as chief
minister of Punjab. Mr. Sharif accused President Zardari of being
behind the court ruling - a charge the president denies.
In violence Saturday, Pakistani security officials say troops killed 26 Islamist militants in Mohmand tribal region.
In
a separate development, Pakistani police say militants launched an
attack targeting supplies bound for U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan.
The militants attacked the Farhad supply terminal outside the city of Peshawar, damaging 12 shipping containers.
The attack came one day after a deadly suicide bombing at a mosque in the town of Jamrud in the Khyber tribal region.
At least 50 people died and more than 70 others were wounded.
Mourners gathered Saturday to bury the victims.
There
has been no claim of responsibility but officials suspect the Taliban
are responsible. Security officials say two men have been detained in
connection with the bombing.
News
