EID MUBARAK...........Pakistan

Pakistan’s Natural Riches: A Report

There are many among the youth of our country who underestimate the beauty of Pakistan; they fail to see the treasures hidden under the cultural landscape and look at it condescendingly, comparing it to other countries with superficial “luxuries” to offer. Among the many things that are unwary of, they do not know that this wondrous land which is the sixth most populous country in the world, boasts the second largest Muslim (and Shi’ite Muslim) population, only after Indonesia. It has been listed as one of the next eleven economies identified by Goldman Sachs investment bank and is believed to have a high potential of becoming the world’s largest economies in the 21st century, Insha’ALLAH.
This land of the pure has natural resources in such abundance that it can sustain itself for many years ahead. Scientific investigation and exploration, into the resources, have only really been under way for a few years; the equipments used are obsolete and outdated, while the analysis is incomplete. Regardless of all the constraints, it is believed that all of while has been identified so far is a mere tip of the iceberg.

Keeping that into consideration, the Pakistani Government should be wary and cautious of the west’s initiatives, which include physical or technical penetration into the country; with special attention to wherever the US is concerned. One cannot help but wonder, is the ‘war on terror’ for real? Have any of the previous U.S. claims been credible enough for any country to defy the popular opinion, and compromise its integrity and national sovereignty? Is it possible that the so called ‘war on terror’ is a curtain hiding the real true agenda for their excuse to invade a country and rob and plunder those countries natural resources? It is now a commonly acknowledged fact that the presence of weapons of mass destruction (WMD’s) and the ‘restoration of democracy’ was a fabrication of their imagination; the real motive could have been strategic occupation, control of resources, political domination and/or a military exercise. Could the theory regarding control of its oil be true after all? Contrary to what is believed, The Soviet did not intend to conquer Afghanistan; it was induced to do so when CIA intervened with the mujahedeen plight and avenge the aftermath of the Vietnam War. This however does not mean that Afghanistan was not a temptation, since natural resources were stored in tiny huts for several years after being exploited by the Soviet; this is evident from the soil cores which were drilled deep in various parts of the country and were ‘discovered’ when the US Air force deliberately bombed these storage facilities. Understandably, the US Army (assisted by the CIA) had initially collected the information which they needed to conduct their research on the wealth of Afghanistan and in order to determine the costs and the benefits of their involvement. In 2007 -2008, a team of scientists and technicians was sent to Afghanistan by the World Bank (WB) to evaluate and analyze the status of the country and identify the resources which could be “beneficial for the reconstruction of the country, plagued by war”. The World Bank’s assessment reported that Afghanistan had enough resources to be self sufficient and sustain its economy by becoming a major exporter of the finest copper, natural gas, and many other resources. Which brings us back to Pakistan; it is believed that the extent of analysis of the natural resources is limited due to restraints of funds, equipment, trained personnel and mainly corruption.
Pakistan is a producer of crude oil, natural dry and liquid gases, coal, and hydroelectric energy, as well as its substantial amounts of natural resource in minerals. Below is a more detailed list of information of these natural resources.
Crude Oil
The oldest and largest Exploration and Production Company is the Pakistan Petroleum Ltd, (PPL) incorporated in June 1950. First oil discovery was in 1952 Baluchistan near a giant Sui gas field and search intensified in 1980’s for oil and natural gases. Oil & Gas are two of the major components of Pakistan’s Energy mix contributing more than 80% to the 60.4 million of energy requirement in Pakistan. A number of new fields are in Potwar Plateau – Punjab and in Sind. But as demand for oil out numbers the amounts produced Pakistan imports crude oil.
Natural Gas
The largest natural gas deposit is at Sui (on the border between Baluchistan and Punjab) initially discovered in 1953. A smaller field was discovered in 1957 in Sind – Mari. Natural gas production is at a relatively high level. PPL contributes 25% of Pakistan’s gas production. The Company’s holds operators on major oil and gas fields including Sui, Kandhkot, Adhi and Mazarani, while its non-operated portfolio includes interests in the Qadirpur, Miano, Sawan and Tal fields. The Company’s exploration portfolio includes operated and non-operated joint ventures in 10 onshore blocks and 2 offshore blocks. As it can be seen the production of Gas and Oil is on the increase, and resources will eventually run out hence the reason to search for new energy sources such as
PPL Production




FY 2003
FY 2004
FY 2005
Oil/NGL (barrels per day)
1,353
1,697
1,759
Natural Gas (million cubic feet per day)
910
942
948
Coal
Coal mining is one of the country’s oldest industries. Geological investigation has shown that Pakistan has 185 billion tones of coal mainly in Sindh- Lakhra, Sonda-Thatta, Jherruck, Thar, and others. There are smaller deposits in the Punjab – Eastern Salt Range, Central Salt Range and Makerwal. Smallest deposits are present in Baluchistan. Lakhra Coal Development Company Limited (LCDC) is the major company involved in the production of coal. Usually quality of coal is of grade2 or 3. Again like crude oil the consumption is much higher than the production.
Although energy production has grown faster than the economy as a whole, it is not kept pace with demand, and as a result there are shortages of fuel and electric power. The bulk of power requirements are provided by thermal plants (crude oil, coal and natural gas), with most of the remainder provided by hydroelectric installations.
Hydroelectric Energy
Hydroelectricity is electricity generated by hydropower, i.e., the production of power through use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. It is on of the most widely used form of renewable energy. Once a hydroelectric complex is constructed, the project produces no direct waste, and has a considerably lower output level of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2) than fossil fuel (crude oil, Coal, and natural gases) powered energy plants. The Pakistani Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) are responsible for the generation, transmission and distribution of power.
The first ever constructed dam was Mangla Dam in the Mirpur District in 1961, this project was undertaken to strengthen the irrigation system but was damaged due to an Indian Air Force raid during the Indo-Pakistan War in 1971. The hydro project was later on developed. The power station consists of 10 turbine units each with the capacity of producing 100 Mega Watts.
After the success of the Mangla Dam demand for more electricity increased exponentially and projects for further such hydroelectricity power stations commenced. Such as the Tarbela Dam located northwest of Islamabad, the largest earth filled dam in the world was completed in 1974 specifically for hydroelectric power. Due to low sedimentation than expected it is now predicted to have a useful life span up to 2060. Downstream from this dam a smaller dam Ghazi Barotha Dam is a power generation project.
There are 2 other dam projects in the pipeline Diamer-Bhasha dam in the northern areas of Pakistan and Kalabagh Dam, but due to political wrangling amongst various sectors of Pakistan Kalabagh dam is postponed.
Overall Pakistan has the capacity to produce enough hydroelectric energy to supply all of Pakistan and even supply neighboring countries and cut short the use of thermal plants. Such events will surly lead Pakistan as a leader in south Asia in Greener energy supplies.
Nuclear Plants
There are two nuclear power plants, the Karachi Nuclear Power plant (completed in 1972) and Chashmar-1 plant (2000) at Kundian – Punjab. How much electricity actually is consumed by Pakistan is not very clear but Western documentation suggests power generated and contributed by the nuclear plants is very small. It’s also ideal to remember that Pakistan has had a long history of exporting small amounts of Uranium to the west, during which there were no issues raised then. Issues and eyebrows were raised only when Pakistan started recently using some of its own Uranium in it own nuclear power plants and weapons programs. Uranium deposits are found in Tumman Leghari mine in South Punjab, Baghalchur mine, Dera Ghazi Khan Mine and Issa Khel / Kubul Kel mines in, Mianwali District.
Mineral
The Mineral investigation is far from complete, indicating Pakistan has a rich resource of many different minerals enough to sustain itself and export on the international market. A list of these minerals with small amounts of details
Mineral
Location & Description
Use
Iron Ore Kalabagh – Chichali – Punjab and Dilband- Kalat Baluchistan have hematitic Ore where 30-45% is Iron (Fe) there is estimated to be 200 Million tonnes present. Making of steel, construction,
Gypsum Deposits found in NWFP, Punjab, Sindh & Baluchistan where over a billion tonnes of reserves of gypsum an hydrate is present where by 30%-40% is CaO. There is a wide variety of application for this. One of the main ingredient for cement industry,
Marble (Soft Decorative Salt) Marble and similar stones such as Onyx are found in abundance and with such varieties of colours, shades and fabrics in inexhaustible quantities. Pakistan is known for its onyx exporter. Deposits are found in NWFP, Northern areas of Azad Jammu Kashmir, Federally Administered Tribal areas, Baluchistan and some areas of Punjab. Used in architecture, making of roads, cement, as reservoirs of petroleum and glass making
Hand Decorative Stones eg Granite Hugh amounts of Granites and basalt are found with a variety of colours ranging from black, olive, green, grey, salt & pepper and white granites found in Swat (NWFP, Baluchistan, Sindh, and the Himalayas Jewellery and decorative items
Gem Stones Found mainly in northern parts of country. Out of the 25 precious and semi precious stones and minerals 7 are intermittently exploited and marketed all over the world.Emeralds: Swat, Rubies: of Azad Jumma Kashmir and Gilgit and Hunza Ishkoman, Pink Topaz: from Katlang – Mardan, Aquamarine and Tourmalin: of Giligt & Chitral, Pedidot: in Kohistan & Pargasite of Hunzia. Excellent crystal clarity, range o size/weight meeting any International standards Jewellery and decorative items
Copper 400 Million tonnes of copper is present in Chagr also present in Darband Choh Ziarat, Pir Sultan, Kabul Koh & Missi For electrical engineering and transmission, wires and equipments; alloys of copper can be used for various purposes in MEP (Mechanical Electrical and Plumbing)
Lead – Zinc Found in Bela Khuzdar Lead is resistant to radioactivity, thus insulates the reserves, for batteries, PVC and high voltage power cables. Zinc is used in paints, batteries; it has uses in X Ray and Television screens
Chromites Deposits of 30,000 tonnes found in Chagai – Raskoh, 0.6 Million tonnes in Chilas complex Important refractory material, has high stability in intense heat
Fluorite Maran & Pad Marun & Dilband District of Qalal-Bal estimating 0.1 Million tonnes. used to lower the melting point of raw materials in production of steel to aid the removal of impurities; can be made into hydrofluoric acid, used for oil refining and can also be used for making of various types of lenses.
Barite and dolomite Uthal & Khuzdar in Baluchistin Used in construction, dolomite is also an important petroleum reservoir material and can be used for horticulture purposes.
Magnetite 2 deposits one in Dargani-Sakhakot in Mardan & Sherwan where 11.27 million tonnes is found. Is a valuable source of iron ore.
Agglomerate Blocks formed by Volcanic materials, with various other minerals Can be used instead of iron for melting and oxidizing of steel; it has lower costs and takes up lesser time. One of its minerals Olivine, is used for making Aluminium.
Granite Found in large amounts in Thar, near Chagai and Reko Diq Used for construction and engineering purposes
Soapstone Lasbela and Khuzdar districts Miscellaneous decorative usesAs you can from the above table, there is no dearth of resources in Pakistan; all this country needs is a faith from its people, including those who always underestimate its wonders.
The Alternative Energy Development Board is researching for further alternative energy sources such as solar, wind and bio-diesel energy sources, considering the before stable energy sources shall one run out.
As mentioned before, there are various limitations due to which the natural resources exploration is probably only 20 – 40 % of actual deposit estimates. Pakistan has the capability to be self sufficient, provided corruption and political wrangling does not interfere with development. There are many reasons why Pakistan has not been able to rise to its potential, but many more why it would eventually succeed against all odds

http://pakistanyouthforum.blogspot.com/2009/11/pakistans-natural-riches-report.html#ixzz0XtquLdUN

Pakistan’s first Saab 2000 AEW aircraft enters final testing

Pakistan’s first of five Saab 2000-based airborne early warning and control aircraft has entered final system testing in Sweden, with the work having already demonstrated the capabilities of its integrated self-protection equipment.
Islamabad became the launch – and so far only – military customer for a Saab 2000 derivative when it signed a deal for the Saab Microwave Systems Erieye radar-equipped type in June 2006. Its first example made its flight debut from Saab’s Linköping site in mid-2008.
Saab in early October announced the start of final system tests for Pakistan, and says its first aircraft will be flown to the country later this year to expand the work. The latter process will assess the “aircraft, radar, command and control system, communications and live situation picture into the Pakistan air force’s command and control ground environment”, it says.
Recent tests conducted in Sweden have included the release of flares intended to protect the modified regional turboprop against missile attack.
Saab has previously said that the AEW configuration developed for Pakistan includes five on-board operator stations, with the surveillance aircraft to have an operating ceiling of over 30,000ft (9,150m) and a mission endurance approaching 10h.
The Swedish manufacturer is promoting the AEW version of its Saab 2000 to other potential future customers, and is also offering to supply further variants of the type configured for tasks including maritime patrol and signals intelligence.

Indian Air Force Vice Chief: We don't even match up with Pakistan as far as defence goes

Two days after he said women could be recruited as fighter pilots only if they did not become mothers till a certain age, Vice Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal P K Barbora on Thursday took a swipe at the political class, saying politics over defence purchases impinged “very badly” on the country’s military requirements.
“As far as defence goes, we don’t even match up with Pakistan,” Barbora, while referring to Defence exports, told an aerospace seminar organised in New Delhi by the CII.
“The internal politics over the years is such that whatever defence requirements are cleared by the government, they are opposed by the opposition parties and the same happens when roles change and the opposition sits in government. That impinges very badly on our defence requirements.”
He asked the private defence industry to take note of the China example on reverse engineering of defence technologies. “Forget about ethics. China has done reverse engineering. Has anyone ever had the courage to ask China why are you doing it? No one cares a hoot. If you can’t do it yourself, you should know how to do reverse engineering.”

He took on the defence PSU sector, especially in the aviation industry, saying India does not even contribute to one percent of the global industry. He said Indian PSUs have remained happy manufacturing doors of Airbus aircraft while China has gone ahead and started mass producing commercial jets.

India is trying to seperate Baluchistan from Pakistan

The leading newspaper of Sri Lanka, Daily Mirror, in its editorial has criticised the role the Indian intelligence agency (RAW) is playing in the regional countries to destabilise them. The editorial has specially referred to Pakistan.
It said: “Among its (RAW’s) most ambitious operations that are currently underway, is the move to separate Balochistan province from Pakistan by supporting (the) Balochistan Liberation Army.”
The newspaper wrote: “It certainly is a monumental task for the informed Sri Lankan or for that matter anyone in the neighbourhood of India to keep a straight face when talking about the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) in India.”
It said that formed in 1968, the predatory operations carried out by this external intelligence agency of India in the neighbouring countries were perhaps the best example as to how the country bullied its neighbours.
Commenting on the RAW’s role in Sri Lanka, it said: “The RAW in Sri Lanka has a pretty colourful record. Having raised, nursed and fortified the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, it later went through phases where it adopted “rock the baby, pinch the baby” approach towards the LTTE.”
While many thought the assassination of former Indian premier Rajiv Gandhi would have hardened the approach of the RAW towards the LTTE, it really did not happen that way, it wrote.
“While New Delhi was shattered by the death of Nehru’s grandson, the less emotional RAW moved on with rest of operation,” it said.
The newspaper wrote: “In 2007, ripples were created in the spy agency when one of its Colombo-based officers, Ravi Nair of 1975 batch, was found allegedly carrying on an affair with a woman working for another country’s spy agency.
‘ The “crime” was considered only second to what was committed by the RAW Joint Secretary, Rabinder Singh, in 2004 when he escaped with copies of several highly-confidential documents and is believed to have passed them on to the CIA. This was after Singh’s superiors confronted him with evidence that he had spent time with a Delhi-based female US embassy officer at a resort down (the) New Delhi-Jaipur highway.”
The newspaper said the incident really rocked the RAW and forced it to go for several reforms, which included tougher counter-check measures on its officers.
Following the embarrassment caused by Ravi Nair in Colombo, the RAW recalled the officer and made it a point to post a lady officer to Colombo, probably thinking that was the best way to discourage other countries, it wrote.
Reports that the RAW was out to create mischief in the backdrop of the recent military victories by the Sri Lankan troops surfaced days after media reports that Pottu Amman, who was pulled up by Prabhakaran over the recent debacles, had slipped off to India, the daily wrote.

Courtesy: daily The News

Green Karo

If you are on Twitter, and to a lesser extent on Facebook, and a Pakistani you might have noticed that over the last few hours more and more of your friends are ‘going green.’ At least in the design of their avatars (display picture).

I had noticed a similar display of national pride happening during the run-up to the T20 Final game (in fact, we had encouraged our Twitter and Facebook readers to join in). I knew that my friend and social networking guru Awab Alvi could not be far from the action behind this movement. Indeed, it seems he is. But from the best I can find (and I have only followed the Twitter chatter on the subject) the real force behind this one is a certain Farhan Masood, from Lahore, who has been urging his friends on Twitter and Facebook to turn their avatars (DPs) ‘green’ in the month of August during the build-up to August 14.

In fact, Farhan has been offering to make DPs and avatar’s for people with the Pakistan flag (most of the ones in the picture above seem to be from him) if they email him at GreenKaro@gmail.com. It turns out that word is spreading fast. Many have already converted to his avatars and many others have been changing to green avatars of their own. The idea is to turn the avatar (DP) panels green as we approach August 14. Hence, Sabb Green Kar Do!

We, here at ATP as well as on our Twitter and Facebook pages, do tend to use a lot of ‘green’ anyhow. Invariably, we end up using green even more than usual in August. (As someone who works on environmental issues, my allegiance to green is even broader than just that!). We realize, and are quite consciously careful, that this not turn into jingoistic nationalism. Pride in identity should never become arrogance. Nor should it ever detract us from pointing out and trying to change things that are wrong. More importantly, the pride in that which we are must never turn into disdain or disrespect for those whose identity may be different. I do not need to ‘hate’ anyone in order to ‘love’ Pakistan.

I believe - and hope - that all these avatars going green are going green in the same spirit as us. A spirit of inclusive national pride. And in that spirit I welcome the trend. I look forward to a green August 14. Not just in the color tonality of our avatars, but in our hearts and in our spirits!


courtesy: pakistaniat.com

History

The Indus region, which covers a considerable amount of Pakistan, was the site of several ancient cultures including the Neolithic eraMehrgarh and the Bronze era Indus Valley Civilisation (2500 BCE – 1500 BCE) at (Harappa in district Sahiwal) and Mohenjo-Daro.^[22]

Waves of conquerors and migrants from the west—including Harappan, Indo-Aryan, Persian, Greek, Saka, Parthian, Kushan,Hephthalite, Afghan, Arab, Turkics and Mughal—settled in the region through out the centuries, influencing the locals and being absorbed among them.^[23] Ancient empires of the east—such as the Nandas,Mauryas, Sungas, Guptas, and the Palas—ruled these territories at different times from Patliputra.

However, in the medieval period, while the eastern provinces of Punjab and Sindh grew aligned with Indo-Islamic civilisation, the western areas became culturally allied with the Iranian civilisation of Afghanistan and Iran.^[24] The region served as crossroads of historic trade routes, including the Silk Road, and as a maritime entreport for the coastal trade between Mesopotamia and beyond up to Rome in the west and Malabar and beyond up to China in the east.

Menander I was one of the rulers of the Indo-Greek Kingdom which existed in present-day Pakistan.

Modern day Pakistan was at the heart of the Indus Valley Civilisation ;that collapsed in the middle of the second millennium BCE and was followed by the Vedic Civilisation, which also extended over much of the Indo-Gangetic plains. Successive ancient empires and kingdoms ruled the region: the Achaemenid Persian empire^[25] around 543 BCE, Greek empire founded by Alexander the Great^[26] in 326 BCE and the Mauryanempire there after.

The Indo-Greek Kingdom founded by Demetrius of Bactria includedGandhara and Punjab from 184 BCE, and reached its greatest extent under Menander, establishing the Greco-Buddhist period with advances in trade and culture. The city of Taxila (Takshashila) became a major centre of learning in ancient times—the remains of the city, located to the west of Islamabad, are one of the country's major archaeological sites. The Rai Dynasty (c.489–632) of Sindh, at its zenith, ruled this region and the surrounding territories.

In 712 CE, the Arab general Muhammad bin Qasim^[27] conquered Sindh and Multan in southern Punjab. The Pakistan government's official chronology states that "its foundation was laid" as a result of this conquest.^[28] This Arab and Islamic victory would set the stage for several successive Muslim empires in South Asia, including the Ghaznavid Empire, the Ghorid Kingdom, the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughal Empire. During this period, Sufi missionaries played a pivotal role in converting a majority of the regional Buddhist and Hindu population to Islam.

17th Century Badshahi Masjidbuilt during Mughal rule

The gradual decline of the Mughal Empire in the early eighteenth century provided opportunities for the Afghans, Balochis and Sikhsto exercise control over large areas until the British East India Company^[29] gained ascendancy over South Asia. The Indian Rebellion of 1857, also known as the Indian Mutiny, was the region's last major armed struggle against the British Raj, and it laid the foundations for the generally unarmed freedom struggle led by theIndian National Congress in the twentieth century. In the 1920s and 1930, a movement led by Mahatma Gandhi, and displaying commitment to ahimsa, or non-violence, millions of protesters engaged in mass campaigns of civil disobedience.^[30]

The All India Muslim League rose to popularity in the late 1930s amid fears of under-representation and neglect of Muslims in politics. On 29 December 1930, Allama Iqbal's presidential address called for an autonomous "state in northwestern India for Indian Muslims, within the body politic of India."^[31]Muhammad Ali Jinnah espoused the Two Nation Theory and led the Muslim League to adopt the Lahore Resolution of 1940, popularly known as the Pakistan Resolution. In early 1947, Britain announced the decision to end its rule in India. In June 1947, the nationalist leaders of British India—including Nehru and Abul Kalam Azad on behalf of the Congress, Jinnah representing the Muslim League and Master Tara Singh representing the Sikhs—agreed to the proposed terms of transfer of power and independence.

The modern state of Pakistan was established on 14 August 1947 (27 Ramadan 1366 in the Islamic Calendar), carved out of the two Muslim-majority wings in the eastern and northwestern regions of British India and comprising the provinces of Balochistan, East Bengal, the North-West Frontier Province, West Punjab and Sindh. The controversial, and ill-timed, division of the provinces of Punjab and Bengal caused communal riots across India and Pakistan — millions of Muslims moved to Pakistan and millions of Hindus and Sikhs moved to India. Disputes arose over several princely states including Muslim-majorityJammu and Kashmir, whose Hindu ruler had acceded to India following an invasion by Pashtun tribal militias, leading to the First Kashmir War in 1948.

Governor General Jinnahdelivering the opening address on 11 August 1947 to the new state of Pakistan.

The two wings of Pakistan in 1970; East Pakistan separated from the West wing in 1971 as an independent Bangladesh.

From 1947 to 1956, Pakistan was aDominion in the Commonwealth of Nations. It became a Republic in 1956, but the civilian rule was stalled by acoup d’état by General Ayub Khan, who was president during 1958–69, a period of internal instability and a second warwith India in 1965. His successor,Yahya Khan (1969–71) had to deal with a devastating cyclone—which caused 500,000 deaths in East Pakistan—and also face a civil war in 1971. Economic grievances and political dissent in East Pakistan led to violent political tension and military repression that escalated into a civil war.^[32] After nine months of guerrilla warfare between Pakistan Army and the Bengali Mukti Bahini militia backed by India, later Indian intervention escalated into theIndo-Pakistani War of 1971, and ultimately to the secession of East Pakistan as the independent state of Bangladesh.^[33]

Civilian rule resumed in Pakistan from 1972 to 1977 under Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, until he was deposed and later sentenced to death in 1979 by General Zia-ul-Haq, who became the country's third military president. Zia introduced the Islamic Sharia legal code, which increased religious influences on the civil service and the military. With the death of President Zia in a plane crash in 1988, Benazir Bhutto, daughter of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, was elected as the first female Prime Minister of Pakistan. Over the next decade, she fought for power with Nawaz Sharif as the country's political and economic situation worsened. Pakistan got involved in the 1991 Gulf War and sent 5,000 troops as part of a U.S.-led coalition, specifically for the defence of Saudi Arabia.^[34]

Military tensions in the Kargil conflict^[35] with India were followed by a Pakistani military coup d'état in 1999^[36] in which General Pervez Musharraf assumed vast executive powers. In 2001, Musharraf becamePresident after the controversial resignation of Rafiq Tarar. After the 2002 parliamentary elections, Musharraf transferred executive powers to newly-elected Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali, who was succeeded in the 2004 prime-ministerial election by Shaukat Aziz. On 15 November 2007 the National Assembly completed its tenure and new elections were called. The exiled political leaders Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif were permitted to return to Pakistan. However, the assassination of Benazir Bhutto during the election campaign in December led to postponement of elections and nationwide riots. Bhutto's Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) won the largest number of seats in the elections held in February 2008 and its member Yousaf Raza Gillani was sworn in as Prime Minister.^[37] On 18 August 2008, Pervez Musharaff resigned from the presidency when faced with impeachment.^[38] Presently, (as the year 2009 nears its end), more than 3 million Pakistani civilians have been displaced by the on goingconflict in North-West Pakistan between the government and Taliban militants