The Muslim-majority present-day Pakistan came into existence as a result of the Partition of India way back in 1947. Its chequered history has since been rife with both political strife and military suzerainty with intervening periods of democratic rule.The raison d'etre for its creation was because the Muslims in India wanted a separate homeland of their own. Pakistan thus happened, and was conceived with two parts. The eastern part -is on the Bay of Bengal bordering India and Bangladesh and the western part- present day Pakistan extends from the Himalayas to the Arabian Sea.
War with India over Kashmir broke out shortly after independence.The two neighbours waged war again in 1965.The two parts of erstwhile Pakistan were severed in 1971 with the mainly Bengali-speaking East seceding, fully backed by India. The scenario in Pakistan has mostly known political turmoil, rampant corruption and severe confrontation between its different institutions jolting its stability. Both civilian as well as military rule have failed miserably,and Pakistan has been floundering under these transitory reigns of power on its way to economic development and progress.
Pakistan found itself governed by a military regime once again in October 1999 after the overthrow of civilian rule under a vastly unpopular government.The coup leader Pervez Musharraf promised to usher growth and development.And as he undertook the new challenge he had to grapple with economic obstacles besides law and order issues.
Pakistan was catapulted into the forefront in the fight against terrorism as an aftermath of the September 9/11 WTC attacks.Since then it cut off its support to the Taliban assuming its newfound role as key aide of the US.
Pakistani troops in addition lay claim to have captured many Al-Qaeda and Taliban militants in the rugged terrain of the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. There is heavy presence of forces in the area, with regular skirmishes between the security men and suspected militants.
Full name: Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Population: 161.1 million (UN, 2005)
Capital: Islamabad
Largest city: Karachi
Area: 796,095 sq km (307,374 sq miles), excluding Pakistani-occupied Kashmir (83,716 sq km/32,323 sq miles)
Major languages:Urdu, Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashto, Balochi,English
Major religion: Islam
Life expectancy: 63 years (men), 63 years (women)(UN)
Monetary unit: 1 Pakistani Rupee = 100 paisa
Main exports: Textile products, rice, cotton, leather goods
GNI per capita: US $690 (World Bank, 2006)
Internet domain: .pk
International dialling code: +92
President: General Pervez Musharraf
General Pervez Musharraf usurped power through in a bloodless military coup in 1999 ,an action widely condemned leading to Pakistan's suspension from the Commonwealth until 2004.
But he gained acceptance in the international community after he swore allegiance to the US-led campaign against terror following the 9/11 attacks on America .
The president has staged a campaign against Islamic extremists, banning several groups. But his stance against militancy has not been well received in some quarters; the General has survived a number of assassination attempts.
In 2002 General Musharraf awarded himself another five years of presidency, together with the power to dismiss an elected parliament. The transition from military to civilian rule came with parliamentary elections in November 2002, and the appointment of a civilian Prime Minister.
General Musharraf has retained his military role since,holding the dual posts of President and the Chief of Army Staff. He is contesting for the October 6 presidential elections and will step down as army chief on re-election and has named Ashfaq Pervez Kayani as his successor.
Unlike many of the top military brass in Pakistan, General Musharraf's roots are in India. Born in Delhi in 1943, his family migrated to Pakistan after Partition.
His military career began in 1964 and included periods of training in the UK. He became head of military operations when Benazir Bhutto was Prime Minister, and then head of the Army in 1998 after the resignation of General Karamat.
During the 1999 Kargil conflict with India, he regularly briefed journalists and appeared on state television.
But tension developed with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif after he ordered a withdrawal of Pakistani-backed militants in Kashmir and Musharraf sabotaged his civilian rule
Prime minister: Shaukat Aziz
A close ally of President Musharraf, former banker Shaukat Aziz was sworn in as Prime minister in August 2004 having won a parliamentary vote in which the opposition kept away.
Mr Aziz oversaw a period of economic recovery during his previous role as finance Minister and has promised to push for the privatization of Pakistan's state-owned companies.
o Foreign minister: Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri
o Defence Production: Habibullah Khan Warriach
o Commerce: Humayun Akhtar Khan
MEDIA
President Pervez Musharraf's term bestowed greater freedom for the print and a liberalisation of broadcasting policies.
However, media rules were curbed in 2007 in the wake of an opposition campaign against the President. The legislation gave the broadcasting regulator more power to shut down TV stations. There were also attacks on journalists and media offices to suppress.
The expansion of private radio and television stations brought to an end more than five decades of the state's virtual monopoly of broadcasting.
Licences for more than 20 private satellite TV stations have been awarded, signalling increased competition for the state-run Pakistan Television Corporation. But there are no private, terrestrial TV stations.
Around 100 licences have been issued for private FM radio stations, although not all of them have been taken up. Pakistan's media regulator has estimated that the country can support more than 800 private radio stations. Private stations are not allowed to broadcast news.
There are regular reports of private FM stations operating illegally, particularly in the tribal areas of North-West Frontier Province. Some of the stations have been accused of inciting sectarian hatred.
Many Pakistanis watch international satellite TV channels, via a dish or an often-unlicensed cable TV operator.
Indian channels such as Zee TV and STAR TV have a huge chunk of viewers for those who can receive them. The channels circumvent censorship in Pakistan that is far more restrictive than in India.
Pakistan and India from time-to-time engage in verbal missiles via their respective media, occasionally banning broadcasts from the other country.
The government uses a range of legal and constitutional powers to restrict press freedom. The country's law on blasphemy has been used against scribes. Nevertheless, Pakistan's print media are among the most intrepid and outspoken in South Asia.
The press
o Daily Jang - Karachi-based, Urdu-language
o The Dawn - Karachi-based, English-language
o The Nation - Lahore-based, English-language
o The Frontier Post - Peshawar-based, English-language
o The News - English-language daily
o Daily Ausaf - Islamabad-based, Urdu-language
o Pakistan and Gulf Economist - business weekly
o The Friday Times - Lahore-based weekly, English-language
Television
o Pakistan Television Corporation Ltd - state TV, operates PTV 1, PTV National, PTV Bolan, PTV World
o ATV - semi-private, terrestrial
o Geo TV - private, via satellite; services include Geo News
o Aaj TV - private, via satellite
o Indus TV - private, via satellite, runs Indus Vision, Indus Plus, Indus News, Indus Music
o ARY Digital - private, via satellite; services include news-based ARY One World
Radio
o Radio Pakistan - state-run, operates more than 20 stations nationwide, an external service and the FM 101 network, aimed at younger listeners
o Azad Kashmir Radio - state-run
o FM 100 - commercial, music-based FM network
News agency
o Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) - state-funded
First Published: Saturday, November 03, 2007, 00:00