On Thursday, The News sought a government of national consensus to make the elections more credible: “With Sindh in such fury and rage and the rest of the country clinging on to vague hopes but filled with grave fears and doubts, a major initiative by President Musharraf only can restore the confidence and trust in the election process. A genuine government of national consensus is thus a primary prerequisite to put the country back on the democratic path and short of such a major step, Pakistan can only slide further into anarchy in the coming tumultuous days and weeks.”

Who is Baitullah?

On Monday, Dawn profiled Baitullah Mehsud, accused by Islamabad for the attack on Benazir Bhutto: “For almost three years now, Baitullah Mehsud (32) has been the leading face of militant resistance whose influence, security officials acknowledge, transcends the borders of South Waziristan. And its confirmation came, when militants from Pakistani tribal regions and some settled districts of the NWFP, unanimously decided to make him the head of Tehrik-i-Taliban, Pakistan, early (in December).”

mini.kapoor@expressindia.com