World Focus: Incompetence reigns as leaders squabble over power

World Focus: Incompetence reigns as leaders squabble over power By Anne Penketh, Diplomatic Editor The last thing that Pakistan needs is a bout of metaphorical regicide at a time when Washington and the rest of the world are worried about the heightened risk posed by Islamic militants at the country's northern border who are fuelling the conflict in Afghanistan. To Pakistanis and the outside world, the four-month-old democratically-elected coalition seems rudderless, leaderless and incompetent. The squabbling leaders have failed to deal with Pakistan's economic crisis – the country is in the grip of rising food and fuel prices – and on the foreign policy front, they have given the impression of weakness. Washington appears to be losing patience with the government of Prime Minister Yousef Raza Gilani and seems to have decided... [read full story]