Islamabad  - The Pakistani government has put its troops on standby ahead of a planned anti-government rally in Islamabad by opposition groups, an army spokesman said Saturday.

Major General Athar Abbas said the military had been formally asked to keep the troops ready. "These can be deployed in sensitive areas of some districts if the situation gets out of control," he added.

Islamabad - The Pakistani government has put its troops on standby ahead of a planned anti-government rally in Islamabad by opposition groups, an army spokesman said Saturday.

Major General Athar Abbas said the military had been formally asked to keep the troops ready. "These can be deployed in sensitive areas of some districts if the situation gets out of control," he added.

Islamabad, Mar. 14 : Pakistan's Information and Broadcasting Minister, Sherry Rehman's resignation has surprised President Asif Ali Zardari.

On receiving the resignation, worried Zardari told Rehman that she had left him in difficult times.

In reply, Sherry Rehman said that she has resigned on principle that of late Benazir Bhutto.

Several sources, confirmed that Rehman had sent her resignation to the Prime Minister, Yousuf Raza Gilani who also expressed surprise over the decision.

Islamabad  - Pakistan's beleaguered President Asif Ali Zardari is seeking negotiations with opponents to end anti-government protests, his spokesman said Saturday as authorities intensified efforts to block a march for an independent judiciary.

Spokesman Farhatullah Babar said the government had decided after a meeting lasting several hours to pursue efforts to defuse tensions through dialogue, reconciliation and respect for the constitution.

Islamabad, Mar. 14 : Pakistan's leading news channel Geo News was blacked out in several cities on the behest of President Asif Ali Zardari.

According to sources, Zardari has sent a message to the channel's administration asking them to stop their coverage of the lawyers' long march.

In his message, Zardari said that if the channel has recovered the losses incurred after the ban imposed on during the Musharraf's regime, then it should refrain from covering the protest march, The News reports.

Islamabad  - Pakistani cable operators on Friday stopped transmissions by the Geo private news channel - apparently on the orders of the government during a cross-country march by the opposition parties, a Geo official said.

An alliance of opposition parties and tens of thousands of lawyers have launched a so called long march on Islamabad for independent judiciary, a move that seems to turning into a popular movement.