ISLAMABAD:A paramilitary soldier stands guard on the road leading to the residences of the Supreme Court judges near the Judges Enclave. Transmission of private television channels has been stopped in the capital, which adds to the rumours of implementation of state of emergency in the country.
Pakistan is chronically unstable, has been for some time. The nuclear aspect of this country is a burden for the global community everytime there is an incident. The concept that this idiocy goes on still today is directly related to the abandonment by the USA of the retaliatory attacks to destroy Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda. This mess should have been concluded years ago, but, the reality is 'by design' the entire region is more unstable today because it creates and atmosphere 'ripe' for continued invasion by the USA to take assets from sovereign countries and that is the long and short of it.
This mess is Musharraf annoyed at a political position that could lead to a return of former leadership. He gets away with it because he can, not because he should. Pakistan in the face of this emergency is no more unstable today than yesterday, except the aggression by the Taliban is real and moving along. They are a force in the region to contend with. It's always possible there could be a real emergency, but, this is like a false alarm call to 911. Musharraf is paranoid that his status will change due to legitimate political practices. What a shame. Well, we know a little more today about the turbulent world within Pakistan. The beat goes on.
Here, there is a strike by airline personnel at Jinnah International Airport. (click here) This is the lunacy of the Middle East. I guess you could call it a class struggle, an Islamic class struggle. I think that pretty much sums it up.
Members of the local tribal militia keep position on a makeshift banker at a troubled area in the outskirt of Wana, the main town of Pakistan's South Waziristan tribal region along Afghan border, in this March 26, 2007 file photo. The jagged mountains of Pakistan's tribal belt conceal the passage of Taliban fighters into Afghanistan. (Ishtiaq Mahsud/AP Photo)
THIS IS what happens when an incompetent USA Executive Branch abandons the real war and launches into an oil war for crony assets. This is outrageous that Pakistan is even facing this level of instability six years after the USA invasion of Afghanistan. The region of Afghanistan is not stable. There have been significant losses by NATO and the Brits that are rarely discussed in the Western Media, but, this isn't happening because Britain and NATO are winning the war there either. This is what happens when incompetent leadership is left in place in the USA.
What a mess.
Musharraf is declaring a state of emergency. We don't need him assassinated and the nuclear power of this country at the hands of extremists. It is the extremists best opportunity to have their nukes. Absolutely. Bush and Cheney are idiots.
India and Israel need to conference on the concept of destruction of Pakistan nuclear assets should Musharraf's government fall to still another coupe in Pakistan.Pakistani militants capture two police stations in Swat
SWAT, Pakistan, Nov 3 (AP) - Militants said Saturday they captured two police stations in Swat valley of North West Frontier Province. A flag was hoisted over one of the buildings, abandoned by officers in Swat valley, a region that has been plagued by intense fighting between paramilitary security forces and militant supporters of cleric Maulana Fazlullah, said Sirajuddin, speaking on behalf of the insurgents. Hours later, militants took control of a second police post 10 kilometers to the north, after convincing 60 officers to leave and then locking the doors to prevent against looting of weapons, said Mian Rasool Shah, a Taliban commander in the area. No government official was immediately available to comment on the claims. Meanwhile, private TV channels reported that shopping areas in Mangora, the main town in the region, were partially opened on Saturday. (First Posted @ 11:30, Updated @ 12:25 PST)
Militants Seize Shrine in Pakistan (click here)
Militants Seize Shrine in Pakistan's Tribal Region; Attacks Continue
By BASHIRULLAH KHAN Associated Press Writer
MIRAN SHAH, Pakistan Jul 30, 2007 (AP)
Pro-Taliban militants seized control of a shrine in northwestern Pakistan and renamed it after Islamabad's Red Mosque, while 10 people died in the latest violence near the Afghan border, officials said Monday.
About 70 pro-Taliban militants occupied the shrine of renowned Pashtun freedom fighter Sahib Turangzai and its accompanying mosque in the town of Lakarai in Mohmand tribal region on Sunday, a spokesman for the militants and a local government official said....
Musharraf Declares State of Emergency, Pakistani Media Report (click here)
By DAVID ROHDE
Published: November 3, 2007
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Nov. 3 — The Pakistani leader, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, declared a state of emergency about 6 p.m. local time today, Pakistani television reported.
All members of the Supreme Court were required to sign a new provisional constitutional order mandating the state of emergency, but 8 of the 11 justices signed an order calling the state of emergency illegal and gathered at the Supreme Court building, said Gohar Khan.
The declaration came days before the Supreme Court was expected to rule on the constitutionality of General Musharraf's re-election as president last month and of his ability to serve as both the country's president and military leader.
Just after 5 p.m. signs that a state of emergency would be declared started to emerge. All television stations were blocked as news media were reporting a meeting of General Musharraf and his top aides in the president's office.
A Pakistani intelligence official said that a list had been prepared of prominent Pakistani journalists and opposition politicians who would be detained.
Before transmission was cut off, Pakistani media reported that 1,000 additional police had been deployed in Islamabad, the capital, but as of 5:30 no additional police could be seen. Groups of journalists had gathered in front of the country's Supreme Court in expectation that judges could be detained....
More to this than meets the eye. Could this be a political move by Musharraf considering the judicial review of his elections?
Bhutto flies out of Pakistan (click here)
1 day ago
Former Pakistani Prime Minster Benazir Bhutto has arrived in Dubai, after twice changing her mind about leaving Pakistan to visit family there.
She was met by her husband then taken in a silver Bentley to her family villa in an overlooking a lake and golf course.
Mrs Bhutto, wearing a traditional, rose-coloured Pakistani dress and white headscarf, was greeted in the yard of the villa by her daughters and staff.
Mrs Bhutto's trip comes just two weeks after she returned to Pakistan from an eight-year exile.
Her travel plans became a source of confusion after her homecoming was shattered by a suicide bombing that killed 145 people.
In Pakistan on Wednesday Mrs Bhutto said she was postponing the Dubai trip because she was afraid the Islamabad government would impose a state of emergency during her absence....
Benazir Bhutto unlikely to return before SC verdicts on Pervez Musharraf, NRO (click here)
Posted November 3rd, 2007 by ANI
Islamabad, Nov 3 : Former premier Benazir Bhutto is unlikely to return to Pakistan from Dubai before the Supreme Court (SC) gives its verdicts on petitions challenging the eligibility of Musharraf for a second presidential term and the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO), PPP sources have said.
Bhutto left for Dubai on Thursday. She is likely to visit the US to deliver a lecture besides spending some time with her family in Dubai.
Sources said it was not yet clear whether the democratic process would continue in the country after the SC gives its verdicts, the Daily Times reported....
Not that Pakistan is stable, but, this is all to clear that it's more political horseplay by Musharraf.
President declares state of emergency,Chief Justice of Pakistan has been removed from his post (click here)
Saturday November 03, 2007 (1832 PST)
ISLAMABAD: President Pervez Musharraf has declared emergency rule, suspended the 1973 constitution and has issued Provisional Constitutional Order, state-run TV has reported, as independent channels went off air.
In a high level meeting in presidency, Govt decided to impose emergency in the country. The announcement comes amid rising violence and political tensions.
Another high level meeting is also underway at Governor house in Karachi to review the law and order situation in sindh....
