Fidel Posted March 18, 2007 Report Share Posted March 18, 2007 Musharraf is after getting himself into a spot of bother. Well, maybe more than a spot of bother. It seems he is facing the greatest threat to his rule since he snatched power in a bloodless coup in '99. Basically, elections are coming up. Musharraf was hoping to have the existing assembly vote him into power for another god knows how many years. The problem is, this strategy is completely unconstitutional and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court has been something of a loose cannon lately, pushing the government on human rights abuses (hundreds of disappearances) and blocking the privatization of Pakistan Steel Mills. Musharraf decided to get rid of him, and accused him of abuse of power. Since then the shit has hit the fan. On Friday the cops used tear gas and rubber bullets on protesters and raided a TV station WHILE IT WAS BROADCASTING LIVE, an exclusive for sure. Anyway, it looks like his days may be numbered. See story below: Pakistan dictator lashes at 'plotters' * Bruce Loudon, South Asia correspondent * March 19, 2007 EMBATTLED and besieged in a way unprecedented in his seven-year rule, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf lashed out last night at "conspiracies" against him over his attempts to sack the country's top judge. "If the people are with me, this conspiracy will not succeed," he declared. But even as he spoke, new violence was erupting in Lahore, capital of the Punjab, with heavily armed riot police and protesting lawyers clashing for the seventh consecutive day. And a leading Washington think tank said the "political fate" of the President, who came to power in a coup, could be decided at an imminent meeting of the army's top commanders. The extent of the pressure on General Musharraf emerged with the revelation that among those protesting on the streets - shoulder-to-shoulder with activists from the liberal democratic parties - have been retired former senior military officers, including the legendary general Hamid Gul, who served for years as chief of the ISI spy agency, working closely with the Taliban. Read on Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckwoww Posted March 18, 2007 Report Share Posted March 18, 2007 Probably a bigger problem for Musharraf is the US threat to cut off foreign aid, a lot of which goes to the military. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elef Posted March 18, 2007 Report Share Posted March 18, 2007 He hasn't any popularity left after supporting the US in Afghanistan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fidel Posted March 18, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 18, 2007 The US aid issue does add to the pressure, but this is the very first time since he came to power, that that the opposition has been united. There were even military guys and ISI guys protesting. He's kind of stuck between a rock and a hard place. The US is threatening to cut off aid if Pakistan doesn't up the ante in the WoT, at the same time, most ordinary Pakistanis are very angry at Musharraf's compliance with US demands. They see him as serving the interests of the US instead of the interests of the people.. and they are beginning to get very, very pissed off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elef Posted March 18, 2007 Report Share Posted March 18, 2007 Probably Cheney shooting more of his "friends" again, this time both GWB in the right foot and Musharraf in the head with one shot. For most muslims GWB and USA are the Devil and supporting the war against terrorism openly as he has done is more than stupid. Not even the saudi or kuwaitian leaders dare do something so stupid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nervous_Dog Posted March 19, 2007 Report Share Posted March 19, 2007 What ever I think of Musharraf, in a vacuum the most likely successor will be a LOT worse, is my gut feeling! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fidel Posted March 19, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 19, 2007 Hi ND. I'm not so sure a successor would be much worse than Musharraf. This has been Musharraf's trump card all along; "Without me the west would br totally f**ked in the war on terror", and everyone believes him. Thing is, there is no democracy here. Hundreds of people have been disappeared, hundreds more killed. There are currently about 200,000 internally displaced in Balochistan, displaced by the Pak army's campaign there. Most are women and children and many of them face starvation. I've heard it said that, while most countries have an army, in Pakistan the army has a country. Pakistan could do with some democracy. Having said that, without the army in charge, the whole thing could fall apart. Pakistan is a Yugoslavia waiting to happen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted March 19, 2007 Report Share Posted March 19, 2007 Sounds like it's time for another war with India to drum up support for the govmt ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neo Posted March 19, 2007 Report Share Posted March 19, 2007 It's kind of funny that the US pushed so hard to have a democracy in Iraq because it seems to be the worst case scenario if Pakistan goes that route. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elef Posted March 19, 2007 Report Share Posted March 19, 2007 The cricket disaster for Pakistan is making things worse for Musharraf... :thumbdown: Good bye - don't forget Bad guys go to Pattaya :grin: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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