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TechnoratiViolence Erupts After Bhutto's Arrest
Pakistani Police Barricade Opposition Leader In Her House; Explosion At Minister's Home Kills 4
The United States urged Pakistan to end the house arrest of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto as Pentagon leaders voiced concern that the political turmoil will undercut the Pakistani army's fight against insurgents along the Afghanistan border.
"We remain concerned about the continued state of emergency and curtailment of basic freedoms, and urge Pakistani authorities to quickly return to constitutional order and democratic norms," Gordon Johndroe, a spokesman for the National Security Council said in a statement Friday.
"Former Prime Minister Bhutto and other political party members must be permitted freedom of movement and all protesters released," said the statement by Johndroe, who accompanied President George W. Bush to the president's Texas ranch.
The administration said it is important for Pakistan's future that moderate political forces be able to work together to put Pakistan back on a path to democracy.
Deputy Information Minister Tariq Azim said there was a restraining order against Bhutto, telling her to stay at her Islamabad home and not proceed to Rawalpindi because of the security threat. The city mayor said they had reports suicide bombers might attack the rally.
"I expect that (the order) is all over by now," Azim told The Associated Press. "She will be free to move tomorrow."
Pakistani police backed by armored vehicles placed opposition leader Benazir Bhutto under house arrest in Islamabad Friday and reportedly rounded up 5,000 of her supporters to block a mass protest against emergency rule.
Bhutto tried twice to leave by car but was blocked by police amid scuffles with her supporters who tried to remove barricades. The former prime minister had planned to address a rally in nearby Rawalpindi, defying a ban on public gatherings.
Police parked an armored personnel carrier in the street to block Bhutto's white Landcruiser. Bhutto got out of the vehicle and stood alongside dozens of supporters who shouted "Go Musharraf Go!" in reference to Pakistani President, Gen. Pervez Musharraf.
Meanwhile, a bomb explosion at the home of a government minister in the northwestern city of Peshawar killed at least four people, police said.
The attack happened at the residence of the minister for political affairs, Amir Muqam, and also wounded three people, said Aslam Khan, a local police official.
Muqam said he saw two or three dead in the blast - members of his security staff. Police said the bombing was a suicide attack.
Kamal Shah, a top Interior Ministry official, said a district magistrate had served a "detention order" on Bhutto so she could not leave her home. Rehman, however, said no arrest papers had been served on Bhutto.
The British Broadcasting Corp. reported that officials did try to serve arrest papers to Bhutto, but she refused to take them and went back inside. According to the BBC report, the detention order is valid for 30 days.
Speaking by phone from the scene, Bhutto said that no arrest papers had been served on her.
"If I'm arrested the People's Party of Pakistan workers will continue to fight for democracy and the rule of law," she told reporters who heard the call via speakerphone.
CBS News correspondent Sheila MacVicar reports Bhutto's home was surrounded by armed security forces, armored vehicles and barbed wire in the early morning hours.
Authorities were adamant the rally Bhutto planned in nearby Rawalpindi would not go ahead - under the government's emergency powers declared a week ago, mass gatherings are banned. Mayor Javed Akhlas also said there was a "credible report" of six or seven suicide bombers in the city.
News video showed police clashing with Bhutto supporters in Rawalpindi and in Peshawar, and there were reportedly dozens of new arrests made.
Bhutto supporters pulled at a barbed wire barricade on the street to make way for her vehicle, but were blocked by police, the official said on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to speak to media. Bhutto's vehicle only managed to travel about 40 yards before it was stopped.
"We are trying to pass through because we want to reach Rawalpindi. There was a baton charge. There was a barbed wire. People in Kashmir were also stopped from reaching here. Those who can reach Rawalpindi, they should try to reach there," Bhutto later told private Geo TV.
"The government says that some suicide bombers have entered Islamabad. If they have any such information, then why can't they arrest them?" she said.
MacVicar says Bhutto's house was surrounded not just by security forces, but by media and curious members of the public as well. Friday is a national holiday in Pakistan, so the streets in general were quieter than normal, MacVicar adds.
Rawalpindi, hit by a series of suicide attacks targeting the military, had hundreds of riot police on the streets Friday, moving through the city while other security personnel patrolled on motorcycles, horseback and in armored vehicles.
"Since the government has not given permission for it due to security reasons, we will not allow any one to gather here for the rally," the city's police chief, Saud Aziz, told The Associated Press.
Aziz also said police were on the lookout to deter against the "serious" threat of potential suicide bombers.
Streets normally jammed with people stood empty, shops were closed and the road leading from Islamabad to Rawalpindi had been blocked by two tractor trailers and a metal gate.
Pakistan's military leader showed no signs of letting up on his political foes despite his announcement Thursday - following pressure from the U.S. and other Western allies - that elections would go ahead by mid-February, just a month later than originally planned.
Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party, or PPP, claimed Friday that authorities had arrested 5,000 of its supporters in the last three days across the eastern province of Punjab, where Rawalpindi is located.
"It is a massive crackdown on our party," said Raja Javed Ashraf, a PPP lawmaker.
The government offered no immediate public comment. But the security official said only 1,000 Bhutto supporters had been detained.
Information Minister Tariq Azim said "we will not allow any leader to carry out any rally".
Musharraf has been under pressure to quickly hold elections and step down as the country's army chief since he suspended the constitution and took other emergency measures, saying they were needed to put an end to political instability and to fight Taliban and al Qaeda-linked militants.
Thousands of lawyers and opposition parties activists have been rounded up countrywide, and police using batons and tear gas have squashed attempts by lawyers to protest on the streets.
President Bush, who counts the Pakistani leader as a key ally in the war on terrorism, telephoned Musharraf to urge him to restore democracy, and the White House was quick to hail Thursday's pledge to hold elections by mid-February.
Some Pakistani officials earlier said elections could be delayed by up to a year.
But Bhutto on Thursday dismissed the announcement and demanded Musharraf give up his second post as army chief within a week. She said Friday's protest would go ahead despite warnings it could be targeted by suicide bombers.
"We want an election date, we want a retirement date" for Musharraf to quit his powerful military post, Bhutto told reporters. "This is a vague statement. We want the uniform off by Nov. 15."
Bhutto had been in U.S.-backed talks with Musharraf on a post-election political alliance. But she pulled back after the emergency was imposed, and her decision to join in anti-government protests was another blow for Musharraf, who has seen his popularity slide this year amid growing resentment of military rule and increasing violence by Islamic militants.
Critics argue that Musharraf - who seized power in a 1999 coup - declared the emergency and ousted independent-minded judges to maintain his own grip on power. The moves came days before the Supreme Court was expected to rule on whether his recent re-election as president was legal.
Bhutto returned to the country from eight years in exile to contest the parliamentary polls. Her homecoming procession in Karachi was shattered by suicide bombers, leaving more than 145 people dead. She escaped injury. Islamic militants were widely blamed.
© 2007 CBS News
22 Comments so far
Show All"She is still infinitely better than any of the Repugnants. Let us not blow it by either not voting or supporting a 3rd party candidate."
Such nonsense. This post sounds like danieldavids avatar !!
"Myanmar doesn't possess any nukes, and therefore does not pose a 'threat' to the United Fakes of AmeriKKKa"
Whihc is exactly why Iran feels justified in making nukes !! It keeps us (U.S.) of their throat ...
Myanmar doesn't possess any nukes, and therefore does not pose a 'threat' to the United Fakes of AmeriKKKa. What'd you expect?
Happy Armistice Day.
And on Veteran's Day, the Washington Post defends the absence of action against Pakistan by the Current Occupant in a lead article: "George W. Bush is hardly the first U.S. president to forgive sins against democracy by a Pakistani leader....".
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/07/AR2007110702280.html
I guess Myanmar and many other flash points do not count.
"People in Kashmir were also stopped from reaching here"
Why would the people from Kashmir show up at a Bhutto rally ? There are no elected representatives from that region POK (Pakistan Occupied Kashmir). Besides Pakistan (like China in Tibet) has resettled POK with thousands of Pakistanis from other areas in Pakistan, who now call themselves Kasmiris even though they do not really belong ! This is like the Chinese resettlement and demographic manipulation in Tibet.
Bhutto of course is the quintessential politician playing politics. First she makes the faustian bargain with Musharraf and now claims to represent Pakistanis of all stripes. This statement above is directly addressed to the terrorist/fundamentalists whove ravaged the Kashmir valley these last 20 years with the assistance of the Pakistani army and establishment. She figures, by making any statement related to Kashmir, she can appeal to this fundamentalist constituency ... in other words play the same game the military has been playing all these years. Even God cant help the Pakistani people anymore ...
The news starts at the paragraph Deputy Information Minister Tariq Azim.
The four paragraphs above that one are uranium-tipped propaganda projectiles fired by Big Brother through his gun barrel, CBS News, at the oppressed American people, to confuse us, distract us, mislead us, and enslave us, so we will continue powering the imperial steamroller.
So many progressive pessimists. Here we are on the verge of a new beginning and most progressives are fighting it tooth and nail. How about some optimism!
The Progressives that are so sour on the Dems need to realize that the agenda we want must come in slow methodical steps to bring along the independents as well. If we totally alienate them we get Rudy, (Bush on Steroids). This is a great chance to move forward with a progressive agenda. Let us not blow it even if Hillay is the nominee. She is still infinitely better than any of the Repugnants. Let us not blow it by either not voting or supporting a 3rd party candidate. This election is too important. I am voting For Dennis Kucinich in the primaries but I will vote for any Dem in the General. Of the Dems that have a chance at the nomination, I believe that John Edwards is the best. I will repost my post on Supreme Court Justices in hope people will read and heed.
The Supreme court is on the verge and one more conservative on it can undo everything that is still intact. And that will last for another 20 years. I don't contend this is more important than lives being lost isn't the most pressing issue, but it is important to realize that one more wingnut judge and they will overturn not just Roe v. Wade, but Social security, medicare, most large social programs. Remember Social Security only survived by a 5 to 4 vote in the 30s despite a court that at that time was liberal. Think of the damage that could be done, millions of seniors in poverty, no healthcare for them. Medicaid, Schip. If you don't think that the right wingers won't push for all of this as they become more and more emboldened, you are wrong. If you listen to right wing talk, their overall objective is to totally overturn the new deal of FDR, the new society of the 60s and 70s of the war on poverty, medicare, etc.
The electorate in the last 7 years has made the Dems extremely gun shy and the constant lies from prez and repugnets do echo across the land and it is unfortunate that this still resonates in the red states. I live in Georgia and hear the wingnuts exicited that this can occur in our lifetime; Roberts, Alito, Thomas, Scalia are licking their chops for just one more wingnut Supreme court judge and we can begin. Justice Breyer, liberal is 87, Ginsberg, Stevens, and Souter in their 70s DANGER! DANGER! DANGER! Roberts, Alito, Scalia, Thomas, just licking their chops for one more wingnut
We must support the Dems and nurse them along no matter what!!! Don't vote for any 3rd party candidates, don't sign any petitions to get other candidates on the ballot in any state. THIS COMING ELECTION IS THAT IMPORTANT.
REMEMBER DIVIDE US AND THEY WIN!!!!!!.
Just to underscore some of the above comments (Nightwatch et al) speculating about orchestration and possible dealmaking in the works, today's Guardian (UK) article on the subject includes the following observation:
A straggle of Bhutto loyalists who ventured outside were chased and, in some cases, thrashed. The party said that 5,000 had already been arrested.
[...]
But there was no rough treatment for Bhutto's top lieutenants, who sailed past the security and into her tightly-guarded house. The contrast underscored the fact that despite her fiery rhetoric about "military dictatorship", Bhutto refuses to rule out a deal with Musharraf.
the nukes did'nt do them any good after all. the Pakistani people have been stripped of all dignity. their poor military leader can not even enforece an emergency without bush ok-ing it from the white hose.
"Yes, Bhutto is 'playing' Pelosi/Hillary to Musharraf's Bush."
Yup. Thats right. She is playing the enabler.
I just don't understand why the US doesn't move in there with its military might and bomb Pakistan into submission. You know, get things straightened out, bring true democracy to the people by quelling all the contending forces in Iraq--oops, I meant Iran. Oh no, Pakistan. Oh well, wherever it is. What have we got to lose? (besides our souls - our vaunted prestige is already gone.)
Gore Vidal calls the US the United States of Amnesia. Just to jar our historical recollection, let us remember that "Ms Bhutto" (who prefers to use her father's rather than husband's name) was in so-called self-imposed exile for years from Pakistan because she was charged with massive corruption and mismanagement during 2 2-year attempts at leading the country. Her husband, probably still in exile, escaped charges of murder. The couple owns huge swaths of land in Pakistan's very poor desert area, where their serfs are reduced to a stone age mode of life. She doesn't deserve to be the voice/face of opposition. It was only the force of the Bush administration that caused the Pakistani govt to grant her amnesty. I doubt that the judiciary wd support her any more than Musharraf. She is a crook.
Wonder how much Valium Musharraf needs to sleep at night these days.
liberal with an attitude, talk about a 'scripted' grudge match.
"Welcome ladies and gentlemen to the WWF '08 tag-team grudge match of the universe between --- in the red corner, just tagging out we have 'killer' Bush, and tagging in his partner, Rudi 'the ripper' --- and in the blue corner, just tagging out the exhausted and bruised Nancy 'the mat' Pelosi who fought so hard in the preliminary bout, and now tagging in is her partner Hillary 'heroic' [cheers, applause, screaming fans] who will undoubtedly use all her strength and positive powers against this nasty red team.
Boy folks, tonight you are really going to see a knock-down, drag-out battle royal with all the marbles on the line. Someone will come out of this ferocious match the new champion, and nothing will ever be the same!!!" -----------------
Nothing, that is. except the next phony match.
i have to agree with nightwatch this whole thing seems very scripted.
Nightwatch, your observation is VERY insightful.
Yes, Bhutto is 'playing' Pelosi/Hillary to Musharraf's Bush.
Perhaps this is all the US has to teach other countries about the modern and more guileful staging of the appearance of democracy behind the reality of Empire; that a two-party Vichy government is more believable than the one-party one that the Nazi Empire set up in France (c. 1940)
curmudgeon99 November 9th, 2007 1:15 pm
to paraphrase theLorax:
The United States citizens have a great choice - a dictator or a corporate oligarchy Puppet. Nice.
The transference fits quite well. The major difference seems to be reactions amongst the public and the legal profession.
to paraphrase theLorax:
The United States citizens have a great choice - a dictator or a corporate oligarchy Puppet. Nice.
Look for the scenario presented by Nightwatch to take place here in the Captive States of america. Just replace Bhutto's name with Bilary and Musharraf with Giuliani.
This whole affair appears to be orchestrated. Bhutto wants to get some street cred after going to bed with Musharraf, who most Pakistanis regard as a Yankee quisling. Bhutto is set up as a victim, wins sympathy, and the general election. The population is satisfied because a Musharraf 'opponent' becomes Prime Minister. Bhutto then comes to a modus vivendi (pre-arranged, of course) with the civilian Mr. Musharraf. And they all live happily ever after.
Bush could loan Musharraf our electronic voting machines to insure he is "democratically" re-elected.
The Pakistani's have a great choice - a dictator or an American Puppet. Nice.
'News video showed police clashing with Bhutto supporters in Rawalpindi and in Peshawar,'
'Those who can reach Rawalpindi, they should try to reach there'
Wow .... so there are places left in the world will people will take to the streets to defend their democracy.