Bush has targeted Pakistan for ‘democracy’. See also: #msg-6055889
Under Musharraf China has acquired signals-monitoring facilities, according to U.S. reports, at a port it is building in cooperation with Pakistan near the Iranian border at Gwadar, which looks out over tankers exiting the Persian Gulf.
A presence at Gwadar deep-sea port would place the Chinese navy next to Iran’s shipping lane the Strait of Hormuz. Hormuz is a major global shipping choke point.
* Party offices sealed in Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi * PPP leaders Jehangir Badr, Qaim Ali Shah, Qasim Zia, Chan and Munir Khan arrested
By Mubasher Bukhari
LAHORE: Sindh, Punjab and Balochistan police arrested tens of thousands Pakistan People’s Party activists, continuing the government’s crackdown on Friday. The activists were on their way to Lahore airport to welcome Asif Ali Zardari, spouse of the former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. Zardari is scheduled to arrive in Lahore today (Saturday).
The PPP claimed that over 50,000 activists were arrested all over the country and the army had been deployed in Sindh to block the super highway. The party said the police sealed its offices in Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi and a heavy police contingent had been sent to Bilawal House Lahore, which arrested dozens of party leaders.
Addressing a news conference at Bilawal House, International Media Committee coordinator MNA Sherry Rehman said, “The government has declared Punjab a no-go area for PPP Sindh’s activists and have blocked all caravans leading to Lahore.” She claimed that over 25,000 activists had been arrested in Sindh and Punjab, adding that police had also arrested hundreds of female activists.
PPP Sindh Information Secretary Dr Fehmida Mirza, Benazir Bhutto’s spokesman Munawar Anjum and Malik Hakmeen Khan also addressed the news conference. Dr Fehmida Mirza said that around 40,000 activists were stranded in Abauro, a border town between Sindh and Punjab, because the army had been sent to stop them from traveling further. She added that 15,000 activists had been stopped at Badin.
Mirza said that 7,500 activists were coming from the North West Frontier Province but the Punjab government had blocked Attock Bridge, causing traffic jams in Attock.
Meanwhile, police told the people inside Bilawal House to stay inside or they would be arrested. Rehman contacted renowned human rights activist Asma Jehangir who talked with police high-ups and rescued the trapped PPP leaders. However, sources said that PPP leaders Jehangir Badr, Qaim Ali Shah, Qasim Zia, Haji Azizur Rehman Chan and Munir Khan were arrested from PPP leader Ejaz Ali Shah’s house in Defence. They were detained at Sarwar Road police station. Police officials said the PPP leaders were arrested for defying Section 144 and would be sent to judicial lock-up today.
PPP Balochistan Information Secretary Saadullah Shah told Daily Times that hundreds of the PPP activists, on their way to Lahore, were arrested in Lasbela. The party also issued guidelines to activists complaining about being forcibly stopped from going to Lahore airport.
In a message to party activists, Senator Farhatullah Babar said the workers should reach the Lahore airport by any means possible. He told the workers to stage a peaceful sit-in, if the police stopped them and again try to come to the airport. In case of police violence, Babar said the workers should regroup and stage another sit-in.
Shahzad Malik adds from Islamabad: The police arrested over 300 Pakistan Peoples Party-Parliamentarians (PPP-P) activists who had gathered near Aabpara to proceed to Lahore, sources told Daily Times. Police officials in plain clothes apprehended the PPP-P workers and shifted them to various police stations. Quite a few PPP-P workers were also arrested from their residencies during raids by the Rawalpindi Police, said sources.
This is interesting because I suspect Bhutto might be a U.S. candidate for the following reasons.
The United States is pressing Pakistan on democracy which means goodbye to Musharraf. #msg-5933429
Bush needs a compliant subordinate in Pakistan in the image of Karzai of Afghanistan.
I believe the United States may be looking at reinstalling Benazir Bhutto who is in forced exile in United States ally Dubai.
The United States is well known to be behind manipulated mobs such as the Bhutto demonstrators. Many times Bush’s backstage maneuvering corrupts the causes of just or legitimate demonstrations at times causing an overreaction from the targeted government. #msg-6045554
* President Musharraf says Pakistan facing threat from extremism * Praises councillors’ role in resolving people’s problems
SARGODHA: President Pervez Musharraf said on Wednesday that the next general elections would be held in 2007 in which Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto, both former prime ministers and heads of two major political parties in Pakistan, would have no political role.
Addressing members of the National and Punjab assemblies from the ruling Pakistan Muslim League and ministers and district nazims from Sargodha division at Circuit House, President Musharraf said there was no external threat but the country was facing an internal threat from extremism. “Extremists are creating chaos to satisfy their false ego,” he said.
The president was briefed about several development projects in Sargodha division. Sources said that Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi had been given a free, hand to nominate candidates in the upcoming local council elections this year. The PML’s elections will be held next year.
President Musharraf said that cases were pending against Asif Ali Zardari in Swiss courts and the situation would become clear once courts decided the cases. He praised the role of nazims and councilors in resolving people’s problems at the grassroots level and said that the local government system had potential to bring about a silent revolution.
The president said that although the system was new to the representatives of local governments, hard work and commitment had made it successful. He said that various steps were being taken to improve the system to ensure smooth and harmonious relations among all tiers of the government.
At Sahiwal Nazim Ali Asghar Lehri’s request, the president promised the construction of a bridge on the Chenab river and sought a feasibility report soon. President Musharraf also promised to set up an agriculture university and a medical college in Sargodha. Security was increased on the president’s arrival in Sargodha.
Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, Punjab Governor Lt Gen (r) Khalid Maqbool and Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Sher Afgan Niazi, Punjab ministers Amir Sultan Cheema, Manzar Ali Ranjha and Gul Hameed Rokhari and other dignitaries were present. online/app
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