Bhutto Marshals Opposition As Protests in Pakistan Escalate

[Purveyor]

Source: Wall Street Journal Online

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – Former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto escalated her confrontation with the government by calling on Pakistanis to rise against the imposition of emergency rule by Pervez Musharraf, the nation's president and army chief.

"I appeal to the people of Pakistan to come forward. We are under attack," Ms. Bhutto told a news conference Wednesday after holding talks with other opposition leaders in Islamabad.

The former prime minister vowed to lead a protest march by her Pakistan People's Party on Friday to the garrison town of Rawalpindi, which also is home to Gen. Musharraf. The government has banned the protest, raising the prospects for large-scale clashes between supporters of Ms. Bhutto and security forces.

Ms. Bhutto's supporters clashed Wednesday with the police outside the Parliament building. Police fired tear gas to disperse the crowed which tried to break through the barricade. Several protesters were wounded in the clashes.

Hundreds of rights activists and lawyers also held a protest rally near the capital and another 200 protested in the northwestern city of Peshawar. Some residents in Islamabad also are staging "flash protests" of 15 to 20 minutes, sometimes longer, at central locations, breaking up before police arrive to arrest them. One Wednesday lasted almost an hour, according to one participant, said A.H. Nayyar, a retired physics professor. Participants send short messages via cellphone to spread word on where and when the protests will be held. "It's nonconfrontational," Mr. Nayyar said. "But we feel we must do this."



Read more: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119444464548285256.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

[ShortnFiery]

1. I think it's once again time for CORRUPT leader, one each, Benazir Bhutto, make like a sheep herder

and get "the flock" out of Pakistan! :wow: :P

[LakeSamish706]

3. The question is, which one is more corrupt and will do the most damage...

to the country and the people, and of course the Middle East?

[LakeSamish706]

2. Damn I see this country getting a whole lot worse before it gets better....

I still think that when all is said and done Musharraf is toast as far as politics in Pakistan go and sure don't like to think of the possible impending violence before we get to that point.
Not certain whether the world population will come to the aid of the Pakistani people or not!