Musharraf's "Second Coup" In Pakistan

(CBS/AP)  In the 24 hours since President Gen. Pervez Musharraf declared a state of emergency, Pakistan appears to have inched closer to the precipice of chaos.

Around the country, human rights organizations have been shut down. Musharraf has ordered the arrest of more than a thousand political opponents and lawyers. Some, including the fired head of the Supreme Court, are under house arrest, reports CBS News foreign correspondent Sheila MacVicar. Other have been sent to prison.

Streets in the capital are closed off; the route to the Supreme Court is blocked. Independent news media remain silenced. And criticizing the president or the prime minister is now a crime, adds MacVicar.

The government said they need these measures in order to combat rising extremism. Musharraf said he was forced to suspend the constitution in order to fight growing Islamic extremism, and required "harmony" among the three branches of government in order to fight terrorism.

There have been a series of spectacular attacks recently, most notably the two suicide bombers who attacked former prime minister Benazir Bhutto's convoy when she returned from exile a couple of weeks ago.

Others would point out that Musharraf benefits from suspending the constitution by emergency decree and in particular getting rid of the Supreme Court. One of the key decisions on the court's plate was to rule on the legality of his re-election as president.

Now, as Musharraf faced his critics at home and abroad, he quoted another president facing a divided nation, Abraham Lincoln.

Addressing the Pakistan people on television last night, he briefly spoke in English, appealing directly to America: "Inaction at this moment is suicide for Pakistan and I cannot allow this country to commit suicide."

The general defended his decision with a quote from Lincoln: "By general law life and limb must be protected; yet often a limb must be amputated to save a life."

Suspending basic rights and sacking independent-minded judges may buy Musharraf more time in power, but his assumption of emergency powers could ultimately destabilize Pakistan further and embolden Islamic militants.

Opposition leader Benezir Bhutto agreed that Musharraf's actions amounted to a "second coup." In an interview with CBS News correspondent Dave Browde, she said this latest action against the country's judiciary and to declare a new provisional constitution will lead to protests. "I know that the judges are not going to take this lying down, the lawyers aren't going to take this lying down.

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Listen to the CBS News interview with Bhutto

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"It's very important that General Musharraf be pressed to restore the constitution, to release the political prisoners, respect the judiciary and hold elections under an independent election commission."

Bhutto was worried about the impact of yesterday's events on Pakistan, telling Browde that extremists could exploit the situation to their own advantage, and that if Musharraf stays on his present course, chaos would ensue "in a day or two."

"If elections are postponed it bodes very ill for the nation that as extremist supporters gain more time, our country could be facing not only an Islamic takeover but really a civil war."

However, CBS News regional consultant Jere Van Dyk, now in Afghanistan, believes Bhutto is incorrectly assessing the potential for civil war. "She's trying to tap fear in the West by saying that there is a possibility of civil war. The civil war has been going on now for the last four months, particularly in the western regions of Pakistan, which is why Gen. Musharraf called for this emergency rule.

"The militancy along the frontier has spread, just like these wildfires in Southern California, closer and closer if you will to settled areas, urban areas, civilization," Van Dyk said. "In the last four months 800 people were killed in suicide attacks throughout the country. General Musharraf said, 'Enough, I've got to stop it.'

"There's no way that there will be a civil war with all the military and all the police in the streets today," Van Dyk notes.

The U.S. Embassy in Islamabad is advising caution for Americans in the country, however, recommending all U.S. citizens stay in their residences.

U.S. To Review Aid To Terror-Fighting Ally
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Sunday the U.S. will review its aid to Pakistan after the country's military ruler suspended the constitution. Her announcement puts in question some of the billions in U.S. assistance to a close terrorism-fighting ally.

On a Mideast trip now overshadowed by the unfolding crisis in nuclear-armed Pakistan, Rice suggested that the Bush administration would not suspend aid wholesale.

The U.S. has provided about $11 billion to Pakistan since 2001, when Pakistan's president, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, made a strategic shift to ally with the United States after the Sept. 11 attacks.

"Some of the aid that goes to Pakistan is directly related to the counterterrorism mission," Rice told reporters traveling with her. "We just have to review the situation. But I would be very surprised if anyone wants the president to set aside or ignore" the responsibility to national security that can come through such cooperation, she said.

The top U.S. diplomat said she had not spoken directly with Musharraf since he announced what she called "extraconstitutional" moves on Saturday.

Western allies will find it increasingly awkward to support a military leader who twice seized power by force and has become a hated figure to many at home.

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[forthepeopl1]

United States May Declare State of Emergency


Associated Press Writer
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) %u2013 The whitehouse government of embattled President bush said Thursday it may impose a state of emergency due to ``external and internal threats'''''''''''''''' and deteriorating law and order.
including from Democratic presidential hopeful Barak Obama, over the possibility of U.S. military action against al-Qaida in Pakistan ``has started alarm bells ringing and has upset the Pakistani public.''''''''''''''''
But it appeared the motivation for a declaration of an emergency would be the domestic political woes of
President bush
During a state of emergency, the government can restrict the freedom to move, rally, engage in political activities or form groups and impose other limits such as restricting congress right to make laws or even dissolving congress
``These are only unconfirmed reports although the possibility of imposition of emergency cannot be ruled out and has recently been talked about and discussed, keeping in mind some external and internal threats and the law and order situation,bush told The Associated Press.

In Washington, the State Department said . ``
Bush is under growing American pressure to crack down on militants at the Afghan border because of fears that al-Qaida is regrouping there.
The Bush administration has also not ruled out unilateral military action inside america but like Obama, has stressed the need to work with the americans.

[tbweb]

brianbwb,

If Musharraf ran a clean government? What nation runs a clean government that somebody somewhere thinks is not clean? Only the U.S. runs a clean government, we can''t expert other nations to be perfect like US! :)

[brianbwb-2009]

"If Osama bin Laden, al Qaeda and Islamic Extremist were not running loose and operating terrorist activities inside Pakistan then there would be a case for Bhutto!" Posted by tbweb

If we accept the premise that all of Bush''s boogiemen are "running around" Pakistan, then is this not a case against Musharraf, after all who is supposed to be on watch there, and has been for a number of years?

[brianbwb-2009]

Posted by tbweb

Obvoiusly the people never considered the original coup "erased". One must ask, when a military ruler runs a corrupt government, is it any surprise he would win an election? After all, Al Gore won in the US, but we got Bush, proof that corruption produces whatever result the controller wants.

If Musharraf ran a clean government, and took care of all his people, and not just his cronies, he wouldn''t have to coup again (recoup?) to keep power.

I have said this when witnessing the fall of governments, if they were good, the people would not let them fall, if they are bad the people will sooner or later make them fall.

[tbweb]

Posted by brianbwb at 06:31 AM : Nov 05, 2007,,,

The original Coup by Musharraf was erased when he won the next election fair and square! The Pakistans President removed Musharraf when he was out of the country and nobody liked that cowardly act! If Osama bin Laden, al Qaeda and Islamic Extremist were not running loose and operating terrorist activities inside Pakistan then there would be a case for Bhutto! Pakistan is on fire and no one conducts normal activities during a fire, only once the fire is put out!

[brianbwb-2009]

Don''t forget, web, that the assassination attempt on Benazir if successful, would benefit Pervie, and his partners in the US, but not Al Qaeda, because AQ would be murdering the "daughter of Pakistan''s George Washington", one of the most popular figures in the country (or outside while in exile) so it doesn''t make any sense that AL Q. would be behind the attempt.

Any investigation by competent people would probably trace the attempt back to Pervie and friends, so lets declare martial law, suspend the constitution, and keep anything like that from happening.

[brianbwb-2009]

Posted by tbweb

The problem many have with military in power is that in countries like Pakistan, and until recently Indonesia, the military was permitted to raise operating funds from the people, a power which, after the nation was well established, morphed into a mafia style collection racket, where property, cash, jewelery and all things material become fair game to a covetous eye, especially with no higher authority to which that eye must answer.

As for Benazir, let us not forget she was exiled after Pervie Musharraf took power in a coup. In a fair election, she would have beaten Musharraf hands down, but she was in exile, and not allowed to contest. Even Imran Khan would beat Pervie soundly, so Perv does this because he knows that in an election, he is running a distant third, and numbers two and one are from the same opposition party.

[jjp735i]

Musharraf has done what Bush would like to do in the U.S., take full control and *** everyone else. I am surprised Bush has not used these measures in order to combat rising extremism in the Republican party. Congress would not stand up to him that''s for sure.

Why is Bush not attacking Musharraf? Musharraf is doing what any other dictator does. Takes full control.

[tbweb]

Posted by brianbwb at 05:26 AM : Nov 05, 2007,,,

I don''t understand Pakistan''s obsession with President Musharraf being in charge of the military, most Presidents are in charge of their military including in the U.S.! In fact Pres. Musharraf is probably the best person to run Pakistan''s military, thats what he does best! In the recent Pakistan Presidential elections Benazir Bhutto should have entered the race and ran against Pervez Musharraf but she did not and Musharraf won a new 5 year term fair and square! Now Benazir Bhutto wants to reenter Pakistan and expect to share power with Musharraf having won nothing! What kind of democratic process is that? There is even talk of holding new elections but the elections are over, Benazir missed them, she can run against Musharraf in 5 years when new elections are held. I don''t like the recent action Pres. Musharraf has taken but he must have had a good reason and I think its because Pakistans major cities are under attack when in the past terrorist restricted attacks to Tribal areas, the attack on Pakistan''s largest cities is new! In addition over 150 people were killed trying to assassinate Benazir! As long as Osama bin Laden, al Qaeda and terrorist are running loose in Pakistan causing mayhem, there can be no business as usual anyway, extremist activities require extreme measures!

[brianbwb-2009]

Posted by tbweb

Benazir wasn''t so bad, her problem was the blatant corruption of her husband, I do believe she has learned her lesson from that, and not let her husband be so conspicuous in his corruption that even the uneducated poor people see through it.

Pakistan''s problem is that Musharraf immediately stepped it up, colluding with the US, and European countries to sell Pakistan''s resources, and rent the land to foreigners, regardless of the fact that the government didn''t own the land it was renting. They also took kickbacks to let multinationals enslave their workers, and the anger has built to the point where the people say that Benazir was better than now.

This is an internal problem, it must be solved internally, US interference will make it much worse.