Pakistan Tells U.S. Election Will Proceed

Arrested Opposition Figures "Must Be Released," U.S. Ambassador Tells CBS News

(CBS/AP)  The U.S. ambassador to Pakistan has been assured by the country's election commissioner that parliamentary elections scheduled for January, but threatened by Gen. Pervez Musharraf's declaration of emergency rule, will go ahead.

In her first comments to the Western media since Musharraf, Pakistan's president, ordered emergency rule on Saturday, Ambassador Anne Patterson told CBS News correspondent Sheila MacVicar "he (election commissioner) thinks they will go ahead on time, he is ready to proceed."

Speaking after a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner Irshad Hasan Khan in Islamabad, Patterson called for the immediate release of hundreds of opposition party members who have been detained since the imposition of emergency rule.

"For elections to be credible, opposition political party leaders and their party workers must be released from jail or house arrest. The media must be free to report on events and share their opinions with the public.

"I urge the commissioner to announce the elections schedule as soon as possible, to reassure the people of Pakistan and the international community that the government remains committed to holding elections on schedule," she said.

Reiterating the call made Monday by President Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Patterson added that U.S. officials "expect President Musharraf to step down as chief of Army staff and begin his promised transition to civilian democratic rule.

The White House Tuesday urged "calm and restraint" in Pakistan while calling for "an immediate return to civilian rule," reports CBS News White House correspondent Peter Maer.

Spokeswoman Dana Perino said Musharraf had "made a mistake and should get back on the road to democracy." Maer reports the Bush administration is continuing to review U.S. aid to Pakistan, but there's no sign of any cuts in the billions of dollars in help.

Perino said "we have to be very mindful" of Pakistan's cooperation on counterterrorism. Perino brushed aside President Bush's subdued public comments on the situation Monday, saying Musharraf is "well aware of how the president sees the situation."

Prior to the declaration of a state of emergency - which Musharraf said was necessary due to increasing attacks by Islamic radicals across the country - the U.S.-backed military ruler had agreed to leave his army post and remain civilian leader.

In the hours after Musharraf took emergency measures, Pakistani officials said the January election could be postponed by as much as a year, causing consternation in Washington and other Western capitals where leaders are eager to see a key ally in the war on terror steer toward democratic rule.

Asked by MacVicar whether she thought Musharraf himself had made the decision that elections should go ahead in January, Patterson chose not to address recent ambiguities coming from within the Pakistani government.

"Let me just restate the U.S. government's position: We expect him to hold elections on time, and we are ready to do all we can to facilitate that process," she said.

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Read Full Patterson Interview Transcript
See Full Patterson Interview
See MacVicar's Report from Islamabad

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There is a deepening sense of crisis in Pakistan as the clamp downs continued Tuesday, reports MacVicar, not on the extremists Musharraf said threatened the country but on moderates and those who support the rule of law.

Pakistan's deposed chief justice called on lawyers nationwide Tuesday to defy baton-wielding police and continue protesting Musharraf's emergency rule.

"Go to every corner of Pakistan and give the message that this is the time to sacrifice," Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, who is under virtual house arrest in Islamabad, told lawyers by mobile phone. "Don't be afraid. God will help us and the day will come when you'll see the constitution supreme and no dictatorship for a long time."

Later, in the central city of Multan, hundreds of police blocked about 1,000 attorneys from leaving a district court complex to stage a street rally in defiance of a ban. Both sides pelted each other with stones and officers swung batons to disperse the crowd.

An Associated Press reporter saw at least three lawyers were wounded, two bleeding from the head, and three police also were hurt by bricks flung by lawyers.

When Musharraf, who took power in a 1999 coup, declared the emergency, he suspended the constitution, ousted independent-minded judges, put a stranglehold on the media and granted sweeping powers to authorities to crush dissent.

Many say Musharraf was making a last-ditch effort to cling to power, though he says his primary aim was to help fight rising Islamic extremism. The moves came ahead of a Supreme Court ruling on whether his recent re-election as president was legal. The top judge, Chaudhry, was removed and other independent-minded justices replaced.

Contrary to Musharraf's moves making it more difficult for militants to operate in the lawless regions along the border with Afghanistan, CBS News terrorism analyst Michael Scheuer says the security services being forced to divert attention to street protests may have the opposite effect.

"Certainly it'll mean less Pakistani military and police forces available to go into that border area... They'll be busy keeping order in the cities, arresting lawyers, whatever they're up to at the moment.

"So it will give more of a breather to the Taliban and al Qaeda," Scheuer told CBS News Early Show co-anchor Harry Smith.

Asked about concerns that Pakistan's significant nuclear weapons arsenal could fall into the wrong hands amid the political turmoil - with extremist elements known to exist in the country, Scheuer said his impression was that the weapons were well controlled.

"I think the Pakistanis are very responsible in control of their nuclear weapons," he said, "and the United States has now had six years to prepare to take them over if we need to do that, so there must be a U.S. Military plan to do it."

[terrorislam4]

I THOUGHT YOU SAID KIDS ARE CIVILIANS

MI5 Says Kids Groomed for Terror Attacks
Extremists are grooming children and teenagers to plot terrorist attacks against Britain, the director of the domestic spy agency said Monday.
http://www.newsvine.com/_news/2007/11/05/1074548-mi5-says-kids-groomed-for-terror-attacks
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/B/BRITAIN_SPY_CHIEF?SITE=WIFON&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/britain_spy_chief
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/11/05/ap/europe/main3453066.shtml
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/War_Terror/2007/11/05/4632535-ap.html
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,308216,00.html

[terrorislam4]

FASCIST NAZI TERRORISLAM STILL PRACTICES SLAVERY

NRI couple charged with slavery
Varsha Mahender Sabhnani, 35, and her husband Mahender Murlidhar Sabhnani, 51.
The women, identified as Nona and Samirah, said they were expected to hide when someone came to the house. They were forced to work for long hours, made to sleep on mats in the kitchen and Sabhnani also allegedly made remarks derogatory to their religion -- Islam.
http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/may/24nri.htm
LI housekeepers held as slaves, tortured
Among other fragrances, he sells a popular perfume called Royal Mirage through several corporations, including PVM International
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/longisland/ny-bzslav0516,0,1513272.story
NRI Mahender Murlidhar Sabhnani popular perfume owner, charged for keeping servants as prisoners
NRI Mahender Murlidhar Sabhnani have a perfume business and operate from their 2.5 multimillion dollar home. He owns a trademarked popular perfume named "Royal Mirage", which he sells through several corporations, including Royal Mirage Corp., RTD International, Eternal Love Perfumes Corp., PVM International Corp., and Meena Arjan Corp.
http://www.nriinternet.com/NRI_Discrimination/USA/2007/Mahender_%20Sabhnani/index.htm
Modern day slavery scandal rocks New York
http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/modern-day-slavery-scandal-rocks-new-york/2007/05/24/1179601521848.html

[terrorislam4]

BE AFRAID,,, BE VERY AFRAID,,,
PICTURE FASCIST NAZI GERMANY WITH NUKES,,,

WAKE UP! The Crisis in Pakistan Is Much More Dangerous Than You Think

Musharraf''''s Emergency Crackdown Is Anathema to Everyone Who Cherishes Human Rights and Democracy. But His Grip on Power Is Slipping Just as Islamic Extremists Are Escalating Their Bloody Insurgency. If They Succeed in Overthrowing Musharraf and Seizing Power, al-Qaida Will Gain Access to Pakistan''''s Nuclear Weapons.
http://www.skeeterbitesreport.com/2007/11/wake-up-crisis-in-pakistan-is-much-more.html

[terrorislam4]

THE DANES ARE WAKING UP TO FACIST NAZI TERRORISLAM

FASCIST NAZI TERRORISLAM IS
Persona non grata

Exclusive: Salute the Danish Flag! - It%u2019s a Symbol of Western Freedom By Susan MacAllen
In Denmark, once-liberal immigration policies have forced huge governmental change and zero tolerance for Muslim immigrants intent on turning Denmark into an Islamic welfare haven. FSM Contributing Editor Susan MacAllen reveals a shocking reaction there and lessons America must learn.
http://familysecuritymatters.org/homeland.php?id=1172085

[terrorislam4]

FASCIST NAZI TERRORISLAM STILL PRACTICES SLAVERY

NRI couple charged with slavery
Varsha Mahender Sabhnani, 35, and her husband Mahender Murlidhar Sabhnani, 51.
The women, identified as Nona and Samirah, said they were expected to hide when someone came to the house. They were forced to work for long hours, made to sleep on mats in the kitchen and Sabhnani also allegedly made remarks derogatory to their religion -- Islam.
http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/may/24nri.htm
LI housekeepers held as slaves, tortured
Among other fragrances, he sells a popular perfume called Royal Mirage through several corporations, including PVM International
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/longisland/ny-bzslav0516,0,1513272.story
NRI Mahender Murlidhar Sabhnani popular perfume owner, charged for keeping servants as prisoners
NRI Mahender Murlidhar Sabhnani have a perfume business and operate from their 2.5 multimillion dollar home. He owns a trademarked popular perfume named "Royal Mirage", which he sells through several corporations, including Royal Mirage Corp., RTD International, Eternal Love Perfumes Corp., PVM International Corp., and Meena Arjan Corp.
http://www.nriinternet.com/NRI_Discrimination/USA/2007/Mahender_%20Sabhnani/index.htm
Modern day slavery scandal rocks New York
http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/modern-day-slavery-scandal-rocks-new-york/2007/05/24/1179601521848.html

[realpatriot1]

ndjam/dargay,

The best way for America to allow Pakastan to resolve its own affairs is to stop supporting the current government''s suppression of the Pakastani public will
with miltary armaments and supplies.

Encouraging the government to make good on its own promises to the Pakastani people and the international community does not constitute interference in Pakastan''s internal affairs.

We aren''t talking about favoring one side or the other, but clearly, Bhutto would be better for Pakastan & America.

[tbweb]

Posted by KJVProphet at 02:39 AM : Nov 07, 2007,,,

There is no military available to order onto the streets of America! The military is not even available to protect U.S. Borders or help put out California fires. If anyone will be put on the streets of America it will be Blackwater!

[kjvprophet]

With the full support of Senators Clinton, Obama and McCain, President Bush recently signed into Law the John Warner Defense Authorization Act of 2007, which, according to Senator Leahy (D-Vermont), will actually "encourage the President to declare Martial Law." It does so by revising the Insurrection Act, a set of Laws that limits the President''s ability to deploy troops within the United States. The Insurrection Act (10 U.S.C.331 -335) has historically, along with the Posse Comitatus Act (18 U.S.C.1385), helped to enforce strict prohibitions on military involvement in domestic Law enforcement. With one cloaked swipe of his pen, Bush has now undone those prohibitions. Public Law 109-364, or the John Warner Defense Authorization Act (H.R.5122) (2), which was signed by the President in a private Oval Office ceremony, allows the President to declare a "public emergency," suspend Congress and station troops anywhere in America and take control of state-based National Guard units without the consent of your Governor or local authorities, in order to "suppress public disorder." President Bush seized this unprecedented power on the very same day that he signed the equally odious Military Commissions Act. In a sense, the two Laws compliment one another. One allows for torture and detention abroad of those who dissent and are stripped of their citizenship, while the other seeks to enforce acquiescence at home, preparing to order the military onto the streets of America.

[feelfree1]

I wonder if the Bush-puppet Furhrer (heil) will bother to have pretend elections next year, like his nuclear-armed military dictator buddy here?

[ndjam]

Leave Pakistan alone... Pakistan will solve their own problems, they dont need the U.S telling them what to do in their own home. Pakistan is one of the greatest nations on this planet