Bhutto Put Under House Arrest Again

(CBS/AP)  Pakistani authorities placed opposition leader Benazir Bhutto under house arrest for the second time in four days to prevent her staging a grand procession on Tuesday to protest emergency rule, police said.

A seven-day detention order was issued by the government of Punjab province, where the former prime minister is staying at the house of a lawmaker from her party, Aftab Cheema, the chief of operations of Lahore city police, told The Associated Press.

"She has been detained and she won't be allowed to come out," Cheema said.

Hundreds of armed police were deployed Monday in the streets around the home where Bhutto is staying, and sharpshooters took to surrounding rooftops. A series of three steel-and-barbed wire barricades were erected around her house.

A conflict over the march between Bhutto and Musharraf could intensify the political crisis engulfing Pakistan and further cloud the prospect of the two leaders forming a U.S.-backed alliance against rising Islamic extremism.

Bhutto had planned to leave Lahore on Tuesday morning for the capital, Islamabad. The journey was expected to take about three days, and her party said thousands of supporters were expected to join her en route.

The caravan is meant to pressure President Gen. Pervez Musharraf to end the state of emergency he imposed on Nov. 3 and give up his post as army chief.

"All processions, rallies, political gatherings at present are outlawed," Deputy Information Minister Tariq Azim told the AP before the detention order was issued. "So if she breaks the law then obviously she will not be allowed to do it."

Azim declined to give details about what steps authorities might take against Bhutto. He said that officials would "take the necessary action as it happens."

Farhatullah Babar, a spokesman for Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party, said before Bhutto's was ordered detained that Tuesday's march would go ahead "regardless of what the government is saying."

Party spokeswoman Farzana Raja vowed its supporters would fight any attempt by authorities to block her "freedom march."

"If police try to stop us, in every town and district of Punjab, there will be a battlefield between PPP activists and police," she said.

With an escort of dozens of police vehicles, Bhutto had ventured out around Lahore Monday to offer prayers at the grave of Pakistan's national poet, Allama Iqbal, and declared to reporters that her caravan was part of her campaign "to save Pakistan."

"I know it is dangerous but what alternative is there when the country is in danger?" the former prime minister said.

Bhutto was targeted by an Oct. 18 suicide bombing attack on a homecoming procession in the southern city of Karachi as she returned from years in exile. The assassination attempt killed 145 other people.

She was placed under house arrest in Islamabad Friday to prevent her from addressing a rally in the nearby garrison city of Rawalpindi, where authorities also warned they had intelligence that suicide bombers were loose in the area.

Police said they had ramped up security around Bhutto again due to intelligence that a suicide bomber was planning to attack her in Lahore. Ayaz Salim, a top police official, said officers had searched all the city's hotels after receiving a tip that a suicide bomber was staying in one, but they did not find the suspect.

Raja Zafarul Haq, chairman of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's party, demanded restoration of the constitution Monday, reinstatement of top judges purged by Musharraf and the release of detainees as well as Sharif's return from exile.

"Under the current circumstances it is very difficult to expect there would be fair elections in the country," he told Associated Press Television News. "Within the next week there will be meetings and we will finally decide whether to go for elections or agitation."

The opposition's complaints echoed sentiments expressed one week ago by the U.S. ambassador to Pakistan. Anne Patterson told CBS News in Islamabad that, "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."

Contacted Monday, a spokesperson for the U.S. embassy confirmed that Patterson's comments, "still stand".

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With Musharraf losing popularity due to growing disaffection in Pakistan over enduring military rule, the Bush administration backed talks about power-sharing between him and Bhutto as a way to keep a U.S.-friendly administration in control of the nuclear-armed nation where militants are orchestrating attacks inside the country, across the border in Afghanistan.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammed Sadiq said Pakistan's nuclear weapons were secure and that there was no risk they would be seized by Taliban or al Qaeda-linked militants who have expanded their influence beyond northwestern border regions.

"There are multiple layers of command and control and the weapons are not in danger of falling into any hands," he said. "Pakistan's nuclear program is very well-guarded."

Musharraf has set no time limit on the emergency declaration, which has resulted in the arrests of thousands of his critics, a ban on rallies and the blacking out of independent TV networks. He said Sunday that the emergency was necessary to step up the fight against militants and ensure "absolutely fair and transparent elections" for parliament.

Since the imposition of emergency move came shortly before the supreme court was due to rule on the legality of his recent election for a new presidential term, Musharraf is finding it hard to shake suspicions it was actually a tactic to oust judges who could have obstructed his bid to extend his eight-year rule.

White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said that President Bush thinks emergency rule must be lifted "in order to have free and fair elections."

"But let me stress, the situation in Pakistan is evolving, and it's not easy predict," Perino added.

Bhutto has said the talks with Musharraf stalled because of the emergency declaration but could be revived if he rolls back emergency rule.

She joined other Pakistani opposition leaders in questioning whether a free and fair ballot would be possible under emergency rule. She welcomed Musharraf's commitment to holding elections on time in January, but likened campaigning under the emergency to being tied and blindfolded.

"In the prevailing circumstances you can't say the elections will be free and fair," she told reporters.

"Boycotting elections could be an option," she said. "We will consult the other political parties."

Other opposition parties already have threatened a boycott.

Bhutto also demanded that Musharraf step down as army chief when his current term as president expires Nov. 15, a step he is promising to take once a reconstituted supreme court validates his recent presidential election victory.

Foreign ministers from the Commonwealth of Britain and its former colonies said that Pakistan would be suspended from the organization unless the state of emergency was repealed and Musharraf stepped down as army chief by Nov. 22.

"This affords Pakistan a last change to immediately address the issues," Maltese Foreign Minister Michael Frendo said.

[tbweb]

Posted by diplomacy3 at 01:01 AM : Nov 13, 2007,,,

Governments sack and dissolve elements of their governments all the time, Russia''s Putin just did the same although it did not extend to the judiciary. Pakistan is being evaluated as if its operating under near normal conditions and its not! Pakistan has a substantial nuclear weapons capability, Pakistan is the home of Osama bin Laden and the "real" al Qaeda, Pakistans Army just attacked Islamabads Red Mosque recently in the deadliest battle against extremist since 9/11 where over 100 Clerics and militants were killed, including the mosques tribune, the popular Abdul Rashid Ghazi!, extremist strikes and sectarian attacks across the country together with mini-insurgencies in two of Pakistan''s four provinces have increased public insecurity, the killing of more than 70 people in Karachi in a series of sectarian massacres, Sunni extremists massacred dozens of Shias in attacks on their mosques and unknown assailants assassinated a leading Sunni cleric, riots and protests shut down Pakistans business and commercial center for days. How can their be business as usual or elections in this environment? Sunnis and Shiites slaughtering each other like in Iraq and without Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan will end up like Iraq with the big difference being Osama bin Laden possibly controlling Pakistans nuclear weapons blackmailing the planet!

[tbweb]

-Pathetic analysis, tbweb. You mean that REAL democracy should never take root in Pakistan? Means that Military regime shoould continue with a Bhutto-make-upped-democracy...

-How would you like to have a serious presidential contender such as Hilary, put in house arrest for walking the walk in SanFrancisco or New York?

-tbweb, you are pathetic, you have a dictator mindset.

Posted by grazinggoat at 11:02 AM : Nov 13, 2007,,,

You know grazinggoat sometimes its hard to chat with you and FeelFree1 and some others because you all always detour off topic and digress into nasty name calling when others don''t agree with you, but I''ll try to overlook your immaturity and answer as usual. There are many elements in play in Pakistan right now and the Pakistan Army is fresh from the assault on Islamabad''s Red Mosque killing over 100 Clerics and Militants in addition to the mosque''s tribune, the popular Abdul Rashid Ghazi! It was after that recent event that the unrest really errupted. Benezir Bhutto after promising to join forces with Pervez Musharraf has now changed her mind and trying to exploit the unrest for personal gain. Musharraf was right to arrest her and should put her on a plane out of the country for calling for him to step down from both Post and saying she will never serve under him. Bhutto changes like the weather, she must know Mitt Romney!

[nextprophet]

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-- No more erosion of Social Security to pay for militarization
-- No more U.N. (one world government) participation
-- No more NAFTA, CAFTA, WTO or GATT
-- No more North American Union
-- No more federal gun control laws
-- No more illegal aliens pouring-in over our country''s borders
-- No more illegal aliens allowed to roam freely in our streets
-- No more national ID cards (Real ID Act)
-- No more government invasion of your privacy
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[grazinggoat]

Benazir Bhutto demanding that Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf step down immediately and serving notice she would not serve under Musharraf in any future government has upped the Ante and now from my view has placed Pakistan is a real genuine crisis status! Bhutto is in harms way, should leave Pakistan immediately or her desire to become a martyr may be fulfilled.
Posted by tbweb at 03:41 AM : Nov 13, 2007

-Pathetic analysis, tbweb. You mean that REAL democracy should never take root in Pakistan? Means that Military regime shoould continue with a Bhutto-make-upped-democracy...

-How would you like to have a serious presidential contender such as Hilary, put in house arrest for walking the walk in SanFrancisco or New York?

-tbweb, you are pathetic, you have a dictator mindset.

[tbweb]

Benazir Bhutto demanding that Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf step down immediately and serving notice she would not serve under Musharraf in any future government has upped the Ante and now from my view has placed Pakistan is a real genuine crisis status! Bhutto is in harms way, should leave Pakistan immediately or her desire to become a martyr may be fulfilled.

[alphaa10-2009]

realpatriot1 said, "If that was some big Bush plot why did (Bhutto) abandon it if she and Bush are "causing trouble". Your theories for defending Musharif''''s rule don''''t make any sense to me... As far as I''''m concerned, she and all Pakastanis should stir up as much upheaval and disorder as they can against this military dictator."
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Bush and Musharaff have been all over the news with their negotiation about further American aid, and conditions of Pakistani rule which must be met to qualify. If not a plot, it certainly qualifies as a public relations exercise.

The problem is Bush was perfectly content with Musharraf as dictator, and objected only when Musharaff displayed his dictatorial tendencies in public. Now, Bush insists on more substantive "proof" to the world his ally in Pakistan is no third-world despot.

Which is a role Bhutto can play nicely-- if she wishes. Apparently, Bhutto wants to force the dictator in Musharraf into the open as soon as possible, or drop the pretence of a national emergency. As Bush and Musharraf feared, Bhutto is playing for keeps.

Which explains the attempt on Bhutto''s life-- it may well have come from the Pakistani secret police and/or army, who would be only so glad to be rid of her.

[alphaa10-2009]

The same poster apparently wrote under the name "KJVProphet"... and "NYCProphet"... and now, "Next Prophet"? Is this guy searching desperately for a name to justify his cause? Maybe he works for an ad agency, where changing brands is believed equivalent to changing content?
---
NYCProphet said, "This is the vision of Hillary Clinton, John Edwards, and their fellow members of The Bilderberg Group..."
---
Speaking of outdated, ineffective paradigms, you omit the bulk of damning, recent history with Bush. It so happens the neocon circles about Bush Sr. and Jr. are rife with Trilateralists. Bush, Sr. was often seen at apparent Trilateralist affairs. Bush, Jr., rubbed sh oulders with them at Davos, Switzerland.

The question arises, if you are worried about global domination by a single elite, where has your voice been during the past six years of neocon madness under Son of Bush-- substituting a Pax Americana at bayonet point for the New World Order of his father?

[alphaa10-2009]

"KJVProphet" (AKA "NextProphet") said, "Ron Paul does not represent your Father''s school of political thought. He represents your Founding Fathers."
---
Nice try, but not true. The Founders were largely Deists, who believed, for example, that a perfect God needs no prayer from us to guide His perfect will. Deists, therefore, do not endorse prayerful intercession, either.

The Constitution, itself, makes little mention of God, except to prevent establishment of religion. This was understandable, following England''s experience with religious civil war about 150 years before.

Paul is "not my father''s school of political thought"? Certainly not-- my father has the intelligence to see through blarney when he hears it. Paul is merely Ayn Rand''s meager take on civilization, which is to say, a spoonful.

[alphaa10-2009]

Is Ron Paul the antidote to Bush? Better consider Paul''s attitude to democratic government, first.

Paul boosters struggle to find his positive points, because Paul is basically a Bush Republican who never endorsed all the neocon globalist thinking and money driving Bush. By any standard, this is only damnation by faint praise.

And while Bush and Paul differ here and there on foreign affairs, their policies at home are much closer.

Both Bush and Paul follow the Grover Norquist view that government is the problem. But like most Bush slogans, that doesn''t describe America or its challenges.

Both Bush and Paul are cheerleaders for lessez faire-- the policy that brought us everything from Enron to the still rampaging mortgage bust on Wall Street.

For example, it was private sector incompetence, not governmental health insurance which left America behind Cuba in infant mortality, which makes us pay 2.5 times more for healthcare than the EU, and with 47 million of us medically uninsured as "subprime" risks.

For another, it was a $40 billion private sector mortgage fiasco that dropped the DOW 250 points and left 650,000 Americans foreclosed out of their own homes.

Private sector corruption? A huge glut of no-bid, taxpayer dollars shoved at the private sector left New Orleans mired in waste and faulty construction by Bush cronies-- the city still exposed to the next Katrina.

Ron Paul, by his stated beliefs, endorses more of the same-- and America simply cannot afford another Bush.

[diplomacy3]

ozonmojo.....

I think the Pakistani people would like to accept a corrup Prime Minister than a tyrant,liar and a dictator. Corruption is all over the world. Pakistan or Benazir is no exception, though it was her husband who was involved. It''s a shame to see that a bunch of under-graduate generals have created a warlike situation in a democratic country. They are at war against their own people. They don''t know the gravity of sacking the Chief Justice and the top judges of the Supreme Court. I don''t see any difference between Myanmar and Pakistan if rated now except that the latter is a nuclear power. The whole army is engaged in internal fighting on the western province. What if there is an attack from outside?