While You Were Out: Pakistan Just Exploded

Update2: Roads closed in and to city. PR isn't Musharraf's strong suit, despite his book tour. Most likely he has his security people operating without informing local police. And I wouldn't want to be in that copter they suggest Chaudhry use.

Senior city police officer Mushtaq Shah said he did not know who had parked trucks and oil tankers and placed containers across city roads, virtually sealing of the airport, the High Court and much of the city centre. He said police would try to remove them.

But a government official, who declined to be identified, said authorities had blocked the roads in the interests of maintaining order. Authorities had suggested that Chaudhry travel from the airport into the city centre by helicopter, he said.

Update: First reported gunfire - looks like Musharraf is serious in tamping down the protest. It's morning there now, by morning here we'll see what's what.xt:

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (CNN) -- Unknown gunmen opened fire early Saturday on political workers of the opposition Pakistan Muslim League in Karachi, killing one and wounding two others, police said.

The workers were putting up welcome posters for deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, who was scheduled to address a bar association meeting in the city later Saturday.

Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf removed Chaudhry from his post on March 9, accusing him of misusing his powers. The dismissal has sparked widespread demonstrations

Okay, not yet.

Pakistan set to declare state of emergency
Times Online, UK - 2 hours ago
President Musharraf could declare a state of emergency in Pakistan amid growing civil unrest against his increasingly embattled regime. ...
Pakistan to deploy 15000 forces to avert violence over judicial crisis Canada.com
Pakistan Detains Hundreds of Activists Ahead of Anti-Government Rally Voice of America
15000 police set for Pakistan protests Boston Globe

Comments

[ec1009]

Mission Accomplished?

Worst case scenario here we come.

We're giving Al-Qiada the bomb over there so we don't have to give them the bomb over here or something like that.

[Dan Riehl]

WHy do libs just spew orrelevant crap because they've seen it before? Oh, I forgot, it prevents them from actually having to have a thought. Miss Acc has nothing to do with Pakistan, never did, idiot.

[Daryl Herbert]

The Islamists are smart to let the pro-democracy movement set the stage for their coup.

That's what's happening, of course. Al-Qaida affiliated (or at least admiring) intelligence/army officers/influential clerics are biding their time.

If the country goes to chaos, they will step up with law and order.

If it actually gets close to having democratic electins, they will run, and they will win. One man, one vote, one time.

And for the next 50 years leftists will be talking about the "Democratically elected government of Pakistan" despite the fact that all future elections will be rigged and non-Islamist opposition parties will be illegal.

[Dan Riehl]

"for the next 50 years leftists will be talking about"

That's a bit optimistic - by next month we'll be talking about a radical islamist regime with a nuclear bomb ... India may be talking, too. That can't be allowed to happen, Iran becomes almost moot - well, goes to the back of the line, I guess.

[Phoenix]

"But a government official, who declined to be identified, said authorities had blocked the roads in the interests of maintaining order."

Those authorities being American CIA. India and the U.S. can't let this happen. I don't think they will let it happen.

[Capitalist Infidel]

The left will finally have their buddies in al Qaeda with the bomb.