Bhutto Back Under House Arrest

Benazir Bhutto is back under house arrest just days after being freed from the last time she was placed under house arrest!

This time it’s because she was planning to lead a march in protest of the continuing state of emergency in Pakistan. The Commonwealth Leaders have given General Musharraf 10 days to lift emergency rule and reinstate the constitution or else Pakistan will be suspended again.

I wonder where this is all going. Clearly Musharraf wants to hold on to power and is doing all he can to do so. But the pressure on him is building all the time and it can't go on like this. The situation as it is can only weaken the country further. Insider Pakistan there has been news blackouts, TV stations have been taken off the air and internet connection severed to keep the people in the dark as to what is going on.

But Pakistan is no Burma and the people won't be so easily bullied into submission. The irony is that Pakistan has not done so badly under Musharraf. But now he needs to give in to the democratic process, step down as head of the military and hold free and fair elections. The people will then judge his record as a leader.