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.

Bhutto Freed From House Arrest

It's good to see that the house arrest of Benazir Bhutto has been lifted. Only time will tell if this was due to President Musharraf bowing down to international and internal pressure, or if is all part of an elaborate charade between Ms. Bhutto and Musharraf (See Is Musharraf-Bhutto conflict all it seems?)

We Should All Be Worried About Pakistan

Pakistan's President Musharraf has now placed opposition leader Benazir Bhutto under house arrest for 30 days (Dn, Svd).

Interestingly it has been done, 'for her own safety', which is very decent and thoughtful of him don't you think ?

Musharraf himself is under pressure to end the state of emergency and resign as head of the Army. However, he'll only do this if the High Court agree that it is legal for him to stand as President again.

All this does not make one feel very secure that the election, if and when it happens, will be free and fair. Ms Bhutto's party is the largest in the country so she does command great power amongst the people of Pakistan. It is this which has Musharraf so worried.

A military commander who takes power by force and then abuses his position to keep down opposition and rigs elections to give the illusion of credability is a dictator, fair and square.

As I have said before, anachy and political strife in Pakistan is bad for all of us. The situation in Burma is bad enough, but Pakistan is a country with nuclear weapons, and a small, but dangerous group of Islamic militants, waiting to exploit the political situation.

Pakistan President Getting More Desperate

The situation in Pakistan is getting worse as General Musharraf has declared a state of emergency and is now rounding up opposition supporters of Benazir Bhutto.

The West has always turned a blind eye to Musharraf's not-so-democratic behaviour in the past as he has been such a keen ally in the War on Terror. However, now we are starting to see a desperate man using his position as head of the military and head of state to take unconstitutional action to secure his position in the face of popular resistance.

The danger is that a power struggle at the top of Pakistan's political system will give the militants breathing room to and spread further instability in the country. We can't afford to let Pakistan descend into chaos. This will give the likes of Al-Queda a haven to grow, just as they did in Afganistan.

Stability in Pakistan is good for all of us in the long run.