Musharraf opponents charged with treason

[Swamp Rat]

Source: By ASHRAF KHAN, Associated Press Writer 15 minutes ago

KARACHI, Pakistan - Three politicians and a union activist were charged with treason for making anti-government speeches in the southern port city of Karachi, a court official said Thursday.

(snip)

The four were arrested Monday and were interrogated by police before being formally charged Wednesday, said a court official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the media.

If convicted, the charge carries a maximum sentence of death.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071108/ap_on_re_as/pakistan;_ylt=ApGeXKZplmwu4Pq9MwdawuSs0NUE

[krispos42]

1. I get the funny feeling...

...that Cheney and Bush someplace taking detailed notes...

[wake.up.america]

2. Bush and Cheney seem to have everything Mushi wants - they went about it differently.

[Swamp Rat]

4. Musharraf was likely sent a DIY manual from those two, including hand-written notes in the margins.

[lonestarnot]

20. dry run.

[Javaman]

23. Pfft! free speech is for suckers!!

:cry:

[mallard]

3. Re: what court will they be sent to ...

... if he's shut them down too?

How long before Musharraf is just mush? He's isolating himself in such a manner as suggests a palace coup may be imminent.

[...of J.Temperance]

5. I agree, that Musharraf is going to be overthrown.....maybe WITHIN the month even

He's acting in an increasingly desparate and utterly disturbing manner....I believe he'll be overthrown soon....and I think it'll be like Salvador Allende IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.

NOTE: For those who have problems reading properly or understanding properly....I'm NOT likening Musharraf to Allende, I'm saying that Musharraf's end is going to be like Allende's.

[countryjake]

8. It'll be more like the Shah, if ya ask me!

The deals he's made with the fundamentalists are certainly leading somewhere. Villagers fleeing their towns, expecting government firepower, as the Taliban moves in...but nothing from Musharaf.

[...of J.Temperance]

10. I've always felt that Musharraf

Was actually in SUPPORT of The Taliban AND Al-Qaeda, he's certainly done zilch to combat either and he's given both safe harbor in Pakistan.

It could be like The Shah, but I dunno I feel that someone will "do" him, even like one of his bodyguards or something.

See IF W was serious about combatting Radical Islamic terrorism, he would have bombed the shit out of Pakistan in 2002, instead of bombing the shit out of Iraq, that had nothing to do with anything.

Like everything else with W, all his babbling about "combatting" terrorism is just horsecrap and hot air and lies....W's really been assisting the Radical Islamic terrorists, he further de-stabilizes the ME by pointlessly invading Iraq, he then constantly tries to start shit with Iran....and all the while he's pampered Pakistan and given Pakistan anything they've wanted....including a free ride.

[countryjake]

12. I don't think he's ever been as tight with them as our own government was...

don't forget who made allies out of those same fundies during the ouster of Russia from the region. Just like Iran back in the 70s, the USA will go to any lengths to prevent and crush any leftist movements, making deals with the devil. As with Musharaf...we'll support a military despot over the progressives, every time.

Our government hasn't the right to bomb the shit out of any country, not Iraq, Afghanistan, or Pakistan, and least of all, Iran.

Not if it's Peace that we're looking for.

[...of J.Temperance]

30. What would

You suggest as an alternative then?

If bombing is not an option, how would you counter and stamp out these nutjobs?

[countryjake]

33. It's for the people of Pakistan to decide...

Tribute to the Pakistani students, lawyers, civil right activists protesting against General Musharaf's dictatorship.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkwLmDEaIwc

[EFerrari]

21. Pakistan has as many troops in the tribal region as the US

and Britain do in all of Afghanistan. They've taken a lot of casualties, too. I didn't know that until I heard the ex ambassador to Pakistan on teevee yesterday.

[...of J.Temperance]

31. Yeah and now

The Taliban and "others" who are affiliated with Al-Qaeda are gaining the upper hand on the Pakistani forces.

This is getting SERIOUSLY scary....yet ALL anyone seems to be obsessing about is when Musharraf is going to take his army uniform off....I know he shouldn't be wearing his army uniform still, but I mean, I think the army uniform is the LEAST of the problems in Pakistan at this time.

[Odin2005]

19. IMO an Islamist coup is likely, I fear. And that absolutely terrifies me.

Taliban with nukes = :scared: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke:

[...of J.Temperance]

29. Of course

This shit wouldn't have gotten this far, if the moron in the WH would have dealt with Pakistan INSTEAD of pointlessly storming into Iraq.

Then again, maybe there IS a method to his madness....or a method to the neo-Con's madness....an Islamist Pakistan with The Taliban with nukes WOULD give these loonies their biggest wish, that being an EXCUSE for Perpetual War.

:scared:

Hasn't that been the ultimate plan all along since 2001....a reason for Perpetual War....I think it has.

[PassingFair]

34. The people I know in India are NOT afraid of the "Islamists" taking over at all.

They HATE Musharraf, and they trust the people
of Pakistan to elect a secular government.
They DO NOT FEAR a religious take over.

[ohio2007]

38. what? gone before Christmas? I doubt that

he'll be in the hot seat but out of power?
No, the US will have to turn its back on Musharraf like it did the shah of Iran.
Then and only then will the power struggle truely be underway

jmo.
but I'll save this thread for a "year in review" look seven weeks from now ;)

[tekisui]

16. He stacked the court after he sacked the court.

[countryjake]

6. Meanwhile, another town falls to the Taliban...

in Northwest Pakistan. He sure is doing one heckava job, clearing out those radical elements!

[...of J.Temperance]

7. He's always been a wolf in sheeps clothing, in fact I'd say that he's

Probably actually a SUPPORTER of BOTH The Taliban AND Al-Qaeda....because he's done JACKSHIT to combat either organization, in fact he's given both safe harbor in Pakistan for YEARS.

[countryjake]

9. Have you seen this...

Pakistan Forces Flee As Taliban Takeover Military Strongholds In Swat, NWFP
http://www.newspostindia.com/report-22397

~snip~

Wednesday 07th of November 2007

The imposition of emergency in Pakistan has not put any pressure on Taliban in Swat district. Taliban have taken over police stations in Matta, Khawazkhela and Charbagh. This scribe visited the Matta police station after the imposition of emergency in Pakistan. Taliban there have replaced the Pakistan's flag with their own at the police station after more than 120 soldiers surrendered two days ago. Taliban commanders controlling Matta police station were not worried about the emergency.

Immediately after President Musharraf's speech, the Pakistan Army swapped 25 Taliban fighters for 211 kidnapped soldiers in South Waziristan. There was a feeling of achievement among local militants over the banning of private TV channels all over the country as they think Musharraf had accepted their point of view in this matter. Many shopkeepers in the main market of Matta condemned both Taliban and the new NWFP government. They said the government is creating problems by bombing civilians while Taliban are inflexible...

read more at link

[...of J.Temperance]

11. Hot damn!

I hadn't known about this until minutes ago....this is getting seriously scary.

Something's definately Rotten In Denmark....things will get uglier as well....everyone knew that this was going to happen in Pakistan, yet nothing was done, nobody did a thing....instead they babbled on about Iraq and Syria and now Iran.

Pakistan was the IMMEDIATE threat, yet it was babied.

The Pakistani boil should have been lanced years ago....they've NEVER been an "Ally" and it was stupid of anyone to think that they were an "Ally".

[countryjake]

14. It's been going on all year...don't forget Pakistan is a Muslim nation...

and the rural areas are still tribal, simple people...not looking to threaten anyone, if they're left alone. The main problems that are very real are the many human rights violations that exist, oppression by tradition. Not a reason to carpet bomb any people.

We have enough of our own "boils" that need lancing, over here, in my opinion.

We've used them as an "ally" only for the vital routes that crisscross their country. Access. If those should be closed off to the USA, we'll be up shit creek, along with thousands of our military.

Best thing that could happen, to end the aggression.

[harun]

17. Pakistan is not a threat to the United States. Musharaf looks

like he is never going to relinquish power though, so it is going to be very ugly for Pakistani's and it embarrasses the B*sh administration who are now working with a Totalitarian Dictator puppet like Hosni Mubarak.

This will give a ton of propaganda to Al-Qaeda (and Iran). Who can say look at the United States propping up puppet masters all over the Islamic world. Which they are. Even Ron Paul is saying this about Musharaf, that he is just a puppet of the United States and we should leave Pakistan to its own affairs, which we should.

[countryjake]

26. Now they have Benazir Bhutto's home surrounded by 6000 troops...

they've deliberately flooded the square where today's protest was to happen, she says that 5000 of her PPP workers have been detained across the country, she has made an attempt to sneak out and was stopped "for her own protection", and all highways between Punjab and North West Frontier Province have been blocked.

Benazir's Followers Clash With Police After Her House Arrest
http://www.newspostindia.com/report-22675


Meanwhile:

200 Security Personnel Surrender to Militants in Pak
http://www.zeenews.com/articles.asp?aid=406375&sid=WOR&ssid=&news=200%20security%20personnel%20surrender%20to%20militants%20in%20Pak

Islamabad, Nov 09: Two hundred paramilitary personnel have surrendered to pro-Taliban militants in the troubled Swat valley, in a major embarrassment to Pakistan government which has been pushed on the backfoot in its operation to root out extremists from the northwestern tribal areas.

The 200 men of the Frontier Corps surrendered to militants led by radical cleric Maulana Fazlullah last night after their camp in the Matta area was surrounded by the extremists who are demanding imposition of strict islamic law or Shariat and have strengthened their hold on the region by driving out most security forces.

The security personnel handed over their weapons to the militants and did not put up any resistance, Dawn News channel reported.

There was no official word on the surrender, but a militant spokesman said the personnel were being taken to Imamdheri, the stronghold of Fazlullah, known as "Mullah Radio" for his sermons broadcast from an illegal FM station.

There are almost no security forces in upper Swat, where most security posts and police stations are now held by the militants.

[...of J.Temperance]

28. I just heard that DISTURBING news

Earlier today....WTF?!

Apparently Bhutto has been freed now, but it's STILL deeply out of order that she was placed under house arrest....I genuinely fear for Benazir Bhutto's safety, I have to say she's got balls of steel staying in Pakistan....I know if I were her, I'd have hot-tailed it out of the joint when that crazy suicide bomber targeted her convoy the other week.


On Edit: Dammit spelling error

[orleans]

13. the shape of things to come? n/t

[rodeodance]

15. oh my gawd.

[Odin2005]

18. I bet Cheney is taking notes as fast as he can... n/t.

[FormerOstrich]

22. Not long ago, I remember Dr. Rice

saying Pakistan was a model democracy. I tried to find some references to it but only found this one. I clearly remember this because it was so incredibly stunning at the time.

Pakistan, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told Musharraf at their recent meeting in Islamabad, is "a model country for the Muslim world". Among other things, she praised Pakistan's president and chief of army staff, who came to power in a coup in 1999, for his "bold vision for South Asia and initiatives to promote peace and stability in the region".

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/GC23Df04.html

[saigon68]

24. She is an utter piece of garbage

[yellowcanine]

25. Bush is probably asking himself right now, "If Mushy can do that as head of the army, why can't I do

the same thing as CIC - cancel elections, throw the opposition in jail, and have the Republican congress critters elect me president for four more years?

[LeftishBrit]

27. This is just so depressing

I know a number of people who've got relatives there, and it's really worrying!

It's interesting that Bush, who is supposedly so concerned about tyrannical Muslim theocracies, never seemed that concerned about Pakistan until it all blew up. Obviously it wasn't on his current list of bogeynations.

[ohio2007]

32. funny how the civilized sections of Pakistan are at each other throats while the lawless parts creep

forward, greedily gobbling up real estate like an undetected cancer.
Guess we will know how violent the scheduled Feb elections turnout will be.....unless the society implodes on itself before then.

Well, Pakistan has the population of Iran,Iraq,north Korea and Afghanistan combined.

Can't say it will be a pretty site if it all blows up in their faces

[Cha]

35. Poor things...they're caught in

the web of a dictator fighting for his political life.

Hope the good ol' mainstream Americans are taking note of this action over there in Pakistan..the bushits' idol. Are our corporatemediawhores letting this news out?

[ContraBass Black]

36. It's almost as if he's trying to incite a revolution.

His massively heavy-handed power grabbing is clumsy and desperate.

[ohio2007]

39. he came to power in a bloodless coup....hopefully he'll be able to leave the same way

the previous dictator willingly left......

[pinniped]

37. It seems like the treason charges should be the other way around.

As for the beatings and multiple arrests, I guess the police and military are just following orders, again.

We all know where they stand.