Musharraf's chief critic silenced--Mobile Phones Cut.

[tekisui]

A call to protest by the chief critic of the Pakistani President, Pervez Musharraf, was cut short today when the Government shut down the entire mobile telephone network in the capital.

Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhury, the dismissed Chief Justice of Pakistan, who is now under house arrest in Islamabad, used a telephone conference this morning to urge lawyers to demonstrate against the state of emergency imposed by General Musharraf on Saturday.

Mr Chaudhury, a figurehead for the opposition, made the call as the Government met to discuss a schedule for parliamentary elections amid mounting international pressure to lift the emergency.

"I want lawyers to spread my message: the time for sacrifice has come and to stand up for the constitution," he said to cheers from supporters. "There will be no dictatorship." Lawyers outside his home shouted: “Musharraf is a criminal — we will not accept uniforms or bullets!”

Also, PM Bhutto is to meet with oppostition leaders and decide whether to join the protests.

more at link: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article2817343.ece

[C_U_L8R]

1. Makes you wonder,

when will we stand up for our Constitution?

And how far will Bush go?

[tekisui]

2. No, no, don't worry......the WH said they wouldn't compromise the

Constitution to fight terror.




except with illegal spying







and torture






and suspension of Habeas Corpus





oh, shit.

[Igel]

3. Bhutto's PPP will join the protests, me thinks.

But it'll be just a little ticklish, really.

After all, one of the reasons for disposing of the Supreme Court was that it had taken it upon itself suo motu to evaluate whether Musharraf's government had the authority to dispense with the corruption charges against Bhutto.

If the charges hadn't been dropped, Bhutto would still be subject to arrest and prosecution. The Court would probably have ruled that the charges had to be reinstated. After all, Bhutto's not Sharif.

Musharraf's dumping the Court and having Dogar recognize the PCO, has also protected Bhutto. On the other hand, by supporting Chaudhry et al. Bhutto would undoubtedly achieve the same ends.