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Pakistan bans demonstrations in capital
By MUNIR AHMAD, Associated Press Writer1 hour, 35 minutes ago
1 June 2007
The government banned demonstrations in Pakistan's capital Friday, the latest effort to quell mounting political turmoil over President Gen. Pervez Musharraf's decision to suspend the chief justice.
Thousands of Pakistanis have joined a series of protests since the March 9 ouster of Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry, accusing Musharraf of trying to sideline the independent-minded judge before elections this year. Riots erupted last month when authorities stopped Chaudhry from leading a demonstration in the city of Karachi, leaving more than 40 people dead.
Musharraf, facing his deepest political crisis since taking power in a 1999 coup, emerged from a meeting with top military officers Friday with a strong reaffirmation of their support.
The military denounced a "malicious campaign" against the government "by vested interests and opportunists who were acting as obstructionist forces to serve their personal interests and agenda even at the cost of flouting the rule of law." It said Musharraf assured the military that nobody would be able to destabilize Pakistan.
The two-month ban forces people to seek permission before organizing any political gathering of more than five people. The announcement came a day before Chaudhry planned to lead a procession from Islamabad to the city of Abbotabad.
"We have imposed a ban on rallies in Islamabad. A notification about it has been issued, and this step has been taken to ensure peace and avoid any inconvenience to the general public," said Mohammed Ali, Islamabad's deputy chief of administration.
But he said there were no immediate plans to stop Chaudhry's procession, and a lawyer for the ousted judge said it would go forward.
"God willing, we will go to Abbotabad with the chief justice on Saturday, and we have no plan to apply for any permission," said Aitzaz Ahsan.
Although Musharraf's political opponents have challenged his rule, there is no sign that he has lost the support of his key international backer â the United States. Washington considers the Pakistani leader a crucial ally in the fight against terrorism.
Talat Masood, a political analyst and retired Pakistani general, said Friday's military statement was an attempt to counter perceptions at home and internationally that the president's position was weakening.
"President Musharraf is saying to the nation that 'I am not alone,'" Masood said. "I think he also wants to tell the world, 'Do not get concerned â there's a lot of support for me in the army.'"
Television stations said they were facing restrictions on covering Chaudhry's demonstrations. One broadcaster, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue, said his network had received "verbal instructions" from the government not to show live coverage of Chaudhry's rallies.
Government officials could not be reached for comment Friday, though Musharraf insisted in a speech a day earlier that there would be no restrictions on press freedoms.
Since the Karachi violence, the government has criticized private TV news channels, saying they were taking Chaudhry's side.
On Thursday, Information Minister Mohammed Ali Durrani warned the government would no longer tolerate insulting remarks against the armed forces and the judiciary.
Musharraf says he suspended Chaudhry because of alleged misconduct and that his opponents are politicizing a purely legal matter. Critics accuse of him of trying to get rid of the judge in case of legal challenges to his plan to seek a new five-year term this fall.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070601...n&printer=1;_ylt=AjyNjl8kQ.ox1uyaJ4j.Pp39xg8F
By MUNIR AHMAD, Associated Press Writer1 hour, 35 minutes ago
1 June 2007
The government banned demonstrations in Pakistan's capital Friday, the latest effort to quell mounting political turmoil over President Gen. Pervez Musharraf's decision to suspend the chief justice.
Thousands of Pakistanis have joined a series of protests since the March 9 ouster of Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry, accusing Musharraf of trying to sideline the independent-minded judge before elections this year. Riots erupted last month when authorities stopped Chaudhry from leading a demonstration in the city of Karachi, leaving more than 40 people dead.
Musharraf, facing his deepest political crisis since taking power in a 1999 coup, emerged from a meeting with top military officers Friday with a strong reaffirmation of their support.
The military denounced a "malicious campaign" against the government "by vested interests and opportunists who were acting as obstructionist forces to serve their personal interests and agenda even at the cost of flouting the rule of law." It said Musharraf assured the military that nobody would be able to destabilize Pakistan.
The two-month ban forces people to seek permission before organizing any political gathering of more than five people. The announcement came a day before Chaudhry planned to lead a procession from Islamabad to the city of Abbotabad.
"We have imposed a ban on rallies in Islamabad. A notification about it has been issued, and this step has been taken to ensure peace and avoid any inconvenience to the general public," said Mohammed Ali, Islamabad's deputy chief of administration.
But he said there were no immediate plans to stop Chaudhry's procession, and a lawyer for the ousted judge said it would go forward.
"God willing, we will go to Abbotabad with the chief justice on Saturday, and we have no plan to apply for any permission," said Aitzaz Ahsan.
Although Musharraf's political opponents have challenged his rule, there is no sign that he has lost the support of his key international backer â the United States. Washington considers the Pakistani leader a crucial ally in the fight against terrorism.
Talat Masood, a political analyst and retired Pakistani general, said Friday's military statement was an attempt to counter perceptions at home and internationally that the president's position was weakening.
"President Musharraf is saying to the nation that 'I am not alone,'" Masood said. "I think he also wants to tell the world, 'Do not get concerned â there's a lot of support for me in the army.'"
Television stations said they were facing restrictions on covering Chaudhry's demonstrations. One broadcaster, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue, said his network had received "verbal instructions" from the government not to show live coverage of Chaudhry's rallies.
Government officials could not be reached for comment Friday, though Musharraf insisted in a speech a day earlier that there would be no restrictions on press freedoms.
Since the Karachi violence, the government has criticized private TV news channels, saying they were taking Chaudhry's side.
On Thursday, Information Minister Mohammed Ali Durrani warned the government would no longer tolerate insulting remarks against the armed forces and the judiciary.
Musharraf says he suspended Chaudhry because of alleged misconduct and that his opponents are politicizing a purely legal matter. Critics accuse of him of trying to get rid of the judge in case of legal challenges to his plan to seek a new five-year term this fall.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070601...n&printer=1;_ylt=AjyNjl8kQ.ox1uyaJ4j.Pp39xg8F
