The government of Pakistan essentially banned demonstrations in the capital of Islamabad in the latest sign that the ongoing protests in support of deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry are exerting a major political toll (thanks to Jaya for the pointer). President Pervez Musharraf, however, got a vote of support from some friends - the leaders of the military...
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. [AP]
In the West, of course, the tide has turned and editorial writers and others are generally pushing for the U.S. to change course. The New York Times recently wrote an editorial, "Propping up the General," saying the U.S. should encourage a return to democratic rule (eg., allowing opposition parties to contest elections), by leveraging the $2 billion a year in aid it provides.
That brought a nose-thumbing response from Pakistan's Ambassador to the UN, Munir Akram:
Most of the United States money reimburses the use of our military facilities and cost of operations in support of the United States-led counterterrorism war in Afghanistan. Surely, Pakistan can survive without this modest help. But can the United States win the war in Afghanistan and against terrorism without Pakistan’s military and political cooperation?
Akram also was shocked (!) that the Times would refer to Musharraf as a dictator, of all things...
Your repeated references to our president as a military dictator are offensive. President Pervez Musharraf was elected in accordance with Pakistan’s Constitution by our national and provincial parliaments. His re-election will be similarly democratic.
See our earlier coverage of the ongoing crisis since Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry was suspended.
