The PPP rally in Pindi today has been shut down, and Benazir has been placed under virtual house arrest. Police have surrounded her home in Islamabad, and won't let her go to the Pindi rally site (they say that she is free to go anywhere else, however). Several hundred PPP workers have also been arrested since yesterday.
This is now shaping up to be a showdown between BB and Mushy. Of course Benazir is trying to salvage some credibility as a democrat and just as a person with any kind of conviction whatsoever. She also announced that she wants the restoration of the judiciary as it was before martial law, and that all cases including the NRO [National Reconciliation Ordinance, which grants her immunity from all corruption charges] should be decided by the previous Supreme Court.
The PPP also has plans to have a "long march" between Lahore and Islamabad on November 13. Obviously that looks increasingly unlikely now.
This is now shaping up to be a showdown between BB and Mushy. Of course Benazir is trying to salvage some credibility as a democrat and just as a person with any kind of conviction whatsoever. She also announced that she wants the restoration of the judiciary as it was before martial law, and that all cases including the NRO [National Reconciliation Ordinance, which grants her immunity from all corruption charges] should be decided by the previous Supreme Court.
The PPP also has plans to have a "long march" between Lahore and Islamabad on November 13. Obviously that looks increasingly unlikely now.
Update: Apparently BB has been released, but no word on whether the "long march" will go on. It's also come out now that Benazir met with US ambassador Anne Patterson on Wednesday. BB continues to have the blessing of the US. The question for them now is, can she deliver?
Update 2: Approximately 3500 PPP workers and activists have been arrested in the crackdown since yesterday.
Update 2: Approximately 3500 PPP workers and activists have been arrested in the crackdown since yesterday.
No comments:
Post a Comment