Thousands battle Pakistani police (AP)

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

It sounds like this could turn into a 3 way civil war. The military vs the people vs the Islamic militants.

“There have been tyrants, and murderers, and for a time they can seem invincible.
But in the end they always fall. Think of it. Always." Gandhi

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071105/ap_on_re_as/pakistan_331;_ylt=AiTcPkgrwReiOPTh5zHJihcE1vAI

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - Police fired tear gas and battered thousands of lawyers protesting President Gen. Pervez Musharraf's decision to impose emergency rule, as Western allies threatened to review aid to the troubled Muslim nation. More than 1,500 people have been arrested in 48 hours, and authorities put a stranglehold on independent media.

Though public anger was mounting in the nation of 160 million people, which has been under military rule for much of its 60-year history, demonstrations so far have been limited largely to activists, rights workers and lawyers. All have been quickly and sometimes brutally stamped out.

His leadership is threatened by the Islamic militant movement that has spread from border regions to the capital, the reemergence of political rival and former prime minister, Benazir Bhutto, and an increasingly defiant Supreme Court, which has been virtually decimated in the last two days.

Since late Saturday, between 1,500 and 1,800 people have been detained nationwide, an Interior Ministry official said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media. They include opposition leaders, lawyers and human rights activists who might mobilize protests.

[EFerrari]

1. He's been hanging on by a thread and that thread just snapped.

I wish I knew anything about the political parties in Pakistan.

We worry about the nukes but the show of force Musharraf will try to put on will mostly hurt innocent people. :(

[Neecy]

2. that's what's so sad about this

The billions of dollars in military aid that Bush has given Musharraf is now being used against the people of Pakistan. And we wonder why we're hated.

[Marrah_G]

4. There are people who want control there that are worse then he is.

Hardliners who are more like the Taliban in their societal thinking.

This is not going to turn out well and as usual the big losers are going to be the women of Pakistan.

[hootinholler]

3. I guess since he's rounding up the lawyers, no one cares. n/t

[spinbaby]

5. I can't figure out this lawyers business

Why is it lawyers out in the streets battling the police?

[EFerrari]

7. Because the constitutional attack was on the courts. n/t

[EFerrari]

6. Junkdrawer wonderfully posted Juan Cole's analysis here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2208219