MUSHARRAF ARRESTS OVER 3,500 LAWYERS, DISSIDENTS, ACTIVISTS IN NATIONWIDE MIILITARY ACTION
8 November 2007

Pakistan's president, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, has signaled his willingness to resort to force to put a stop to protests against his exercise of power, suspending the constitution, rounding up opposition leaders, judiciary officials, human rights activists, and saying democracy will be restored upon his decree. Several days into a martial law decree, protests are mounting and police violence against demonstrators shows no signs of abating.

Opposition leader Benazir Bhutto has called on Musharraf to hold elections as scheduled in January, to step down as military chief and to restore the constitution and the judiciary. She has said she will stage mass demonstrations in Lahore, then march with thousands of supporters across the country to Islamabad to demand his resignation if the rule of law is not promptly restored.

After sustained pressure from opposition leaders, lawyers across the country and world powers, Gen. Musharraf today told a gathering of state-employed reporters "Elections in Pakistan must be held before Feb. 15, 2008, latest", according to the Wall Street Journal. The move is intended to diffuse tensions and hopefully begin a process of negotiation and deal-making to allow a smooth transition back to democracy and prevent the rise of radical groups.

Human rights groups are demanding that the democratic constitution be restored immediately, even as Musharraf has announced he will dissolve the National Assembly by mid-month, setting the stage for an interim period in which he carries out political reforms by decree and seeks to limit dissent, in the run-up to the re-scheduled parliamentary elections. [s]

BACKGROUND:
WHY MUSHARRAF'S USE OF FORCE AGAINST CIVIL REFORMERS IS DANGEROUS FOR PAKISTAN, THE REGION
6 November 2007

When Pervez Musharraf came to power in a military coup d'état in 1999, he promised to restore democracy fully within 3 years' time. Symbolic elections were held under a temporary constitution, beginning his first 5-year reign. Now, under a civilian constitution, Musharraf has been re-elected to a 2nd 5-year term, though the Supreme Court was about to issue a ruling on the legitimacy of his re-election, as he had not relinquished control of the military. [Full Story]

MUSHARRAF DECLARES MARTIAL LAW, SUSPENDS CONSTITUTION
OPPONENTS PREDICT 'LAST DAYS' OF HIS RULE AS HUNDREDS ARE DETAINED BY SECURITY FORCES
5 November 2007

Pakistan pres. Pervez Musharraf, a general who came to power by 'bloodless' military coup in 1999, has been facing opposition from a national lawyers organization that says he has delayed too long in restoring the democratic process, and was facing a Supreme Court ruling that might invalidate his recent re-election. Musharraf claims he had no choice but to suspend the constitution, because Pakistan's "sovereignty" was under threat from "paralysis of government by judicial interference".

The imposition of martial law, 8 years after taking power with the promise to restore democracy, is a shocking move for the general, who has been under pressure from all quarters to relinquish his role as head of the military and rule as a civilian president, elected by the people in free elections. The Supreme Court was to vote on the validity of his recent re-election to the presidency, given his refusal to relinquish control of the military. Early statements suggested Musharraf intends to rule by military decree until the elections are over: observers warn the election could not be considered legitimate if the constitution that governs it and which those elected must serve, is not in effect at the time of the vote. [Full Story]