Yesterday on News Talk Online on Paltalk we discussed the continuing political crisis in Pakistan.
I suggested that, while President Pervez Musharraf deserves thanks and praise for his participation in the fight against terrorists, he should also be told by the White House in no uncertain terms that the state of emergency should be lifted. That the constitution be restored. That dissidents be removed from house arrest. And that judges who have ruled against him be reinstated.
But today, things got even worse in Pakistan, with the arrest of a leading opposition figure.
Opposition leader Imran Khan came out of hiding, to the cheers of university students. But his triumphant return to public life was short lived. As hard line students detained Khan for the police, who arrested him.
Yes, the United States should support Musharraf's anti-terrorism efforts. And, of course, we do not want a nuclear armed fundamentalist in charge of the government there.
But we should be consistent. If we value public debate. If we value representative governments. If we value human rights. We should be telling Musharraf to restore freedoms of press, assembly and speech or risk losing the financial support of the United States of America.
1 comment:
Yep, Imran Khan lasted all of 5 minutes!!! Benozir Bhutto is still under house arrest ........but these are just the sabre rattling outsiders, although they could well end up being major players! We hear little at this stage from the radical Islamic party - although you can be sure they're there!
But Gary, what puzzles me is why the West should be attempting to determine what the outcome is in a Sovreign nation? Surely, under a 'democratic' process the needs of the people should be met, be that palatable or unpalatable to any other nation ( or am I being naive here?) No, we don't want states that foster terrorism, we don't want rogue states with nucleur capability - but where do we draw the line at our interventions? Is any nation that is 'for sale' actually worth buying?
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