Arrests of opposition party members (Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League) and other assorted political activists and lawyers, those who support independent judiciary and the reinstatement of Iftikar Chaudry (the ex Supreme Court Justice) continue in Pakistan.
Juan Cole also had an extremely informative posting (scroll down) yesterday on the ins and outs and history of Pakistan regional politics - allegiances and alliances. He argued (predicted) that the real fight in Pakistan will be between Nawaz Sharif (Pakistan Muslim League) and PM Ali Zadari (Pakistan People's Party), not the govt and the Taliban.
Nawaz Sharif, political rival, and his brother, minister of Punjab province, were banned from running for office and holding positions in the government. Their provinces were placed under emergency rule - no gatherings of over 4 persons. Acts like these from Zadari remind people of Musharraf and rightly so. (Musharraf arrested hundreds of lawyers and democracy advocates and declared emergency rule.) Hopefully Obama will remind not us of Bush and continue to hail Zadari as a 'beacon of democracy in the region.'
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