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BREAKING: Pakistan 'set for emergency rule'

news.bbc.co.uk — Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf is poised to impose emergency rule, private TV channels reported, shortly before going off air.

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  • dillyhoo, on 11/05/2007, -6/+69Well, our massive military support of this guy is going to look even better now. What kind of an ***** leader needs to pull a coup when he's already the dictator?
    • Napoleone, on 11/05/2007, -0/+50One who's about to lose power.
      • Elranzer, on 11/05/2007, -3/+18You mean like after his two four-year terms are over in 2008?
    • obliviousfool, on 11/05/2007, -1/+38He probably wouldn't have to do this if that assassination attempt on Bhutto had gone according to plan. That would have shut a lot of people up. That having been said, it tells you a lot about the US that we support this guy.
      • Markp487, on 11/05/2007, -5/+6it was probably the ISI who attempted to assainate Bhutto, not Musarraf, who is the general of the army. They are two different entities and have different agendas.
        • obliviousfool, on 11/05/2007, -1/+1From what I have read, Musharraf has divided the ISI. Some part of the ISI is loyal to him, and some part is a bit freaked out at his relationship with the US. He claims control and responsibility for their actions, but we know that's likely far from the truth. Musharaff's relationship with the US has given Islamists inside the military and the ISI every reason to be disloyal. It's like a ticking time bomb. I just hope for the best for the people of Pakistan.
      • ShrimpCrackers, on 11/05/2007, -2/+14The United States loves to support dictatorships. For example, when the Chinese Nationalist Party lost to the Chinese Communists and fled to newly occupied Taiwan, the United States supported the Chinese Nationalists. Both parties I have to remind everyone here are the world's top 3 in murdering innocent civilians, with the Nazi's being #2.

        So over 10,000 Taiwanese get massacred after the February 28 Massacre, and suffer what is considered one of Asia's "forgotten holocausts" in what is known as the "White Terror". Chinese culture is made mandatory while anything "Taiwanese" is rooted out viciously. Its illegal to speak in Taiwanese in school, Chinese is the only language allowed, and any other deep Taiwanese culture is deemed "subversive" with penalty of death or a disappearing. As they control the media, their top ally, the United States is publicly demeaned and little is mentioned of the United States in its role for defeating the Japanese in WW2 (much like China today). Meanwhile the United States does nothing. Instead it keeps this regime in power with huge billion dollar injections that lasts well into the 80's.

        Its more than 50 years since the Chinese Nationalists took over and the effects are felt today. Even though Taiwan has since transformed into one of the world's most populous democracies and enjoys better civil liberties and human rights than the United States (according to even US civil liberties and human rights organizations), the Chinese Nationalist party still holds a lot of power, owns most of the media, and is still a source of huge problems. In less than 12 years of democracy, they've lost a lot of seats in government, although they still hold the majority. Today they stall important policies and bills that would set the country forward and instead do everything they can to ruin anything just to stay in power. Not surprising, through illegal seizures and corruption, the Chinese Nationalist party is the still the richest one in any democracy in the world.

        Thanks America. For supporting these killers while they shot up and buried my relatives in mass graves.
        • ZenMojo, on 11/05/2007, -2/+11I'm black and Cherokee. I don't need an excuse to get pissed off at the United States.
      • computergod, on 11/05/2007, -0/+7Hate to burst your bubble, but Bhutto is on the same team as Musharraf. This, according to my friend in Pakistan who is obviously following this story a lot more closely then we are. I thought the same thing too, until I asked him about her, it's really sad what is happening in the country.
        • obliviousfool, on 11/04/2007, -0/+1No bubble burst. I'd really like to know more about the situation. Is the PPP not an actual opposition party? Between Musharraf and Bhutto and Sharif, it all sounds a bit like the wild west. I'm sure they're all just jockeying to be the one who gets to be America's best friend in the region. I'd like to see Musharraf actually step down from the military just for the safety of the people. This state of martial law does not bode well. In these power struggles, as in the suicide attack on Bhutto, the ones who suffer are usually just average people.
    • hiphoc, on 11/04/2007, -3/+22The kind who is about to have his election over turned. Its amazing how people all over the world are standing up for their freedoms and here in the good old USA, a writers strike is the most you hear about people taking a stand.
      • SiNN4R, on 11/04/2007, -6/+5We impose our will on others for our own evil agenda but things are peachy over here. Suck it world.
      • lasermic, on 11/04/2007, -0/+3The common masses standing up to defend Chief Justice was very inspirational.
        http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6909711.stm

        He has now been suspend and replaced with a government's puppet. Now is the time for the people of Pakistan to make it clear that they will not tolerate military dictatorship anymore.
    • Sithlrd, on 11/04/2007, -4/+15You'll see next year when it's time for the neocons to get punted out of office and Bush seizes absolute power.
      • gquaglia, on 11/04/2007, -0/+1What world do you live in. There is about as much chance of that happening as there is in you getting laid.
      • principle, on 11/04/2007, -0/+0Especially if they have islamofascists with nukes in Pakistan for a pretence.
    • theodenking, on 11/04/2007, -2/+6And they call Chavez a dictator...
    • IbnDigg, on 11/04/2007, -1/+6Pakistan has been under an Emergency for a long time, Musharraf has just made it official.

      Pakistan = Nuclear Banana Republic
    • sjl127, on 11/04/2007, -0/+1One with a really small dick.
    • htownz, on 11/04/2007, -1/+0make up your minds, you want a civil democratic leader afraid of islamic militants or a dictator who is trying every possible thing to control extremisim in pakistan.....
      • byte, on 11/06/2007, -0/+1I think that most Pakistanis would like a democratic leader who stands up against the extremists: the best of both worlds really.
  • Oberon2001, on 11/04/2007, -7/+6Good as ever to see a military dictator throwing his toys out of the pram - maybe he should just run home to his mummy and let the big boys play the political game.
    • CarbonAndroid, on 11/05/2007, -0/+2One of those toys is nuclear.
      • Oberon2001, on 11/04/2007, -0/+0So much for the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty then ;-)
  • pintomp3, on 11/05/2007, -3/+61america is in a tough spot, do we keep supporting a military dictator or do we let pakistan get taken over by the militant extremists we cultivated to fight the soviets?
    • potp, on 11/04/2007, -3/+17Militants can do *****. Let Nawaz, Bhutto or Imran Khan get democratically elected. Musharraf willingly turned a blind eye to the extremist assholes and now its coming to bite him in the assholes.
      • Matthew720, on 11/04/2007, -3/+11Militants can do a lot. Two points to consider:

        1. Look at how scared ***** many chicken hawks have been since 9/11.
        2. Look at how the Christian right has turned the White House and many media outlets, including Faux, to sock puppets, doing the Evangelicals' work for them.
        • lasermic, on 11/04/2007, -1/+6This is only true in America, not in Pakistan. Over here the militants are illiterate(or madrassa educated, which doesn't count) , have no political power, do not own any businesses (unless drug trade counts as one) and most importantly do not have media channel. Their only source of strength is religious bigotry and hate for the 'other' and it won't get them far.
    • lasermic, on 11/05/2007, -4/+5I fully agree with potp. Believe me, these religious parties have no popular support in most areas of Pakistan. The major political parties are quite secular. The only reason why MMA (pakistan's religious right) won some seats is because they were able to exploit anti-US sentiment after invasion of Afghanistan. The religious right of Pakistan has no leg to stand upon. Let the democracy flourish and sane people will soon be in charge. After all, Pakistan has a large population of moderate, middle class, and politically aware people.
      • kakti, on 11/04/2007, -0/+1lasermic I take it you're from Pakistan from your previous post (not the one I'm replying to). What is you're opinion of Bhutto? Is she more aligned with Mushariff than we're led to believe? Also, what's your take on the arrest of the former head of the intelligence agency? Do you see these actions lasting for a long time or do you think it's just a temporary measure to rescue to kidnapped soliders in Waziritan?
    • WilliamDavis, on 11/04/2007, -1/+5"america is in a tough spot"

      Yes, because america insists on meddling all over the world.
    • vertinox, on 11/04/2007, -0/+2I say we throw him to the wolves and pull all that funding that we could use for fixing health care or making a balanced budget.
    • falseleftright, on 11/04/2007, -0/+2Yeah, our foreign policy of interventionism is biting us in the ass. This is nothing new.
  • potp, on 11/05/2007, -19/+737 ***** hours after submission and this still hasn't hit the front page. God you guys suck. Digg this ***** up. After all it was America who backed this ass hole into power.
    • dawnraid101, on 11/04/2007, -10/+5True. This is really important. Digg it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
      • cmpshotty, on 11/04/2007, -2/+23Because Digging it does oh so ***** much.
    • spyd3rweb, on 11/04/2007, -5/+13Thats how the US works, it topples existing governments that don't play along and install a dictator who will play nice with their demands.
      • Matthew720, on 11/04/2007, -2/+9That's true, in general. But, in this case, Musharraf is already the guy that the U.S. "installed". If he gets run over by a democratically elected president, the U.S. might go in and topple THAT gov't, if they don't play along.
    • Brassbud, on 11/04/2007, -1/+0I imagine many people have already heard this news, and so they aren't commenting. I read about it elsewhere yesterday (or is it today again? DST is so confusing, especially when its making you work a 13 hour shift instead of 12).
    • bdtimberman, on 11/04/2007, -0/+1eople are too worried about what Parris Hilton and Brittney Spears are doing. What a joke this is the real ***** right here. Wake up America
    • htownz, on 11/04/2007, -0/+0digged!! for Mushy being an exceptional case in Bush's cricle of friends!
    • ufia, on 11/06/2007, -1/+1This "*****" is trying to put an end on islamic extremists who have a monopoly over the government decisions in Pakistan. The "*****" is trying to let the civilized people have a say on policies in their own country. Now we know on what side you truthers are. I always thought that Ron Paul sounded a lot like an extremist ayatollah.
  • anonydigg, on 11/06/2007, -1/+102Emergency Rule is a nice way to put Martial Law.
    • unitedstatians, on 11/04/2007, -1/+3Go President General Parvez Musharraf ! You've surpassed Secretary Rice as the lord of oppression and despair, one tyrannical decision at a time.

      Not the first time Martial Law has been declared in Pakistan.
      General Yahya Khan in March, 1969
      General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq on July 5, 1977
      President General Parvez Musharraf on November 3, 2007

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martial_Law#Pakistan
  • Napoleone, on 11/04/2007, -4/+39FTA: "Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice urged restraint on all sides and a return to democracy. The United States "does not support extraconstitutional measures," Rice said from Turkey, where she was participating in a conference with Iraq's neighbors."

    I hope she can say the same thing if Bush were to invoke NSPD51.
    • hiphoc, on 11/04/2007, -4/+3pwnd
    • InSectWar, on 11/04/2007, -3/+26Wait... isn't illegal wiretapping "extraconstitutional"?
    • Delusionist, on 11/04/2007, -3/+26Not to mention (the lack of) Habeas Corpus.
      • JayhawkBrandon, on 11/04/2007, -1/+5Actually, you have to wait for the Supreme Court case coming later (the review of Hamdan) before you can make this case.
        • Matthew720, on 11/04/2007, -3/+11lol sure. The Magna Carta, dating back to 1215 guarantees Habeas Corpus. 1800 years later, the United States is debating the applicability of that concept. Yes, I can see who the civilized and who the uncivilized are now.
        • Kier, on 11/05/2007, -3/+9So Matthew720, hows the year 3015?
        • Dundasbro, on 11/04/2007, -2/+41800 years later?
          • Matthew720, on 11/05/2007, -2/+7woops. I meant 800. Time to go to bed.
      • SiNN4R, on 11/04/2007, -14/+3Your mother is Habeas Corpus.
        Bush/Cheney '08
    • cyberoidx, on 11/04/2007, -0/+9Whats "extraconstitutional" got to do anything if the 50 year old constitution had been suspended?
      • mlostracco, on 11/04/2007, -0/+2That's what extraconstitutional means. Outside of the constitution. It doesn't mean "constitution, plus bonus extras!"
        • cyberoidx, on 11/04/2007, -0/+2You cant go outside if there's no inside.... can you?
    • principle, on 11/04/2007, -0/+1Bush approves new emergency act (NSPD51 & HSPD20)

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlB966zQIZ4
    • drakethegreat, on 11/04/2007, -0/+1Remember that Rice while being insane is one of the few in Bush's cabinet saying they should avoid a war with Iran at all costs. Of course I can imagine if a coup was ever to happen here she would be long gone before hand or silenced at the time it happened.
  • chris9902, on 11/05/2007, -7/+32...as Bush asks "you can do that?"
    • Dumbledorito, on 11/04/2007, -2/+3Pfft. As if Bush watches the news.
      • VladmirPutin, on 11/05/2007, -0/+3Bush WRITES the news.
        • Dumbledorito, on 11/05/2007, -0/+2They don't make spellcheckers and grammar correction systems THAT good.
  • dunderballer, on 11/04/2007, -4/+29Pakistan has complete political upheaval with plenty of extremists and a nuclear weapon, yet the world hasn't come to an end. Why the heck is the current administration considering invading freaking Iran because they might get a nuclear weapon?
    • hiphoc, on 11/04/2007, -4/+6If we set up unstable governments and give them nukes and fighter jets... Its ok. If you have an unstable government on your own that's not OK. The difference is, who benefits from the chaos? If its the CIA/US the chaos is supported.
    • falseleftright, on 11/04/2007, -0/+1You speak of the excuse, and not the reason. Two different things really.
  • fpssledge, on 11/05/2007, -5/+24Did you guys know, that when a National Emergency is declared, FEMA is granted such a power even greater than the President, himself?

    I'm not too accurate on my history, but from what I know, that's one of the ways Hitler gained power of Germany. Something like that happened where he gained a certain amount of power, and never gave it back.

    It's sad to see that the world hasn't learned from history.

    What I said may not be 100% accurate, but it's important to be informed reguardless.
    • hiphoc, on 11/05/2007, -2/+51Reichstag fire. The Nazi's set fire to the Parliament building and said that Polish terrorists did it. And that there were sleeper cells of Polish terrorist everywhere. The Enabling Act was passed. The similarity here is that 9/11 was our Reichstag fire. Whatever you may think about it... The Patriot Act was passed. I have seen translations of the Patriot Act and its almost word for word the same as the Enabling act. Hitler had Fatherland Security we have Homeland Security. Hitler had his SS that was immune to prosecution, we have Blackwater. ***** is about to be a wrap in this country.
    • Brassbud, on 11/04/2007, -10/+1So any country that is attacked by terrorist's and passes laws the help prevent it in the future while also having a group of people dedicated to securing the country is tantamount to being Nazi?
      • m0tbaillie, on 11/04/2007, -0/+11Do you even know what the PATRIOT Act is? Have you ever read it? I've not only read it, and it's successor in their entirety (several times) but written papers on it. Google it and get a clue, it's some very, very scary *****. The PATRIOT Act was NOT designed to safeguard Americans for future terror attacks, it was designed to allow the gov't the grab the country by the balls on a whim.
    • srfrogger, on 11/04/2007, -0/+3Funny thing is that it was the SS who began the fire.
  • KlayBorg, on 11/04/2007, -9/+19And yet the US is supplying this Military state with their military. Freedom fighters indeed...
    • kildorn, on 11/05/2007, -9/+8you have no idea what you are talking about
    • Matthew720, on 11/04/2007, -4/+10Actually, the Pakistanis are sick and tired of having a dictator in power. They want fair and true democratic elections and they want to have a just government. So, after going into Iraq to "liberate the Iraqis", you're telling me that pundits like you hate it when Pakistanis are trying to liberate themselves. And people wonder why many in the M.E. hate the U.S.. It's because the U.S. backs dictators who play along, rather than be concerned with the people's needs. Who the ***** would want to live in a dictatorship?

      Yes, "they hate us for our freedoms". It's true, they do. Because we have it and they can't get it as long as we keep taking it away from them. Americans think they invented democracy and personal freedoms, concepts which have been in existence for more than 1500 years now. But, it's hard to convince a self deluded maniac that he's suffering from delusions of grandeur.
      • HaloZero, on 11/04/2007, -4/+4The reason we don't support democracy in the country is because the people want Islamic fundamentalist in power who will use the Pakistani military and its power for their purposes (consider Palestine, free democratic elections gets Hamas elected)
        • lasermic, on 11/04/2007, -3/+8I, as a Pakistani, can say this with surety that we DO NOT want Islamic fundamentalists in power. In fact, they do not even enjoy popular support in most parts of the country. The only area where they are popular is the 'wild west' of Pakistan: the poverty and illiteracy stricken areas of Baluchistan and NWFP.
      • KlayBorg, on 11/04/2007, -0/+2What matt? Did you even read what I said?
        I am for the Pakistanis attempts at freedom and democracy, I am against the US government supply this military dictatorship with resources. Also Jackass, I am not in the US.
    • KlayBorg, on 11/04/2007, -0/+3WTF are you all talking about.

      The American government and military has a history of supply Pakistan's military, which is now being used to stifle the progress of democracy within Pakistan.
      Its really quite simple. It is complete hypocrisy upon the part of the country which claims that they are fighting for freedom and democracy throughout the world.
  • NinjaPig, on 11/04/2007, -7/+2I could swear i read an article that said "Bush can declare martial law"..........................................................................oh *****.
  • MasterThief117, on 11/05/2007, -8/+32Finally, "BREAKING" is used appropriately.
    • mrASSMAN, on 11/05/2007, -2/+18Unfortunately, it's still 16 hours late..
  • DriftAway, on 11/04/2007, -3/+2"Well, if it worked for Pervezy..."
  • Sarevok9, on 11/06/2007, -7/+22Iran is bad... They have a fanatical dictator.....

    Just like the US, and now Pakistan...
    • Hizzeh12, on 11/04/2007, -2/+1Umm...no? Iran doesn't have a dictator, and he sure as hell isn't fanatical.

      You know Fox News isn't a credible news source, right?
      • nathew, on 11/05/2007, -0/+3i'd say if he says things like "there are no homosexuals in my country like there are in yours", he's a few isotopes short of a dirty bomb.
        • SuperMoses, on 11/05/2007, -0/+1Someone who has very little power and is purely a figure head does not qualify as a dictator.
    • Beveridge89, on 11/04/2007, -0/+3Its amusing you dont consider the Ayatollah a dictator or a fanatic.
  • coolian, on 11/04/2007, -9/+3http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ya86zLFxHrs

    What a joke of a country Pakistan has become.
  • slyzxx, on 11/04/2007, -3/+6whats the difference there all crooks even Bhutto. Money grabbing whores all of em who have none of the countries interest what so ever.
    • lasermic, on 11/04/2007, -2/+3There are plenty of progressive leaders in the country such as Imran Khan (you can say he's the Ron Paul of Pakistan), Javed Hashmi and Aitazaz Hassan. All of them are men of integrity. There of plenty of others too.
    • lasermic, on 11/05/2007, -4/+1/double post.
  • truegodofwar, on 11/04/2007, -2/+12Lol, he's early. 2012 isn't for another few years yet.
  • tcpip4lyfe, on 11/04/2007, -1/+20This is a pretty big deal.
  • edbtz, on 11/04/2007, -8/+9Musharraf, its time for you to go. You have done nothing but destabilize your country. Hopefully the people of Pakistan will see this as their wake up call to rise against this man.
    • Matthew720, on 11/04/2007, -2/+5Now, the White House won't like this. They need a dictator who does as he's told. Just like Saudi Arabia, Iraq, ......If the U.S. stopped intervening in the M.E. and imposing dictatorships on people, half of the region's problems would be solved.
      • Beveridge89, on 11/04/2007, -0/+1You mean like removing a dictatorship in Afghanistan and Iraq and attempting to establish democracies? I'd agree that the US should stop propping up dictators, but at least nowadays it isnt consistently the bad guy.
        • Beveridge89, on 11/04/2007, -0/+1Good response; I conceed. The bad guy would have already installed our own son of a bitch in Iraq, or even made deals with Saddam. We are doing neither... anymore.
    • htownz, on 11/04/2007, -0/+0you dont know what you are talking about..read the history and the things he has done for pakistan and to eliminate extremisim...
  • BlackAle, on 11/05/2007, -7/+6hardly breaking, i read this nearly 24 hours ago.
    • lasermic, on 11/05/2007, -3/+5It was breaking when I submitted this story.
  • rowlodge, on 11/04/2007, -1/+2boy, dictators!
  • kikuchiyo11, on 11/05/2007, -9/+4Dugg down for "breaking." I saw this last night (JST) on the web.
  • paipiski, on 11/04/2007, -13/+2Musharraf is a great President.
  • rz8472, on 11/04/2007, -5/+12This is going to turn into another Egypt, where democracy is going to be superceded by 30+ years of dictatorship, I just know it.

    And dictatorships are perfect breeding grounds for radical Islam. Ever wonder why there's no Al Qaeda in Turkey, India, or Bangladesh?
    • cmpshotty, on 11/04/2007, -5/+6I wondered why there wasn't either, then I realized you were just full of *****.


      http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/11/15/terror/m ...
      http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/1694918.stm
      http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/2357171.stm
      • rz8472, on 11/04/2007, -2/+7I was resorting to rhetoric? Granted, it's a pretty low form of argument, especially since there being "no Al Qaeda" isnt even true in the US, but let me clarify: The level of support for Al Qaeda tends to be lower in stable democratic countries with large Muslim populations such as Turkey and India rather than in Muslim dictatorships such as Saudi Arabia.
    • Matthew720, on 11/05/2007, -2/+9On 9/11 people asked, "why do they hate us?" The answer chimpy gave was "they hate us for our freedoms." He was right. They hate us because we've been installing and backing corrupt, selfish, dictators and tyrants to run these countries just so that we can get our needs met. Democracy in the Middle East is a threat to American interests. Why? Because then the people and the elected officials in those countries will be like, "hey America, get the ***** outta here. It's our country and we're doing what's best for us".
      • soulpiercer7, on 11/04/2007, -1/+4exactly. well said. They hate us because we can't seem to mind our own ***** business. Al Qeada said so right in the video where they took credit for the attack. They told us exactly why they did what they did and it had nothing to do with our freedoms. It had everything to do with us meddling in their affairs and destabilizing their governments. It had everything to do with us removing their leaders and replacing them with our own. it had everything to do with us taking their freedoms away.
  • Pacificblue, on 11/05/2007, -5/+4Well its not even Emergency Rule, coz Pak yr. 1973 constitution has already been abolished, so when there is no constitution, how emergency????
    Its a martial law, or skewed up version.
  • gab00n, on 11/05/2007, -5/+18Bush and Cheney must be jealous.
  • Brassbud, on 11/04/2007, -1/+5What a mess.
  • Mariachi94, on 11/05/2007, -4/+2Okay, dugg down, because the guy already imposed it!!
  • jsad, on 11/05/2007, -4/+39I don't understand how you people are saying "America backed this *****". WTF? I've lived in Islamabad for the past 5 years, and I've only seen growth and development in this country. He instituted freedom of press, before him there was only state-run television. This same press is the one that reports on Pakistani Army deaths on a daily basis, something that not even American press is allowed to do. He isn't the most perfect solution, but he sure as hell beats Nawaz Sharif or Benezir Bhutto, both who have stolen trillions of Rupees from the Pakistani Treasury during their rule in the 80s and 90s.
    • majorbabu, on 11/05/2007, -3/+12^ The only sound comment I've read so far.
      The fact that Musharraf is a dictator makes him immediately evil in the eyes of most people. People must realize that a dictator can actually do good for their country. (Hint: the UAE is a dictatorship. See Dubai.) The alternatives are the aforementioned dirt bags like Sharrif and Bhutto. These people have directly stolen money from the government. Some accounts state Bhutto's thievery yielding more than a billion dollars. How can these people even be considered as viable contenders of any form of parliamentary power?
      Musharraf was able to do more good for the country within a year of his coup than Sharrif and Bhutto were in their combined 10+ years of elected rule.
      • ZenMojo, on 11/04/2007, -0/+7The UAE is run on immigrant wage slave labor by a bunch of princes, only 1/4 of the country is native and the rest have limited civil rights, not to mention their use of child labor. Don't look this way if you want a thumbs up for ***** Dubai. They're Capitalists run amok.
        • justastatistic, on 11/04/2007, -0/+1Having lived in Dubai for 25 years, I know that most of the 'slave labor stories' are highly exaggerated. Yes, it's true that the working conditions for labor pale in comparison to western standards but no way I would term it as slave labor. If the conditions were so apathetic, they wouldn't have left their native places (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh etc) to work in Dubai in the first place.

          Also, the only time I have heard of child labor in Dubai was when I read about camel races using children as jockeys. Even that is considered illegal, heavily publicized and counter-measures are strictly enforced.
      • htownz, on 11/04/2007, -1/+0thanks major for saying what i wanna say
    • lasermic, on 11/05/2007, -3/+9Sure there is a lot of develement in the country, but this doesn't take away the fact that Musharraff is a petty dictator who is only willing to grant freedoms as he sees fit. Currently, there are no news channels being shown on the TV. The state run PTV is showing a musical program (WTF!!).

      Pakistanis should not have to put up with one corrupt politician/dictator after another.
      • holzp, on 11/04/2007, -2/+6I've heard Pakistani music, so add torture to the list.
    • ZenMojo, on 11/04/2007, -2/+6I don't want to insult you or anything, but we have Americans who think that Bush is the greatest ***** ever. They tend to be wealthy and/or stupid. Now, whenever I hear someone from another country talk about how great THEIR dictator is, I have to take it with a grain of salt after experiencing how ignorant American citizens can be of their own leader.
    • nathew, on 11/04/2007, -0/+1the american press reports about US soldiers killed in combat all the time. the administration doesn't like it very much and tries to cover it up as much as they can, but the press is certainly allowed to report on it.
    • htownz, on 11/05/2007, -1/+0people think who ever is backed by US is evil....well mushy is an exception! He as a dictator is a lot better than any civil democratic leader!! The things he has done for pakstan, only a paki can understand...the way he has stopped or is trying to stop terrorist activites in pakistan, is exceptional!! Already had three life attempts on him BUT still he is trying to do better and the best for his country!! I fullly support you Mushy!!
    • SuperMoses, on 11/05/2007, -0/+1You're right, but the US needs to take a strong stand against these guys abusing their power (whether they are good or not), because Saddam Hussein was also seen as a moderate when the US first supported him, yet when he invaded Iran and used biological and chemical weapons against them, the US continued to support him (and supplied him with weapons).
  • Jobarra, on 11/05/2007, -4/+12I predict there will be some link to terrorists in Pakistan that points back to Iran. Bush and Congress will do much handwringing (with a few Congressmen like Ron Paul calling for the insanity to stop and for us just to stay out of their business. They will of course be booed as 'unpatriotic' and 'loons') before finally applauding when the president launches 'preemptive' strikes on Iran 'for the good of America'. He will around this time state that due to the war and everything, he's calling a state of emergency and the elections will have to be held after the war with Iran is finished. The majority of American people will do nothing other than whine about the latest celebrity 'scandal'. The ones who do anything will be labeled as homegrown terrorists and will be executed under the auspices of Patriot Act 2.
  • schnikies79, on 11/05/2007, -10/+4buried for BREAKING
  • flair1, on 11/04/2007, -7/+7Most idiots on Digg think that everything bad in the world is caused by mean old George Bush. I agree that George Bush is not the best president in the world but he is not the cause of every problem either.

    • captric, on 11/04/2007, -1/+1Well that's because most of the people on Diggs get their education about the world from cartoons tempered with a dose of star wars movies and video games. It is pretty rare when you actually get someone fomr Pakistan like the person above who straightens out the cartoonish Bush Haters amd puts some perspective on a serious subject.
    • WilliamDavis, on 11/04/2007, -0/+2It's not just Bush. US foreign policy has been ***** the world up for decades. It's just easier to see now, since there's more flow of information to combat the local propaganda.
  • Spoomeister, on 11/04/2007, -2/+3Um... *****?
  • ackza, on 11/05/2007, -3/+3BREAKING: INTO SMALL PIECES
  • Qtip42, on 11/04/2007, -3/+3Ya know that's the funny thing about people in power...they never want to lose it. So when everything finally does come crashing down, they'll fight dirty to maintain it.

    All it takes is a very determined mob to take this man, literally, out of office. You'd think we could do that here too....oh I forgot, americans are pussified, never mind.
    • htownz, on 11/04/2007, -0/+0hmm yea you are right he really want that seat, already had three life attempts, a FATWA has been issued against him to kill him...and yea still he wants that seat!! I dont think so
  • ortucis, on 11/04/2007, -2/+4Even though I am Indian and I'd rather see someone like Imran Khan in power in Pakistan than Bhutto Bhutan whatever, because only he doesn't seem like the type who will be more than happy to nuke every other country without any muslims in power.

    Either way, if mushy boy goes pray to your atheist gods that someone sane is able to control Pakistan. They have terrorists roaming around giving speeches since ever, and US is out there supplying them with F16's (and millions of tax payers money) for fighting this "war on terror".
  • soulpiercer7, on 11/05/2007, -3/+7when we left Afghanistan early to invade Iraq, the Muslim extremists simply stepped over the border into Pakistan and started causing trouble. This guy is just trying to bring his country back in order. In a few years, when everything gets resolved, we'll look back and remember how we were overreacting.
    • htownz, on 11/04/2007, -1/+1it all happened after afhgan invasion!! all the extremists fled into paki which has now become heaven for them...hmm smart move BUSH, the extremists you are supposed to take care in your invasion has now been passed to paki.....and Mushy is trying to clean up the mess that is passsed by his friends
  • 2050, on 11/05/2007, -1/+5I mean Pakistan really needed this. It was virtually running on America's grants & there was a wide split in the country because of terrorism & extremists. Although the motive is politics & love for power, it might do some good, maybe ?
    • flair1, on 11/04/2007, -1/+1so giving nukes to extremists is a good thing? please explain how.
  • DiggityDugged, on 11/05/2007, -1/+8Europe: Remember, remember, the 5th of November.

    Pakistan: Remember, remember, the 3rd of November.

    America: Remember, remember, the 11th of September, but not the Tuesday following the first Monday of November.
  • Perisona, on 11/04/2007, -2/+2The supreme court was about to rule on his eligibility in the last "election" which he won by a landslide, so what does he do - surround the supreme court with troops, arrest everyone and appoint a new chief justice himself!
  • DrHyde, on 11/05/2007, -0/+4The worst thing is that many belive that HE wud get away with it!
    The funny thing is that he might be the best thing that Pakistan can have ,,, a dictator may not sound good 2 the self-righteous, but the fact is that he is MUCH better than a religious extremists ...
    Or perhaps is this fear of 'extremision' something which he invented to keep the power :)
    • justastatistic, on 11/05/2007, -0/+1I agree with you. Most of the people on Digg seem to think that all forms of dictatorship are evil. Before Musharraf came to power, there was rampant corruption in Pakistan. Both Nawaz Sharif and Benezir Bhutto were accused of swindling millions of dollars of taxpayers' money.

      Pakistan economy has grown at 8-9% GDP under Musharraf's rule. A lot of tribal areas that were plagued by fundamental Islamist laws were brought under state rule. Poverty levels have decreased by 10% since 2001. Granted all these changes cannot be attributed to Musharraf alone, no one can deny that there has been a significant improvement since he came to power (political stability not included)

      Finally, I agree that it's not right for one person to hold so much power and democracy should be restored as soon as possible. But I find it laughable that half the people calling him an evil dictator and accusing of plots of killing Benezir Bhutto and such with no backing wouldn't even know the capital of Pakistan, much less the politics.
  • greensuit, on 11/05/2007, -2/+6These are mostly stupid comments by people who have never been there or know nothing about Pakistan. As bad as Musharef is, when he is gone the country will resemble Iraq after Sadam. Musharef is no angel, but without him, millions will die in Pakistan as the country disintegrates. The recent elections were mostly legitimate and no one doubts that he truly captured the majority of the votes. The majority of Pakistan citizens understand that they need him. Even Benizir Buto is quiet right now. You do not hear her calling for the reinstatement of the Supreme Court, as they were as much against her as Musharif.
  • bunk, on 11/05/2007, -3/+2If Musharef was truly a good guy he'd let us (or at least his country) check out the area of Pakistan where the world's intelligence says Bin Laden is. I don't know how that point doesn't get brought up more.

    • htownz, on 11/05/2007, -1/+2grow up and get out of your nappies kid....and stop watching FOX!
  • DontGiveADamn, on 11/05/2007, -2/+3We'd better hold off on invading Iran because we may need to invade Pakistan. They've got nukes that we wouldn't want to fall into the wrong hands.
  • PommyBrit, on 11/05/2007, -2/+3And sadly, from what i know, this is exactly the sort of stuff required by Musharraf to keep extremists at bay, otherwise they WILL come into power.
  • scoresman, on 11/06/2007, -2/+3When Bush was told of the news his response was: "Wow you can do that?".
  • amightywind, on 11/05/2007, -2/+7Good for Musharraf. The punks in the tribal regions need to be eradicated. And Bhutto had her chance. She is a grotesquely corrupt aristocrat who happens to speak English well and is trying to take advantage of unrest. Pakistan can do better.
  • principle, on 11/04/2007, -1/+3By declaring a state of emergency, Musharraf demonstrated that he is not going to listen to Ms. Rice anymore. Nevertheless, with support from U.S. and U.K., Pakistan will have free and fair elections that will place Islamic extremists in power. Now the “terrorists” will have real nukes, which is exactly what the neocons want. This will make the disaster in Iraq, look like a walk in the park.
  • alexender, on 11/04/2007, -1/+1Jsad, in case your are relative/son/daughter of an ARMY officer i can understand your by-default and blind sympathy towards this tyrant but the way he has ruined this country in last 8 years is even visible to a blind.
    This man came with all popular slogans but after 8 years here is his performance:-
    According to transparency international corruption is at its heights in Pakistan
    Inflation in double figures.
    The so-called-filled foreign reserves is due to USA aid and help and selling national land/institutes ETC.
    You are no longer safe at any corner in Pakistan except the presidential house.
    The group he has around his is of all those plunderers and thieves he cursed when he took over.
    Here is his ministers plundering of public wealth (islamabad.metblogs.com/archives/images/2007/10/expenses.jpg)
    He is promoting hate against WEST in NWFP to play double game. Making USA and conservatives keep on fight and he and his GENERALS filling their pockets while ordinary man is dying on street (pakistaniat.com/2007/10/17/would-you-like-to-buy-my-kidney-please)
    He flooded cities with cars to show that progress is behind made. He only fooled himself.
    Progress of telecoms sector was not due to his genius planning. It was inevitable just like all around the world.
    In his 8 years the GENERALS, the BANKs, the SUGAR mills (owned by his own ministers) profited. What the ordinary man got ? ZERO.
    During flooding in Sindh and Balauchistan people were dying of HUNGER and he and his GHQ men were busy in their NEW GHQ plan.
    He is happy when private channels show SKIN as it promotes his clumsy enlightenment drama but he is not happy when same channels show the truth to the ordinary man. A typical military hypocrite.
    Want me to continue ?
  • MacintoshSauce, on 11/04/2007, -0/+1King George, the Idiot King of America, wishes he could do the same as Musharraf. LOL
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