Mass Demonstration Defies Pakistani Government

[nradisic]

Source: NY Times

LAHORE, Pakistan — A crackdown by the Pakistani government to prevent a national demonstration and detain the country’s leading opposition figure collapsed on Sunday, and what had been a clash between the police and protesters transformed into a huge antigovernment rally.Police officers clashed with supporters of opposition parties on Sunday in Lahore, Pakistan.

In what analysts here called an unprecedented reversal by security forces, phalanxes of riot policemen here in Lahore melted away rather than continue to confront protesters who had rallied around the opposition leader, Nawaz Sharif, when he defied a house arrest order early Sunday.

By early evening, the sight of exuberant anti-government crowds in Lahore — a mix of Mr. Sharif’s loyalists, supporters of smaller opposition parties and ordinary people with their young children — encouraged people in other cities in the Punjab Province to come out on the streets

In a long convoy of cars, Mr. Sharif headed toward Islamabad, with supporters ready to greet him along the 200 mile route, said Ahsan Iqbal, the information secretary for Mr. Sharif’s party, the Pakistan Muslim League-N said.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/16/world/asia/16pstan.html?hp

---

Looks like the most dangerous place in the world is blowing up....this is not good. Pakistan is the biggest headache for the world. Forget about Iran!

[Kip Humphrey]

1. Actually, I never think of popular protest as a bad thing & the army pulling back I find wise and

a triumph for popular dissent and democracy in Pakistan. In particular, we & Pakistan have greatly miscalculated in dealing with the Punjab region. Perhaps that will change with Obama (looking like it will too).

[tekisui]

2. The real showdown from the Long March hasn't started.

Tomorrow the marchers will reach Islamabad, where the government has vowed force to prevent the sit-ins or the protests. Deaths have been reported, over 1000 have been arrested. Batons and tear gas have been used on the marchers, as well as roads into and out of cities being blocked.

[ohio2007]

3. the real showdown will result in an exodus,not a march

http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/Dawn%20Content%20Library/dawn/news/pakistan/fatas-35-hindus-migrate-to-india--bi

divide and conquer is the plan but few may not connect the dots