Bhutto: Pakistan a ‘pressure cooker’

< Prev | 1 | 2

Slide show

Pakistan protests
View images from the protests by lawyers and students against Pakistan’s government.

more photos

Timeline

EPA	Slide show: Traumatic history Learn about Pakistan’s revolving door of democracy, dictatorship and violence

World Blog: Islamabad, Pakistan

Pakistan’s military braces for a ‘long-drawn haul’

Tribal deals open doors for Pakistan army

Pakistan's growing olive industry stymied by security

Interactive: Forgotten conflicts

Learn about some of the oft-forgotten clashes simmering across the globe.

But the Bush administration continues to describe Musharraf as an "indispensable" ally against the Taliban and al-Qaida, suggesting it is unlikely to yield to calls from some lawmakers in Washington for cuts in its generous aid to Pakistan, much of it to the powerful military.

Bhutto, for her part, has left open the possibility of re-entering talks with Musharraf on issues including her wish to serve a third term as prime minister of this nuclear-armed nation of more than 160 million people. Her return home last month, following eight years in exile, came after he agreed to drop corruption charges against her.

Hundreds of police blocked the street in front of Bhutto's home Friday to keep her from leading a rally in Rawalpindi that had been expected to draw thousands.

Story continues below ↓

advertisement | your ad here

She said Saturday she was still determined to go ahead with a 185 mile march Tuesday from the city of Lahore to Islamabad.

"To get Pakistan from the clutches of dictatorship, we are organizing a long march," Bhutto told around 100 journalists protesting the new media clampdown, which would impose jail time for those who criticize Musharraf or the army.

Bhutto urges masses to join forces
"I request ... all segments of the population to join us in the struggle for democracy. When the masses combine, the sound of their steps will suppress the sound of military boots."

Many critics say the main goal of Musharraf's emergency was to pre-empt a Supreme Court ruling on the legality of his victory in a presidential election last month. Under the constitution, public servants cannot run for office.

Qayyum, the attorney general, said the court — now purged of its more independent-minded justices — would swear in more judges in the next two or three days, bringing it up to the strength required to restart hearings in the case.

Musharraf says he will quit his post as army chief and rule as a civilian once the court has confirmed his re-election, but set no date for that step.