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Pakistan Riots: Background |
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Written by Mohammed Yousef
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Sunday, 13 May 2007 |
Pakistani Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry set off a series off violent rots as he arrived in Karachi to address a rally. Latest reports indicate that at least 27 people have died and over a hundred injured as pro-government activists clashed with opposition party members.
The riots bear a testimony to the intense legal turmoil in the country following the suspension of the Chief Justice by President Pervez Musharraf.
President Pervez Musharraf is also the head of the Army. So underlying these riots is a sense of the surreal that pits the Army against the judiciary in Pakistan. Musharraf suspended Justice Chaudhry on March 9, 2007 citing "misuse of authority." The President did not elaborate further on the issue.
The suspension was viewed as unwarranted by lawyers and political activists and on March 12, 2007, the lawyers began boycotting court cases in a show of unprecedented support for Justice Chaudhry. Four days later there were riots at a rally in capital Islamabad prompting President Musharraf to categorically state that there would be no opportunity to politically exploit the situation.
Then came the police attack on television station Geo News. Even as the media minister Mohammed Ali Durrani watched helplessly, police in riot gear smashed the offices of the news station and fired tear gas shells inside the offices on March 17, 2007. Many felt the move had the blessings of the government, but President Musharraf promised to apprehend the culprits. Some 14 low level police officers were suspended shortly afterward.
Musharraf assured the nation the situation was under control. However there were cases where private television channels were barred from airing images of lawyers clashing with police. These unprecedented scenes appear to have galvanized public opinion away from Musharraf.
The situation appears to have slipped out of Musharraf's control. Appearing for the first time since his ouster, Justice Chaudhry called for an impartial and independent judiciary for the country on March 28, 2007. He also appeared before a closed session before the Supreme Court on April 3 and presented his case before the justices.
Buoyed by the support from all quarters he began calling for an end to "dictatorship" in Pakistan. He made these comments at a rally in Lahore on May 6.
The whole structure appeared to collapse today in Karachi, a city that already has had trouble with sectarian violence in the past. Mr Chaudhry arrived at the Karachi airport just before noon to address a rally of the Sindh High Court Bar Association. However he was unable to get out of the airport.
The situation exploded with violence flaring up in different parts of the city leaving over 25 dead and scores others wounded. It is expected that the death tally might rise by tomorrow. The Muttahida Qaumi Movement, which is allied with President Musharraf, said the blame lay on Mr Chaudhry's shoulders because he did not cancel the rally despite having inklings of tension here.
Human Rights groups are blaming the government for not doing enough to control the situation.
President Musharraf is in a catch-22 situation. He has indicated he would vacate the Army chief post later this year, but wants to be elected as President before fresh elections are called for. Clearly he cannot allow the situation to deteriorate further, but his options are also very limited.
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