Pakistan: Lawyers Getting Tear Gased and Beaten – All Kidding Aside

And you thought lawyers in the U.S. had it rough? We are certain there are more than a few lines of material here for Jay Leno and Letterman this evening, writers strike or not. Here are some key updates on Pakistani unrest from selected sites…

Forbes: Pakistan’s government denied rumors sweeping the country that the army had placed President Pervez Musharraf under house arrest.

Reuters: “Pakistan police used teargas and batons against lawyers protesting against President Pervez Musharraf’s emergency rule on Monday and detentions mounted, prompting Washington to postpone defense cooperation talks.”

AP: Pakistani police have detained 500 activists.

The Corner: “The State Department response — calling for immediate free elections — is idiotic.”

NY Times: Musharraf has left the White House in the lurch

Musharraf goes on television to defend his actions (Video @ Al-Jazeera)

Bill Roggio: “It is unclear what effect, if any, the declaration of a state of emergency will have on the Taliban and al Qaeda insurgency in the Northwest Frontier Province.”

AFP: “Bhutto back in Pakistan: London spokesman”

Hot Air: “The pretext being used is the jihadi offensive in the tribal areas. Needless to say, the real reason is Musharraf’s fear that the Court is going to bounce him as president. Condi Rice and Adm. Fallon warned him yesterday not to do it. You see what we get for our money.”

CNN/IBN, newschannel in English from India, streaming live here.

Captain’s Quarters: “The West will not find this to their liking. They had pressed Musharraf to cut a deal with Benazir Bhutto to transition back to democratic processes, hoping that the deal would give them both a stronger political position and marginalize the Islamists. The radicals have their own agenda, however, and have worked to destabilize the political situation before the alliance between Bhutto and Musharraf could have any effect.”
— [Hat Tip: PJM]

From just the few sources above it is clear that the situation is far from stable. This has to give al-Qaeda a sense of opportunity like they never had before to bond with the extremists there. Washington has hoped for and will be encouraging a power sharing approach between Musharraf and Bhutto. That would be an arrangement radicals would NOT want to see because in effect it would keep the government pro-Western since Bhutto is an ally of the U.S.

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