[Marxism] Musharraf crackdown against the Left

[James Davis <jrd100@xxxxxxxxx>]

What does this mean?



Pakistan detains opposition leader
Saturday, April 16, 2005 Posted: 0535 GMT (1335 HKT)

LAHORE, Pakistan (CNN) -- Pakistani security forces have stormed a plane 
carrying opposition leader Asif Ali Zardari and detained him as he arrived in 
the country, witnesses told CNN.

Zardari was taken to his home, where government and police authorities said he 
was in "protective custody."

Earlier, the government had vowed to block any rallies by Zardari's Pakistan 
People's Party (PPP) and effectively sealed off the city while awaiting his 
arrival, with about 12,000 police deployed.

Also, journalists on the plane told CNN their cameras were taken from them and 
they were beaten. Authorities shut down cell towers near the airport to cut off 
cell phone service.

Hundreds of PPP members, however, managed to reach the Lahore airport, CNN 
Producer Syed Mohsin Naqvi reported. They were arrested as soon as they began 
chanting slogans.
More than 5,000 PPP workers, leaders and members of parliament have been 
arrested since Friday, when thousands of PPP supporters clashed with security 
forces. according to police and PPP sources. Some top members of PPP's 
leadership were arrested while they held a meeting.

More than 100 PPP supporters were arrested at the airport Saturday, including 
some members of Parliament, police sources said.

An aide to Zardari who was on the plane, PPP President Makhdoom Amin Fahim, was 
also detained Saturday, witnesses said. It was not clear where he was taken.

Zardari had been in Dubai visiting his exiled wife, former Pakistani prime 
minister Benazir Bhutto. She has been living in self-imposed exile fearing 
arrest on corruption charges if she returns to Pakistan.

Zardari was jailed in 1996 when his wife's government was dismissed amid the 
allegations of corruption, but he was released last December after more than 
eight years in prison. He then went to Dubai to visit his wife.

Police sources said about 12,000 police were spread out around Lahore on 
Saturday, with 4,000 officers stationed around the airport. More than 50 
roadblocks have been set up by security forces throughout the city, effectively 
sealing it off.

The government of President Pervez Musharraf has been adamant about quashing 
political demonstrations in Lahore. Pakistan's Information Minister Sheikh 
Rashid Ahmed told CNN on Friday the government will not allow the PPP to hold 
any rally or public gathering in the city.
On Friday, dozens of PPP activists suffered injuries when police charged them 
in front of the Karachi Railway Station. Police were trying to stop PPP 
activists from boarding trains for Lahore.

At least two journalists were listed in critical condition from injuries they 
suffered in the melee.
Several trains bound for Lahore were canceled or stopped before they reached 
the city.
Opposition parties Friday protested the violence and the arrests in the 
National Assembly and walked out.

Authorities have sealed the borders of Sindh and Punjab provinces since 
Thursday night. Transportation routes into Lahore from other cities was 
suspended Friday, and all PPP offices have been sealed.

Punjab PPP President Qasim Zia told CNN the party submitted a formal 
application to the government, seeking permission to hold a rally upon 
Zardari's arrival. He criticized the government's actions against the party and 
warned the government of serious consequences if it tried to scuttle Saturday's 
reception.

Source: http://www.ppp.org.pk/
The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) was launched at its founding convention held 
in Lahore on November  30 - December 01, 1967. At the same meeting, Zulfikar 
Ali Bhutto was elected as its Chairman. Among the express goals for which the 
Party was formed were the establishment of an egalitarian democracy and the 
application of socialistic ideas to realize economic and social justice. A more 
immediate task was to struggle against the hated military dictatorship at the 
height of its power when the PPP was formed.

The Party also promised the elimination of feudalism in accordance with the 
established principles of socialism to protect and advance the interests of 
peasantry.




                
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