NDTV : Brutal crackdown on protestors in Pak

Brutal crackdown on protestors in Pak

Munizae Jehangir | Islamabad | September 29, 2007

Protests in Pakistan intensified on Saturday with security forces in Islamabad mercilessly beating back lawyers protesting President Musharraf's bid for re-election in uniform.

Even journalists were not spared. Angry over police brutality, the protestors attacked the State Minister for Information Tariq Azeem at the Election Commission.

The police responded with more force, injuring at least 27 journalists, some with serious head injuries.

Private TV channels showing the crackdown had also been blocked through the day.

''All the journalists present here were brutally beaten up. The police baton charged them and then starting throwing tear gas shells at us,'' said Hamid Habib, journalist.

The protests came as the Election Commission approved General Musharraf's nomination papers under the watchful eye of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.

The lawyers were so angry that they chose to burn a copy of a Supreme Court judgement that gave Musharraf the go-ahead.

Journalists are planning protests all Sunday, and on Monday, the lawyers have declared a countrywide strike.

''A lawyer Mohd Ali Jinnah created Pakistan. Now Pakistan will be saved by lawyers. We will keep Pakistan going,'' said Tariq Mehmood Khalid, lawyer.

So, as various groups vow to mount legal challenges, Musharraf's path to the presidency seems to be getting clearer.

The Election Commission virtually rejected most of General Musharraf's challengers. PPP's Makhdoom Amin Fahim and retired justice Wajihuddin Ahmed's nominations were the only ones approved.

Despite brute force the lawyers are not backing down. General Musharraf may have won a legal battle for now, but such protests are going to put a big question mark on the General's democratic credentials.