Bhutto Steps Up Challenge to Emergency Rule

Protesting lawyers arrested for third day
By Jane Yager,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 7, 2007 5:14 AM CST
Bhutto Steps Up Challenge to Emergency Rule
Police officers arrest a lawyer outside the Lahore High court in Lahore, Pakistan on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2007. Lawyers again clashed with police as Pakistan's President Gen. Pervez Musharraf's government considered when to hold elections amid growing international pressure to end emergency rule and restore...   (Associated Press)

The crisis in Pakistan escalated today as opposition leader Benazir Bhutto vowed to go ahead with a protest rally against emergency rule in Rawalpindi Friday, and lawyers battled police in the streets for a third day. Bhutto challenged President Pervez Musharraf to end military rule before Nov. 9, saying she will launch a massive long march from Lahore to Islamabad Nov. 13 unless civilian rule is restored.

The mayor of Rawalpindi, a garrison city just south of Islamabad, said police would enforce the ban on protests, and told the AP  there was a "strong threat" of another suicide attack against Bhutto, who escaped a blast that killed more than 140 supporters during a procession welcoming her home from exile. (More Benazir Bhutto stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X