PAKISTAN: Security is tight in the Pakistani capital as crackdown continues

Record ID: 858168

  • Title: PAKISTAN: Security is tight in the Pakistani capital as crackdown continues
  • Date: 5th November 2007
  • Summary: (W2) ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN (NOVEMBER 5, 2007) (REUTERS) WIDE OF CONSTITUTION AVENUE WITH BARBED WIRE ACROSS THE ROAD AND PRESIDENCY VISIBLE IN THE BACKGROUND ARMOURED PERSONNEL CARRIER (APC) PARKED ON THE ROAD POLICE BARRICADE ACROSS CONSTITUTION AVENUE BARRIER ON ROAD LEADING TO JUDGES COLONY SANDBAG BUNKER ON ROAD LEADING TO MINISTERIAL OFFICES CLOSEUP OF WEAPON POLICE CONTROLLING TRAFFIC GOING TO VARIOUS MINISTRIES POLICEMEN ORDERING REUTERS CAMERAMAN TO STOP FILMING ROADBLOCK LEADING TO PARLIAMENT LODGES CLOSEUP OF SIGN ON ROADBLOCK READING "POLICE STOP" VARIOUS OF POLICEMEN BEHIND BARBED WIRE BARRIER POLICE CHECKING ID CARD OF MOPED DRIVER BEFORE ENTERING PARLIAMENT LODGES POLICE GATHERING POLICE CHECKING THE IDENTITY CARDS OF WOMEN ISLAMABAD CAPITAL TERRITORY POLICE VANS PARKED IN AREA POLICEMEN ON GUARD AT BARBED WIRE BARRICADE ON ROAD LEADING TO PRESIDENCY CLOSEUP OF WEAPON VIEWED THROUGH BARBED WIRE
  • Embargoed: 20th November 2007 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Pakistan
  • City:
  • Country: Pakistan
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAC5RL57LK156GRH8K5QNORLVIH
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: Barricades blocked roads leading to key government offices in Islamabad on Monday (November 5), as Pakistani authorities kept a tight grip on security following President Pervez Musharraf's declaration of emergency rule during the weekend.
    General Musharraf cited spiralling militancy and hostile judges to justify his action on Saturday (November 3), and imposed reporting curbs on the media in a bid to stop outrage spilling onto the streets amid Pakistan's biggest crisis since he took power in a 1999 coup.
    Police detained dozens of lawyers in the eastern city of Lahore.
    Police were also holding several judges incommunicado at their homes after they refused to back emergency rule.
    The arrests came after a main Islamist opposition party, Jamaat-e-Islami, said authorities detained 600-700 of its supporters in southern and central provinces overnight.
    Authorities had already arrested 400-500 political opponents and opposition lawyers as a "preventive" measure.
    Among them was Iftikhar Chaudhry, who became a symbol of resistance to Musharraf's rule after defying pressure to quit last March and was subsequently reinstated as chief justice by the Supreme Court.
    Musharraf also suspended the constitution.
    Lawyers, journalists, opposition politicians and ordinary Pakistanis said they believed Musharraf's main motive in declaring emergency rule was to pre-empt the Supreme Court invalidating his re-election as president last month.
    The court was due to reconvene on Monday to determine Musharraf's right to have stood for re-election while still army chief. But most judges, including Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, have been sacked. He has been replaced by a Musharraf loyalist.
    Pakistan shares were down around 3 percent, compounding losses incurred last week as talk of impending emergency rule swirled, while credit default swaps eased and analysts said the uncertainty would put bonds under pressure.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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