The Pakistan Government order the detention of Benazir Bhutto

“The Pakistan police have arrested the opposition leader and ex Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto hours before the protest call from her party for this Tuesday,” according to 20minutos.es.

“According to information provided by the agency Reuters, Bhutto has been detained for a period of seven days. At the police barriers which surround the house at which Bhutto is staying they report that the detention order has been received and has been processed without producing a response, although one of the government parties has confirmed the facts.”

The Daily Mail has reported on this incident, saying that the move is aimed at preventing Ms Bhutto’s 185-mile march from Lahore to Islamabad, protesting against the imposition of emergency rule. “I know it is dangerous,” Bhutto said yesterday. “But I ask myself, what is the alternative and how can we save our country? … We appeal to all people, including from other parties and minorities, women and children, to take part in this long march.”

Comment

It seems that I obviously cannot write fast enough – as soon as I come close to finishing my lengthy, opinionated analysis of the situation, it changes dramatically and it is back to the drawing board.  What I can briefly comment here, however, is that it is hardly surprising that Ms Bhutto has once again been the subject of a detention order.

These are quite clearly desperate measures by a desperate man trying to cling to power and there is only one option – Ms Bhutto’s supporters, and indeed all supporters of peace must take to the streets and protest against emergency rule and illegal detention of political prisoners, including Ms Bhutto herself.