Pakistani opposition leader defies house arrest

Babar Dogar | Mar 15

AP - A spokesman for Nawaz Sharif says the Pakistani opposition leader left his residence this morning in defiance of an order placing him under house arrest.

A convoy of vehicles left Sharif's villa in the eastern city of Lahore on Sunday, apparently headed for an anti-government rally where police were battling stone-throwing demonstrators.

UPDATE 3/16: Pakistan defuses crisis, agrees to restore Iftikhar Chaudhry as Chief Justice

** Pakistan clamps down on protests amid fresh fears of a military coup
** In pictures: Pakistan protests
** Shahbaz calls on govt to respect BB’s message
** Political crisis worsens in Pakistan; Zardari in a fix as Punjab police joined hands with opposition(w/salt)


Tina March 16, 2009 - 1:34am
( categories: News | Pakistan )

Asia Times

In the early hours of Monday morning, the Pakistani government capitulated in the face of escalating street protests. All of the lawyers sacked in 2007 will be reinstated and the bans on key opposition figures will be reviewed. The abrupt decision is a stinging setback to the United States' influence in the country, and marks a decisive victory for the right wing. The troubles of the government of President Asif Ali Zardari are far from over. - Syed Saleem Shahzad (Mar 16,'09)


"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined." -Henry David Thoreau

Tina March 16, 2009 - 6:00am

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.