International   

As crisis continues, Pakistan braces itself for the unknown

— Photo: AFP

Lawyers taking out a march at a protest rally in Lahore on Saturday.

ISLAMABAD: With the deadlock in Pakistan showing no signs of breaking, army troops were on standby in the capital to guard “sensitive installations.” The capital administration has already placed container trucks across Constitution Avenue, where the Presidency, Parliament and the Supreme Court are located.

But it is doubtful if the lawyers and Opposition activists will get anywhere close to the capital in their “long march.” Riot police were guarding the toll plaza on the Lahore-Islamabad motorway on Saturday morning and, according to reports, the government is preparing to seal the road and Grand Trunk road between the two cities by Sunday morning.

The government has already prevented contingents of lawyers and Opposition workers from other parts of the country from reaching Lahore for the “long march.”

Speaking to journalists, Interior Ministry chief Rehman Malik warned of intelligence reports of terrorist attacks on the rally, but this has been dismissed by the Pakistan Muslim League (N) and lawyers as an attempt to scare people from joining the protests..

The high-voltage Zardari-Sharif clash claimed its first victim with the resignation of Sherry Rehman as Minister of Information and Broadcasting.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

As crisis continues, Pakistan braces itself for the unknown
Sherry Rehman quits over move to block Geo
Russia may base bombers in Cuba
Colombo: U.N. stand unfounded
China reaffirms opening-up policy
U.S. to go ahead with Pakistan strikes
Graduates get a breather
G20 leaders agree on a broad framework to tackle crisis

Copyright © 2009, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu