Musharafs sacks supreme court declares defacto martial law.

Musharafs desperate gamble.

Pakistan’s President General Pervez Musharraf  is desperate and it is showing. He is an essential dictator destroying any vestiges of democracy in Pakistan. The ouster of Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry was exceptionally shocking as this is seen as clear strong arm tactics. In a affront to the rule of law a puppet court has replaced the supreme court  and announced that it has “ annulled “ the previous ruling. The former court is now under house arrest though no one really knows what has happened to the judges of the now defunct court. The President of the Supreme Court Bar Association, Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan, who had been arguing the case against Musharraf’s reelection in the Supreme Court, has been arrested.

Musharraf had promised to step down a number of times from power and always changed his mind. The Supreme Court of Pakistan apparently was going to rule against him and not let him stand in the upcoming elections. As a classic dictator he declared emergency powers knowing the army would back him up.

 This does not come at a good time for American foreign policy as the state department has its hands full with a looming confrontation with Iran. In addition the bogged down Middle East peace conference was to take a front seat in the next few months. Musharraf may have altered those plans somewhat as the US will try to stabilize a very volatile situation in Pakistan.

Condi must have a headache now.