Pakistan: A few items of note...

Musharraf calls for Bhutto Exhumation, Denies allegations of Govt Involvement, cites Bhutto's insistence on compromising her own security in the face of death threats. As Scotland Yard re-enacts the crime scene where Bhutto was assassinated and examines the X-ray equipment used in her treatment.

"Brushing aside Western media's propaganda" and telling the American Presidential field to "mind their own beeswax", Foreign Office Spokesman Muhammad Sadiq Sunday reiterated the government’s stance that the Command and Control System of country’s nuclear assets is most advanced and among the safest in the world.

He might want to add washed-up Presidential wannabes to that "mind your own beeswax list." John Kerry: Musharraf denied Benazir's request for private security.

The security for Bhutto's son will be provided by Scotland Yard and MI-5 while in Oxford. (They also were Chelsea Clinton's security detail during her time there.)


The beatdown goes on in Swat: Troops arrest four most wanted militants. Security forces said on Sunday that they had arrested four most-wanted militant commanders at Sindh Pura checkpost in Matta tehsil of Swat district, Dawn News reported. Also on Sunday, security forces pounded militant hideouts in the Totanoo Bandai and Manja areas, but no casualties were reported.


But people are still nervous after last week's bombing in Lahore. Now, nowhere is safe. No one has claimed responsibility as of yet but"tribal links" are being cited. The lawyers are squabbling amongst themselves and politicians are suffering rocket attacks and being fired on.

Meanwhile Terrorism fears are keeping tourists away. as certain "Clerics" (and yes, they were Muslim clerics.) were banned entry to Islamabad during the recent holiday to avoid any "untoward situation." Even Maulana Fazl is keeping a low profile after threats against his safety.

And safety is a key concern in Pakistan after a "sabotage event" involving three rocket launchers stashed under a bridge is foiled and Pakistan's Prince of Pop is kidnapped, then released after his family pays huge ransom. In Ghalanai: Missiles fly, Cattle die.

In Wana armed tribesmen were organizing a "lashkar" to hunt down al Qaeda "miscreants" that killed eight of their kinsmen. They were rewarded with a militant attack of 250-300 miscreants. Luckily the Pakistani troops handed the miscreants their turbans and inflicted heavy casualties. Oo-rah. "There was no immediate comment from local Taliban authorities."
Although this article says the Taliban is crying "Uncle Hudna" and that army troops are withdrawing from their posts as tribal jirga is being held to negotiate between Pro-Taliban forces and the govt.

And a "NYT reporter", Nicholas Schmidle, claims to have been deported. Islamabad denies his deportation, claim he left of his own volition. It's important to note they would have deported him if he had a journalist's visa - but he didn't, so they withdrew the order.


There are still water, power and flour shortages with the Rangers taking over flour mills in the Punjab: The Paki moonbats are out and going on a hunger strike about the flour shortages. But according to Sharif: The shortages are all the govt's fault. And Benazir's niece is speaking out again - this time she targets Bilawal, branding his appointment as the head of the PPP as "dangerous."

And in other Pakistan He-Man-Woman-Haters-Club news: GUNNED DOWN. Three motorcyclists on Saturday gunned down a woman in Chak 223-RB, D-Type Colony police precincts, “for pursuing a case in the court”. Shahida Perveen of Chak 202-GB, Samundri, was gunned down when she was on her way to the court to attend the hearing of a case she had filed against her former husband Khalil Ahmed of Jehangir Kalan. She died at the scene and her assassins fled. Police registered a murder case against accused Jameel, Aslam and Ahsan and charged Khalil Ahmed with abetting the murder.