Pakistani paramilitary have orders to shoot on sight as violence continues

Source: Raw Story

While not expected to dissolve, Pakistan was roiled with unrest Friday as supporters across the country marched on banks, burned police stations and engaged in shootouts with police. The extent of the violence has paralyzed the nuclear-armed Muslim nation, triggering alarm around the world and throwing scheduled January 8 elections into disarray.

According to the UK Telegraph, "paramilitary rangers were given the authority to use live rounds to stop rioters from damaging property in southern Pakistan."

"We have orders to shoot on sight," Major Asad Ali, the rangers' spokesman, told the paper.

The assassination of Pakistan opposition leader Benazir Bhutto sent shockwaves around the world on Friday with global leaders condemning the act as markets reacted with fear to the new blow to international stability.

Read more: http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Pakistani_paramilitary_have_orders_to_shoot_1228.html

That's really going to help.:eyes:

The people of Pakistan deserve much better.

Pg 148 shows a picture of Bhutto surrounded by Pakistani women and children, shaking hands.

Miss Pakistans Comeback
(sans umlaut)

Am 18 Oktober kehrt die ehemalige Ministerpraesidentin Benazir Bhutto nach acht Jahren im Exil nach Pakistan zuruck. Fur viele ist Bhutto die Hoffnung auf das Ende der Diktatur von Pervez Musharraf. Eine gewaltige Menschenmenge erwartet sie - und dann ein Blutbad. Mehr als 130 Menschen sterben bei einem Anschlag auf die Kundgebrung. Bhutto kampft weiter. Anfang 2008 soll es Wahlen geben. Hoffentlich.

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Translated loosely:

On 18 Oct. the former Prime Minister Bhutto swept back into Pakistan after 8 years in exile. For many Bhutto is the hope for the end of dictator Musharraf. An enormous crowd of people waited for her -- and then a bloodbath. More than 130 people died after an attempt on her life at a rally. Bhutto fought on. Beginning 2008 there shall be elections. Hopefully.

The "War on Terror" permeates even raw story. Never is any national nuclear power referred to with its religion attached, except when it involves Muslims.

Why not make note (more accurately) that Pakistan is a member of the British Commonwealth?

Bingo.