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"Pakistan Spring" Escalates; 3 Dead, Over 470 Injured As "Soft Coup" Hardens

Tyler Durden's picture




 

The violent protests that raged yesterday have turned deadly as clashes between riot police and anti-government protesters left 3 dead and at least 470 injured according to The WSJ. The military, who are acting as mediators between PM Sharif and opposition leader Imran Khan have warned both sides that they neither support the others view or sanction further use of violence to suppress crowds. Mr. Khan exclaimed to the people, "if you want to be free, if you want to have a real democracy, the time has come;" as another protester noted "the police were brutal, but that is good because whenever blood is shed in a movement, it turns into a revolution." Meanwhile, the so-called "soft-coup" as WaPo refers to it continues to harden (threatening $3bn of US aid) as Prime Minister Sharif is left with fewer and fewer options.

 

 

 

Islamabad has been paralysed since an estimated 70,000 protesters arrived from Lahore on August 15 and marched on Constitutional Avenue – which houses the National Assembly and the Prime Minister’s residence. Since then schools and offices have remained closed.

 

 

Protesters sezied State TV (then lost control again)

Early on Monday, a group of between 400 and 600 protesters invaded Pakistan Television’s English-language service in the heart of the capital and forced it off air. Shortly before ending transmission, its announcer said: "They have stormed the PTV office. PTV staff performing their duties are being beaten up."

 

The brief occupation was ended by Pakistan Rangers paramilitary troops.

As The Telgraph reports,

PM Sharif's room for manoeuvre was severely restricted by Pakistan’s army chief General Raheel Sharif on Sunday, when a conference of his corps commanders issued a statement voicing “serious concern” over the violence and “large scale injuries and loss of lives”. He warned that “further use of force will only aggravate the problem”.

 

The army chief had publicly clashed with the prime minister on Friday after Mr Sharif denied he had asked him to mediate in talks with Imran Khan and Tahir-ul-Qadri earlier in the day. He told the National Assembly that the army "did not ask to play the role of mediator, neither have we requested them to play such a role."

The "soft-coup" continues...

For much of Pakistan's independent existence, the country's politics have been dominated by its powerful military. The generals have a long history of interrupting and meddling with civilian rule. The election last year of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif marked the first time in almost seven decades that Pakistan was able to carry out a peaceful transfer of power between civilian governments.

 

But the specter of the army now looms large once more. In order to placate heated protests against his rule, Sharif agreed this week to mediation by the army, an institution that is respected by a vast cross-section of society.

 

...

 

"If Nawaz Sharif survives, for the rest of his term, he will be a ceremonial prime minister—the world will not take him seriously," said Ayesha Siddiqa, an Islamabad-based analyst told the Wall Street Journal. "A soft coup has already taken place. The question is whether it will harden."

*  *  *

Additionally,

A group of hackers in Pakistan hacked several government portals, including that of the Army, and leaked 23,000 bank records in a bid to support the ongoing anti-government protests in the country, the Dawn reported.

 

'Islamabad Administration has reported that police used 10,000 gas shells, 1000 chemical gas, 5000 rubber bullets on protesters demanding resignation of Nawaz Sharif' said Imran Khan.

 

 

*  *  *

The FT provides a quick primer Q&A on The Pakistan Protests (and more background can be found here)

Why the trouble now after last year’s successful election?
The real origins of the two big demonstrations that began in mid-August in Lahore, moved to the capital Islamabad and then erupted in violence – causing three deaths in an attempt to storm the official residence of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif – are a little obscure. But the street supporters of Imran Khan, the former cricket star turned politician, complain about corruption and say the general election of May last year won by Mr Sharif was rigged. Those loyal to Tahirul Qadri, an Islamic scholar with a fiery turn of phrase, talk of the need for “revolution” and are angered by the police killings of up to 14 of their number in previous demonstrations in Lahore in June. The two protests have coalesced in an encampment in the so-called secure “red zone” in the heart of the capital, in front of Parliament and other official buildings.

 

What’s in it for Imran Khan and Tahirul Qadri?
This is perhaps the most puzzling aspect of the crisis. Although the 2013 election was marred by violence and doubtless by incidents of cheating, most observers say Mr Sharif – supported by the majority of voters in the populous Punjab – was the clear overall winner. The election was also hailed as an important step towards a sustainable democracy, because it marked the first time that one democratically elected government had taken over from another in Pakistan’s history. Mr Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (Pakistan Justice Movement) came third, but won control of the restive Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. His enemies accuse him of ambition and vanity because he failed to win the post of prime minister for himself, and some members of his party have rebelled against what they see as his undemocratic tactics. Mr Qadri, meanwhile, is normally based in Canada. He is a religious moderate by the standards of Islamic Pakistan, but politically radical – inveighing against corruption and nepotism among politicians.

 

Is the army behind all this?
Yes, at least that is what many Pakistanis believe, including those with a military background. The army overthrew Mr Sharif once before, when General Pervez Musharraf staged a military coup d’état in 1999. This time around, Mr Sharif is seen to have offended the generals in three ways. First, he is determined to pursue the case for treason against Mr Musharraf, instead of letting him fly back quietly into exile in the Gulf or in London. Second, Mr Sharif is eager to make peace with India, and the armed forces need India to remain the bogeyman so that they can justify their large numbers and hefty slice of the annual budget. Third, Mr Sharif has been trying to negotiate peace with Islamic extremists of the Pakistan Taliban, but the army has come round to the view that the militants must be crushed. The generals struggled for months before winning Mr Sharif’s authorisation of their current offensive in North Waziristan along the Afghan border.

 

Why is Nawaz Sharif unable to cope?
He has always been rather unfocused, but at the time of last year’s election he seemed to have learnt from past mistakes (this is his third go as prime minister). Since taking office, he has launched various projects – including power stations – that should eventually help alleviate the country’s electricity shortage and other problems. Yet political commentators say he now appears to have lost interest in governing. As the crisis brewed, he baffled his supporters by spending 10 days on a spiritual journey in Saudi Arabia.

 

Is there an economic impact on Pakistan?
Yes, but it is hard to calculate. Transport and the functioning of the central government have been badly disrupted by more than two weeks of troubles, and the US might be forced to withhold some of its aid for Pakistan if the armed forces overtly took power. The real problem is the loss of what little international confidence there was in Pakistan’s investment climate.

 

What next?
Among the possible outcomes is the resignation of Mr Sharif and the installation of a technocratic government tacitly backed by the army, followed by fresh elections. Other options include an outright military takeover (the army has run the country for half of its existence since 1947). Or Pakistanis could endure a long period of instability as a weakened Mr Sharif hangs on to power.

*  *  *

Senior government sources believe the army, or at least a section of it, is seeking to destabilise Mr Sharif’s government and wants fresh elections to oust or weaken him.

"There is a strong belief that they [the demonstrators] can’t continue doing what they’re doing without support from certain sections of the army.

 

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Mon, 09/01/2014 - 15:56 | 5168607 Chupacabra-322
Chupacabra-322's picture

Off topic but worth the trip. It's all a mind fuck with PsyOp, False Narratives & Propaganda. Enjoy.

Smoking Gun: Same Actress For Sandy Hoax and Katie Foley! Case Closed!

http://beforeitsnews.com/alter...

Mon, 09/01/2014 - 16:05 | 5168626 djsmps
djsmps's picture

Even more off topic since it's a dead link.

Mon, 09/01/2014 - 16:19 | 5168668 ParkAveFlasher
ParkAveFlasher's picture

If you look at the Pakistan pictures really close, you can see that it's Nobel Peace Prizes being thrown about, not tear gas canisters and molotov cocktails!

Mon, 09/01/2014 - 16:34 | 5168707 Skateboarder
Skateboarder's picture

Next, she'll be the hostage in a terrizz attakk. Boom boom. Pew pew. Televised to your dome, straight from Scripted Reality Network.

Mon, 09/01/2014 - 19:24 | 5169253 Squid-puppets a...
Squid-puppets a-go-go's picture

After Rob Sitchs wonderful impersonations of Imran Khan, its impossible for Aussie audiences to imagine him a politician of any gravitas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDyuz0zFyv0

a whole generation of us relished in using 'like a Tiger' as some kinda pick up line

Mon, 09/01/2014 - 16:45 | 5168731 Lewshine
Lewshine's picture

Anyone listen to David Cameron's speech this morning?? This is "The Patriot Act" on steroids, testosterone and Gorilla gowth hormones!!

If anyone has an ear to hear, Hitler, during WWII had border crossing laws that were far less restrictive. The Prime Minister is putting little triggers in the new laws that he will soon impose, so that each law cannot be ruled unconstitutional by higher courts or other brances of its national government. He alone will do more damage to freedom, for the people of Britain, than the extremist ever could.

 

The bad guys win without yet firing a shot!

Mon, 09/01/2014 - 17:48 | 5168966 taxpayer102
taxpayer102's picture

 

During the Irish Rebellion, a security Regulation 18-B had been passed by Order in Council to enable the English police to detain and interrogate people they "suspected" might be members of the Irish Republican Army intent on committing acts of annoyance or sabotage. In 1940 the practice had been discontinued for many years.

On May 3, 1940, during the first two weeks of Mr. Churchill's Premiership, he used this obsolete regulation to arrest all the prominent people who had tried to prevent Britain from being dragged into a war with Germany, prior to September 1939, and those who had opposed his policy to turn the Phony War into a Fighting War.

Many hundreds of British subjects were arrested without any charge being made against tthem. They were thrown into prison without trial under Regulation 18-B which deprived them of their rights and privileges of the Habeas Corpus Act.  These wholesale arrests were made by the police on the unsupported statement of Mr. Herbert Morrison that he, as Secretary of State, "had reasonable cause to believe said persons had been recently concerned in acts prejudicial to the public safety, in defence of the realm, or in the preparation or instigation of such acts, and that by reason thereof, it was necessary to exercise control over them"

- Pawns in the Game, page 168

Mon, 09/01/2014 - 16:25 | 5168685 dizzyfingers
dizzyfingers's picture

Chupacabra: Thanks for the corrected link.

Mon, 09/01/2014 - 16:52 | 5168763 holmes
holmes's picture

Has McStain demanded we send in US troops yet?

Mon, 09/01/2014 - 16:01 | 5168619 Amish Hacker
Amish Hacker's picture

Lots of countries have an army. Pakistan is an army that has a country.

Mon, 09/01/2014 - 16:17 | 5168658 buyingsterling
buyingsterling's picture

Obama is looking at this situation and calculating how to get Pakistani nukes to ISIS, or how to get ISIS in control of Pakistan, or how to hand it over to some radical Islamic faction or another.

Mon, 09/01/2014 - 16:29 | 5168696 Chupacabra-322
Chupacabra-322's picture

@ Amish,

And, Nukes.

Mon, 09/01/2014 - 16:12 | 5168642 falak pema
falak pema's picture

Just a reminder of History :

In 1999, the last time Nawaz Sharif was in power, his rivals created hell to have him ousted from power crying : he is totally corrupt.

The Military under General Parvez jumped on that opportunity to create a military coup and Pakistan got a military ruler in absolute control for ten years or so.

Is the Imran caper now going to achieve the same effect by burning Nawaz once more on the same stake?

Mon, 09/01/2014 - 16:13 | 5168649 I am Jobe
I am Jobe's picture

Amerika can solve the Pakistani Issues. Yeah right, Amerika can't even build roads anymore

Mon, 09/01/2014 - 17:33 | 5168896 Iwanttoknow
Iwanttoknow's picture

Faalak,Any ruler in Pakistan is corrupt,by definition.Per an acquaintance who is from Pakistan,the Maulana issued fatwas against Taliban and lived in exile in canada for sometime.It is my suspicion that imran Khan is a MI6 sleeper.

Mon, 09/01/2014 - 16:12 | 5168646 I am Jobe
I am Jobe's picture

Send in the Marines to secure Pakistan. Need the Opium to flow back to the USSA. 

Mon, 09/01/2014 - 16:17 | 5168661 debtor of last ...
debtor of last resort's picture

Ebola will keep the sheep at home.

Mon, 09/01/2014 - 16:21 | 5168676 I am Jobe
I am Jobe's picture

I thought it was the Burgers, Football and Reality TV Shows keeping the sheeples home along with Gay Pride Parade and Amerikan Men want to be women 

Mon, 09/01/2014 - 16:36 | 5168712 Rican
Rican's picture

Hundreds of leaked celeb nudes!

Mon, 09/01/2014 - 22:23 | 5169780 trulz4lulz
trulz4lulz's picture

Long, bread and circuses! Im watching Twin Peaks trying to follow the world burning at the same time, its evry bit as confusing as one could imagine. Cant even imagine how difficult it is trying to figure out the world political scene in between tweets of Kardashian pubis waxing.

Mon, 09/01/2014 - 16:37 | 5168710 dizzyfingers
dizzyfingers's picture

More violence and disorder courtesy of USA?

Mon, 09/01/2014 - 17:27 | 5168869 taxpayer102
taxpayer102's picture

 

Restaurants around the sit-ins are getting high sales.

"ISLAMABAD: The situation in the capital continues to be tense but no untoward incident has taken place so far. According to the hospital sources, five hundred and sixty-three (563) injured persons have been admitted in the three hospitals of the capital. A spokesperson of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) said that two hundred and fifty-two (252) persons were admitted in the hospital, adding that one hundred and eighty-four (184) have been discharged so far.On the other hand, the businesses have been badly affected in the capital due to the current demonstrations led by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) but the restaurants around the sit-ins venues are running well these days with high earning. A lot of rush has been witnessed at different restaurants located around the sit-ins as these eating points are getting high sales as compared with the normal days because many participants of the marches eat at these restaurants which are open till late night to facilitate the maximum number of protestors."

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/islamabad/02-Sep-2014/563-injured-persons-a...

 

Mon, 09/01/2014 - 16:47 | 5168732 ms8172
ms8172's picture

So I guess this should be bullish for the S&P tomorrow.

Mon, 09/01/2014 - 16:58 | 5168782 Super Hans
Super Hans's picture

I don't know.  Some Paki women can be kind of hot.

Mon, 09/01/2014 - 17:08 | 5168806 Skateboarder
Skateboarder's picture

I was once friends with a hot paki girl. She had the nicest rack ever, and danced like a champ. Too bad they're all crazy (drama). :-)

Mon, 09/01/2014 - 17:15 | 5168833 Canucklehead
Canucklehead's picture

The Pakistan ISI is worried Sharif is taking Pakistan in a direction they do not want to go.

http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htlead/20140823.aspx

https://www.strategypage.com/qnd/india/articles/20140814.aspx

Khan and Qadri are paid to provide political cover.

Mon, 09/01/2014 - 17:55 | 5168998 drinkin koolaid
drinkin koolaid's picture

That fucker in the last photo has a serious gas issue.

Mon, 09/01/2014 - 18:03 | 5169026 carlnpa
carlnpa's picture

Pakistan is a nuclear state.

What a suprise it would be if ISIS ended up in control of Pakistan (and their nukes).

Who would ISIS like to destroy more?  US or Israel?

Mon, 09/01/2014 - 18:13 | 5169057 thamnosma
thamnosma's picture

The real question is how far will gold drop when the jihadists grab the nuke fields?

Mon, 09/01/2014 - 19:45 | 5169320 nidaar
nidaar's picture

Or how far will nukes drop when the jihadists grab the gold fields?

Mon, 09/01/2014 - 20:07 | 5169376 petkovplamen
petkovplamen's picture

Neither. ISIS is CIA invented, Saudi Arabia financed. Haven't you wondered why perfectly ISIS fit into USA's scheme of things?

As another poster posted previously, ISIS is more likely to attack Russia with those nukes. ISIS's job is to clear the corridor through Syria for the pipeline going to Europe.

Mon, 09/01/2014 - 19:03 | 5169207 CheapBastard
CheapBastard's picture

Does anyone see Bread Head in these photos?

Mon, 09/01/2014 - 20:03 | 5169369 petkovplamen
petkovplamen's picture

So USA gives 3 billion to Pakistan (every year) while the homeless in USA are in the millions and one US solder commits suicide every hour. Man, that makes me so frigging mad.

This is EXACTLY why are are anti West and pro Putin.

Mon, 09/01/2014 - 20:30 | 5169435 roadhazard
roadhazard's picture

The US needs to go in, destroy the nukes and walk away. Pakistan is not worth losing sleep over.

Mon, 09/01/2014 - 22:01 | 5169710 petkovplamen
petkovplamen's picture

here we go again. WHo the f gives USA ANY right to go into ANY country?

Mon, 09/01/2014 - 21:48 | 5169652 AdvancingTime
AdvancingTime's picture

This was all very predictable as I wrote last week. Pakistan is approaching a crisis and America is more or less powerless to influence the outcome.  It also appears that few Americans care.  What should alarm Americans after all the other recent problems in the region is that tens of thousands of protesters armed with sticks and wire cutters have swarmed into the fortified red zone in the center of Islamabad and set up camp.

Each night the protesters sleep in the streets and the next day continue calling for Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's resignation and the dissolution of parliament. While this all seems distant and unrelevant to most Americans it is important we remember Pakistan is in a position to start World War III as tensions mount with India. I'm not taking sides and I'm not badmouthing Pakistan or its people, but the reality is this will not go away anytime soon. More about the very unstable situation in the article below.

http://brucewilds.blogspot.com/2014/08/pakistan-is-approaching-crisis.ht...

Mon, 09/01/2014 - 22:39 | 5169835 q99x2
q99x2's picture

There are more lawyers in Pakistan per capita than in any nation. What the hell did they think would happen.

Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site!