Resistance to Musharraf's Decision Met With Force
Simmering resentment over President Gen. Musharraf's clampdown boils over.
Nov. 5, 2007— -- Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf faced his first organized resistance today since declaring a state of emergency, and he responded with force.
Across Pakistan, thousands of lawyers, many in coats and ties, clashed with police in dramatic demonstrations. The lawyers, protesting Musharraf's suspension of the constitution, threw stones and insults, while police responded with batons, tear gas and then arrest.
An estimated 1,500 lawyers, human rights activists and local journalists are now detained by Pakistani police. All independent Pakistani television stations have been shut down as well.
This morning, in Pakistan's capital, the bar association met to plan a strategy. Just as ABC News approached, lawyers told us the head of the bar was being arrested, but when the police saw the cameras, they backed off.
But the lawyers we spoke to fear the reprieve will not last
"Every lawyer is expected to be arrested," lawyer Hanuna Rashid, president of the bar association, said to ABC News' Martha Raddatz. "What can you do? We will fight in the streets. We will fight in the roads."
Although Musharraf imposed a state of emergency as he said, "fight extremists," he has been going after his political opponents, instead.
ABC News visited in secret, today, with a prominent Pakistani lawyer who has gone into hiding, moving from house to house.
"It's the military against the rule of law and the constitution, instead of fighting against the extremists," the lawyer, Athar Minallah, said.
It was just last year that President Bush stood side by side with Musharraf, praising his democratic intentions.
"The president is a strong defender of freedom and the people of Pakistan. He assured me there would be free and fair elections in Pakistan in 2007," Bush said at a press conference last year.
Today Bush warned Musharraf that his actions were undermining democracy.
"We expect there to be elections as soon as possible, and the president should remove his military uniform," Bush said to the press.
