Pakistan Braces for Trial Backlash

Pakistan Braces for Trial Backlash

Daniel Pearl murder verdict seen as threat to Musharraf

by Ned Colt
MSNBC
July 15, 2002
http://www.msnbc.com/news/780473.asp

HYDERABAD, Pakistan — When a judge convicted four Islamic extremists in the murder of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl on Monday, the Pakistani government’s unease was clearly visible outside the makeshift jailhouse courtroom by the presence of thousands of police guarding the facility. In Pakistan, the guilty verdict could have dangerous repercussions.

Seome 2,000 special police patrolled Hyderabad, an unassuming trading town 100 miles northeast of Karachi. Sharpshooters took up positions on the courthouse and surrounding buildings. Decoy motorcades were sent to throw off any threat to Ali Ashraf Shah, the Pakistani judge presiding over the trial.

Even before the verdict was read, the mood was tense. On the road from Karachi to Hyderabad, graffiti spray painted on road bridges read, “America, your death is coming” and “The war will continue until America is finished.”

MORE ATTACKS LIKELY
In the short term, Pakistani officials say they are worried that the verdict could spark unrest among hard-line elements of the country — which mix nationalism with radical Islamic beliefs.

More terrorist attacks against foreigners in Pakistan, or against the government itself, are likely, police officials said. Chief defendant Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, who was sentenced to death by hanging for his role in the Pearl murder, threatened more violence only moments after the verdict was handed down.

“Now a jihad (holy war) between Islam and non-Muslims is going on and everybody is showing whether he is in favor of Islam or in favor of the non-believers,” Saeed said through is lawyer.

GAUGING VERDICT’S IMPACT
Islamic extremists like Saeed are hardly ever executed in Pakistan, and Saeed’s lawyers have promised to appeal the death sentence, a move that could delay his execution for months. The last hanging of a prominent militant in February 2001 sparked clashes with police.

It is believed that Saeed holds significant sway over extremist groups in Pakistan. In 1999, his supporters hijacked an Indian jetliner, landed it in Afghanistan and traded the passengers for Saeed’s release from jail, where he was being held on a kidnapping conviction.

For now, Pakistani police are hoping a massive clampdown on Islamic militants will keep Saeed from rallying his supporters. But officials admit that it’s the longer-term repercussions of the verdict that make the government nervous.

The problems the trial present to Pakistani President Gen. Musharraf can be summed up in the widely used mutation of the military dictator’s name. Many have taken to calling the Pakistani strongman “Busharraf,” as he is increasingly perceived as buckling under the pressure of the Bush administration.

MUSHARRAF’S BALANCING ACT
In Pakistan, a country with a great deal of national pride, no leader wants to be seen kowtowing to the West. After the Sept. 11 attacks, Musharraf aligned himself with Washington and became a key supporter of the U.S. war on neighboring Afghanistan. At the time, the president’s move was largely supported by Pakistanis eager to raise their standing on the world stage. Accordingly, the United States forgave or restructured much of Pakistan’s foreign debt and sent high-level emissaries to praise Musharraf.

But a series of recent moves by Musharraf have sent his popularity sliding. In April, a referendum extending his rule by five years was interpreted by many as Musharraf backing off on a pledge to return Pakistan to democratic rule. In June, when the president proposed sweeping constitutional changes that would give him unprecedented control over a future parliament and cabinet, he was accused of seeking to extend his dictatorial reign indefinitely.

Under pressure at home and abroad, Musharraf is in a quandary. His reaction, analysts say, has been to try to cement his position as the omnipotent leader of Pakistan.

The guilty verdict handed down on Monday has exacerbated Musharraf’s problems.

In a parting comment, Saeed appeared to exploit the country’s growing discontent with Musharraf. He took direct aim at the Pakistani leader: “Musharraf should know that Almighty Allah is there and can get his revenge,” said Saeed.

FAIR USE NOTICE: This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of criminal justice, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.