Full Coverage: Politics

30.11.2007 President Pervez Musharraf in a televised address has said that he intends to lift the emergency on December 16 and urged all to participate in elections scheduled to take place on January 8, 2008. Some political parties in Pakistan plan to boycott the elections, fearing that they would not be fair and transparent.

19.11.2007 “Even if we do not get democracy out of this, we have proved yet again that Pakistan is a democratic society trapped in an undemocratic state. Blogs are one way in which people are finding expression. The new media and the internet have also allowed people a great opportunity to have a say,” says Adil Najam, Pakistani academic and sustainable development expert, in an interview.

19.11.2007 General Musharraf would not have thought of a political scenario that has emerged after the imposition of martial law. His hopes for a return of normality have proved evasive, as voices of resistance are gathering force in Pakistan, says Farooq Tariq.

19.11.2007 Asma Jahangir, chairperson of the independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, while giving an account of the horrific tale of tortures and harassments faced by the legal community since the imposition of emergency, calls for support from the international legal fraternity.

16.11.2007 Bangkok-based author and photojournalist Thierry Falise documents the September events that rocked Burma and shook the world as the monks went marching on the streets of Rangoon.

16.11.2007 Several India-based organisations came together here in New Delhi yesterday to express their solidarity on the International Day of Action on Pakistan. They condemned the recent imposition of emergency, resulting in gagging of media, assault on justice, mass arrests and detentions.

16.11.2007 Several India-based organisations came together here in New Delhi yesterday to express their solidarity on the International Day of Action on Pakistan. They condemned the recent imposition of emergency, resulting in gagging of media, assault on justice, mass arrests and detentions.

16.11.2007 The Human Rights Watch has called for a ban on the import of Burma’s precious stones, saying the trade helps finance its military rulers to stay in power. The country is in deep political turmoil following the military junta crackdown against Buddhist monks and other civil protesters, who are being subject to severe human rights abuses.

15.11.2007 Forced to flee from their homes, the villagers of Nandigram now only want to be left in peace. The recent upsurge of political violence in this East Midnapore area in the eastern Indian state of West Bengal uprooted thousands now living in relief camps.

14.11.2007 It was a shattering day for 485 victims of enforced disappearance and their families in Pakistan. The Supreme Court, in a state of disarray after the proclamation of emergency and dismissal of its Chief Justice, failed to hear the case, which was scheduled for November 13.

13.11.2007 Uneasy calm prevails in Nandigram area of West Bengal in India after the ruling party cadres take control. Protests were witnessed in Delhi over the handling of situation by the state government.

12.11.2007 Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, in his first news conference since the imposition of martial law, has said elections will be held by January 9 but under the current state of emergency. Human rights activists were quick to retort that free and fair polls are not possible under such conditions.

07.11.2007 Lawyers and judges in Pakistan are spearheading the movement for restoration of democracy. Accustomed to fighting verbal battles in courtrooms, they are now out on the streets facing the batons of the security forces.

07.11.2007 Hundreds of people disappeared when Nepali forces were given extra-judicial powers during the armed conflict with Maoist rebels. Human rights groups are now supporting the families who want the cases of their missing relatives to be resolved.

06.11.2007 UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called upon Pakistan to release all human rights and opposition activists detained, including UN Special Rapporteur Asma Jahangir, and to take steps for an early return to democracy.

06.11.2007 Despite the gag orders in the wake of emergency in Pakistan, people are still coming out to express their anxiety and anger. Many feel it will further push the country into crisis.

06.11.2007 Human rights body Amnesty International has strongly criticized the Pakistan President’s actions as an infringement of human rights standards and calls for an immediate return to constitutional rule.

05.11.2007 Put under house arrest for 90 days, Asma Jahangir makes a strong call to the people of Pakistan to come forward and challenge the government.

05.11.2007 The US and the British governments have condemned the emergency in Pakistan, but stopped short of cutting ties with Musharraf regime. The West has taken refuge in the argument that snapping ties with Pakistani military will adversely affect the war against terror.

05.11.2007 Over the last year, the pro-active role played by Pakistan’s Supreme Court has brought the Musharraf regime at loggerheads with the judiciary. With the proclamation of emergency, the hopes for restoration of genuine democracy are further pushed away, writes Beena Sarwar.