Protests in Pakistan
Probably too early to pass judgment on the current situation, but many commentators are calling the protests about the sacking of a prominent judge the biggest challenge yet to Musharraf's authority. It looks like he has made a serious miscalculation here, which is not a terribly good idea in what is supposed to be an 'election year'.
On the other hand, at least the anti-government protest groups appear to represent elements of civil society, a far more positive sign than bands of Islamists on the streets.
BBC NEWS | South Asia | Blood and batons spur Pakistan row
A simple constitutional matter of referring the country's most senior judge to be investigated by the appropriate judicial body is getting bigger, nastier, and potentially more dangerous for the present government by the day. And it would appear that it is a problem of the government's own making.
Essentially, a few hundred lawyers in half a dozen cities was all the opposition amounted to in the beginning.
If they had been allowed to shout slogans and wave their fists in front of courts, that would probably have been the end of the matter.
But local administrations chose to pit their police forces against the protesting lawyers. Bloody scenes in Lahore last Monday unified the lawyers like never before and hardened their stance.
They have taken to the streets again on Saturday. And the police have got their batons out. Result? More blood being spilt, more publicity.
