Ali's cousin just got thrown into prison in Pakistan. Ali wishes he were in jail with him:
He's a lawyer, a vociferous reader, and a patriot. I pray you're safe in prison buddy, and I'm jealous you have had the opportunity to serve our country in this manner.
We chatted about 24 hours ago and I was taunting him at not having gotten arrested already! Didn't quite believe things would get this bad though. The dictator is now taking shots at the mainstream middle class of Pakistan, and selling it to the West as necessary for their War. It's insane that some still believe him.
Angela writes Asma Jahangir, a female human rights lawyer she had breakfast with two weeks ago, has also been arrested:
In a surprisingly blunt (but not surprising) move, Musharraf has arrested over 1,500 lawyers and activists, including UN Special Rapporteur Asma Jahangir and Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, whom he tried to fire in March this year (he failed after four months of rallies lead by the Bar).
I can’t believe I was sitting in a room with her in Ottawa having breakfast tea less than two weeks ago. Becket has just signed onto a letter penned by Amnesty International Canada with others from that roundtable protesting the arrest(s).
About 3,000 lawyers other lawyers have been arrested as well:
About 3,000 Pakistani lawyers, rounded up since Saturday, sit in jails across the country with no courts operating to which they can appeal for release. Pakistan has an estimated 12,000 lawyers.
Police earned cash bonuses for beating and arresting hundreds of lawyers Monday who had gathered outside of Lahore's courthouse, police sources said.
Any lawyer who attempted to enter the Lahore or Islamabad courthouse Tuesday was immediately arrested, witnesses said. Some were grabbed by police as they walked toward the court, sources said.
CNN's Zain Verjee said the lawyers were charged with terrorism offenses, and human rights workers and journalists were also arrested.
Here is a video message from Pakistan from Imran Khan:
Imran Khan is a former cricket player turned politician. I remember Ali telling me some time ago how much he respected Khan. Watching this video, I can see why.
Read more of my previous posts on the current situation in Pakistan. Also be sure to check out Ali's blog for current updates.
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