The west couldnt care less about democracy as long as thier objective is achieved. They will support any one who serves there purpose as musharraf is thier best man he can do no wrong,if they love democracy so much then hamas has won the elections in palestine why stop dealing with them and only deal with fatah.If musharraf wasnt an ally on the war on terror the whole world would be crying that he is a dictator who is ruining the country and has sent it into civil war the army fighting the people if thats not civil war god knows what is!

gujar, manchester, uk

Perhaps no Muslim leader, since Sadat, has risked his neck for the U.S. than Musharraf. And as a consequence will probably meet the same end.

Tom, Phoenix, Arizona

Opposition to General Musharraf’s by pro-democracy movement, Chief Justice, who was suspended by General Musharraf, should be peace full, Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry case is a judiciary and not political, he should avoid playing in the hand of opposition parties and causing civil unrest by taking part in organized procession. If not Pakistanis will be playing in the hand of their enemies

Munna, London, UK.

No Daniel, you are wrong, I am from Pakistan and I have intimate knowledge of the people and its culture and I can say like most other Pakistanis are saying that General Musharraf is a dictator and will remain a dictator. Even though he likes to call himself a president.
We all expected this from Musharraf, but what we did not expect was the fact, that the entire Western world, including the United States looked the other way. It is an indictment on the so-called champions of democracy, countries like US and UK as of General Musharraf.
The Chief Justice of the country was suspended, he and his family were put under house arrest, he was manhandled by the police and yet there has been no condemnation of his action from any quarters.
The fact of the matter is, No one cares and for once, people of Pakistan have decided that enough is enough. They are now ready to pay any price, and to make any sacrifice necessary to establish the rule of law

Akram Malik, Gympie, Australia/Queensland

Good I hope Pakistan ditches the sectarian pro American Musharraf.

Right or wrong the masses will embrace anything in any country as long as somebody can sell it. i just hope that that somebody is really representative of the majority of Pakistanis, not a representative of somebody else.

In the US only the elite wealthy businessmen can rule, that’s the way things are in western style secular democracies. Pakistani’s should think twice before they decide copy America and Europe.

Lance , Portland, US

Unless you are actually in Pakistan and have an intimate knowledge of their history and people, don't try to have an opinion, especially if you are american (i and many others are sick of your ignorant opinons and hate popping up every where on the globe).

so have a nice day, don't judge
-calm the mind, make savage the body

Daniel, St. John's, `Canada/Newfoundland

So, Jack from Dublin, you're suggesting that we invade Pakistan? I must say, that's quite extreme. Perhaps you should give the idea a bit more thought.

C Heathcote, Tonbridge,

Contries formed on the basis of religion will fall apart sooner or later..

Kara Swart, London, UK

The man cannot be "elected" this October. He has created a mess and continue's to undermine rule of law. Democracy is the way forward - just take a look at India.

Mushtaq Patas, Leicester, UK

I am from England and in Islamabad at present. I witnessed today activists paying poor labourers 1000 rs to attend the Pro-Musharaff Rally.

Unfortunatley PPP activists were paying people 1500RS to attend their rally.

Both Nawaz Shariff and Benazir Bhutto had put the country into chaos, their corruption is well known. I am no fan of Musharaff but it appears the country has now choice.

MQM activists are very violent and have been involved in state terrorism, now that Musharaff has allied him self with the MQM, its a a mess.

What is the solution, I dont know, are the opposition parties using the rally for their own purposes, of course they are .

Did the chief justice abuse his position, maybe he did, every VIP in Pakistan abuses their positions, Did the chief Justice give verdicts against the government, yes he did. Maybe thats why he became unstuck.

Imran khan, Islamabad, Pakistan

I was watching satellite channels Geo and ARYOne world this morning and became very concerned about the developments in Karachi. The whole city of Karachi seems to have been left at the mercy of MQM whose supporters are getting all the freedom to reach the venue of their rally which is to be addressed by the Supremo , Mr Altaf Hussain, who is based in London while all the routes leading to the International Airport Karachi where the Chief Justice of Pakistan is left stranded with his lawyers.

The MQM which has been portraying itself as 'disciplined' and representative of 'deprived' people is about to show its ugly face in Karachi.

The situation is getting worse by the minute and I will be inclined to agree with the Times report that the stage is being set to declare emergency.

S.B, Ilford, uk

If this is a genuine mass pro-democracy movement, then the Western democracies should surely show some support. To support self-determination when it is the spontaneous will of the people in question, as opposed to invading a country and trying to impose self-determination, seems a much more promising path towards the diminution of dictatorship and the promotion of political freedom in the world.

Hywel Griffiths, Aberystwyth, UK

President Pervaiz Musharraf is in trouble. Support for him divided between the haves who are his supporters and the have nots, who don't matter. In karachi armed gunmen poured down fire -- captured on television sets --- fo just over hours killing an dmaiming people. The 15,000 troops deployed in the city didnt bother attending to this 'non crisis'. The police meanwhile said they were helpless to come to the aid of people attacked, harrassed and shot at as they went to attend the Chief Justice's reception at the Sind High court. For a President who likes to talk about the 'writ of the state' and the possibility of the country becoming a failed state, this is hilarious. Musharraf should stop pretending to be president and should become Royal Emperateur, His royal Highness. Then he can go on being there forever.

baber, karachi, pakistan

Pakistan had some hope when Musharraf took over.It is a real pitty he getting back lock stock and barrel what he did to Shareef.

If Pakistan think of state of emergency it is going to lead to more violence. Mullhas are just waiting for that, to fire up the sentiments of poor illitrate masses. In days to come Mullha's would take over the country

Krish, Mumbai, India

country is fine, it is a process which will not create tension in Pakistan because now paksitani people know who is right and who is wrong. Pakistani people want peace in their country. Only foreign forces are taking advantage of the current situation.

tahir, Essex, UK

Mr. Houghton: As an American who voted twice for President Bush and continues to believe we are at war with radical Islamist terrorists who want to kill us, I beg to differ with your analysis.

Sissy Willis, Chelsea, USA/Massachusetts

The people around the general are his worst enemy, under the influence of bad advice he is dangerously on the wrong track and seems fast losing capacity to rethink.

Shahid Anwar, Toba Tek Singh, Pakistan

After seeing the footage on Pakistani satellite channels of Geo and ARYOne world, I am now inclined to agree with the Times report that country is fast moving to emergency thanks to short sighted policies of the Government of Musharraf. Karachi is in grip of fear today. Government ally MQM has been given a free hand to hold its rally but route blockades have been to prevent lawyers and their supporters to travel to the Airport where Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry has arrived from Islamabad but has remained stranded in a lounge at the airport and can not travel to the Sindh High Court. The reports say that he was being forcibly taken to a Helicopter to take him to Sindh High Court by the Police Chief but he refused to do so.There have been reports of deaths and many have been injured.The city of Karachi has been surrendered to an ethnic organisation, MQM, who is about to reveal its real face, an ugly face. The chief of this organisation, gets very upset if anyone opposes him.

B. Solangi, Ilford, uk

I was watching satellite channels Geo and ARYOne world this morning and became very concerned about the developments in Karachi. The whole city of Karachi seems to have been left at the mercy of MQM whose supporters are getting all the freedom to reach the venue of their rally which is to be addressed by the Supremo , Mr Altaf Hussain, who is based in London while all the routes leading to the International Airport Karachi where the Chief Justice of Pakistan is left stranded with his lawyers.

The MQM which has been portraying itself as 'disciplined' and representative of 'deprived' people is about to show its ugly face in Karachi.

The situation is getting worse by the minute and I will be inclined to agree with the Times report that the stage is being set to declare emergency.

S.B, Ilford, uk

It really makes you wonder, one of the alledged prime motives for the US invasion of Iraq was to bring democracy, and yet one of the "key US allies in the war on terror" is a military authoritarian ruler who is denying his people democracy. You gotta love that, just ONE example.

Jack, Dublin, Ireland

I thought you Brits were going to stop using the term War on Terror. It's a phrase Bush cooked up to make himself look heroic and make his benighted enterprise sound noble. It's a crock. Please don't use it any more.

Jim Houghton, Los Angeles, CA, USA