we like the times , need more sports coverage in the times for uk sports , summer sports in uk

saj chaudhry , conroe , texas usa

Sad is the word of the day. I always had a soft corner for Gen Musharraf, its not that I am against democracy but the two main parties abused the system and they themselves do not have democracy.
Somehow, I feel what happened yesterday is curtain riser to another episode, the script of the drama has been written sometime ago. BB is privy to the overall game plan.
Pervez Musharraf body language was a bit different from his usual confident stance. It was as if deep inside he is not sure of what he is doing or he was under pressure to do this.
BB on the whole is an attractive package by her looks and her education and political background, family etc. but I am not sure if she can serve Pakistan. She and her entire party vanished from the scene on 18Th October, leaving the dead and injured party supporters.
The entire opposition are totally gutless. This is a tailor made condition for politician to become a true leader.
The future leaders could be Imran Khan and Aitzad Hussain.

Syed Ahmed, Dallas, TX-USA

I am amazed that those outside Pakistan have the audacity AND naivety to believe that Pakistan now faces the lesser of the two evils. Whatever happened under the democractic regimes (and am referring to corruption, nepotism etc) did not emanate from the nature of the regime or the governmental system itself. What is hurting us right now are not just the policies, but the very nature of a military-led regime, i.e a system that sees no end for itself. Leaving office means destruction for these guys, there is no chance of a 're-election'.

A democracy has costs (Bush is the cost Americans are paying), and we all need to keep that in mind when we have to choose anyone over Musharraf. But anyone will be better than him. India has seen sordid nepotism and corruption (Rajiv Gandhi and Bofors, BJP and Tehelka). Oppression is what is at issue here. The sort of oppression that I have seen in the past 24 hours is unbelievable. They want to kill our will to protest. And no one has that right.

W.Mir, Lahore, Pakistan

This is not an western country. How can we know what the Pakistani people want? They do not think like we do. If the decision-making power rested with the people like a democratic country, the bulk of the Pakistani people would turn to thier ulamas to tell them what to do. It would turn into the same menuvering between leaders that tore Iran apart in the 19th century. The various religious leaders would be competing for believers and the people who are not Muslim would most likely be imprisoned at least.. I think the best thing we can do for for Pakistan right now is to impose economic sanctions and make sure the MORE humanitarian aid makes it to the people.

Jessica, Rochester, New York

There is still no credible alternative to Musharraf and Shaukat Aziz for the Pakistani people. Given the brazen corruption during Bhutto and Sharif's time, how can any rational Pakistani vote to bring them back? Musharraf underestimated his popularity - maybe he watched the TV channles too often - he could have legitimately won the elections. Still not too late. Current situation of emergency is not sustainable - there will be elections next year in Pakistan.

Navid Chamdia, Doha, Qatar

I can't help thinking that Musharraf's dictatorship is still better than a state controlled by the Muslim clerics that masquerade as democrats.

Steve Murphy, Bolton,

US must impose sanctions on Pakistan and put an end to aid to these countries from our tax dollars; to deliver a strong message that media cannot be banned, lawyers cannot be arrested and civil liberties cannot be distroyed by self imposed millatry dictators.
ARE WE GOING BACK TO THE STONE AGE???

Moazam, Orlando, Fl

The best way to solve the problem is to place Mr Musharraf and Madam Benazir Bhutto in an another country and let the people of pakistan decide what should happen next for their country. When the whole of the population of pakistan have decided then the majority of the decisions of the Pakistani people must then hand a letter to Musharraf clearly telling him what should be done next.

Hassan, Birmingham, England

If the US were to move against Iran militarily, wouldn't the US desire that Musharraf have extremely tight control over Pakistan and Al Qaeda before any hostilities were started?

Apparently the US has protested publicly, but not all that strongly.

Interesting.

Scott, Durham, NC, USA

Musharraf is leading the nation to a similar situation as it was
in 1980. Then General Ziaul Haq having retreated on his ninty
days promise to hold elections, was facing strong opposition
both from the public and political parties,except JamiateIslami
which was than lead by his close relative Tufail Mohammed.
Now he has support of MQM whose leader hides behind veil of
British citizenship. This poor action to impose Emergency or rather Martial Law is more to keep himself in power the fight the war against terrorism.Unfortunately he will lead the nation
towards dismemberment, which is the aim of the neocons in
their doctrine of the New World Order.

KHALID RAHIM, Scarborough, Canada/ ontario

I have just finished reading an article on Communications and Public Relations under the Heading (Reputation Management)which comments as follows,The Secretary of Health for the North West Province,Pakistan- is visiting Yorkshire from the 21 November to the 24th to launch a joint project with Health Services in Yorkshire and the Humber and North West Pakistan? it goes on to say the Strategic Health Authority are coordinating media coverage with an amphorisis on working with UK Pakistani media? I did wonder if this is just the Department of Health doing their own thing again?or if they checked with the Foreign Office before these arrangements were made ? will this meeting still go ahead? Without taking sides ,Martial Law does not seem a good basis to do business with any country.Strategic Management does seem lost in situations like these.Perhaps the foreign office should always arrange these visits?after all they know the current situation in the country which seens pretty dire.

Mary E Hoult , Leeds , Yorkshire

TO all those who back up Musharaf. You people will not have rest in your cosy bedroom unless there is a representative Government in Pakistan. A military dictator can never represent anyone but military. So for God sake leave this patronizing business , and mind your own busniness .....................

ali, islambad, pakistan

What is new what he did,nothing.He wanted unfettered power and getting rid of judiciary was his aim.He can put any spin on it but it is for self preservation and nothing to do with the interest of the country.He has done a lot of illegal things and was going to face the consequences soon.What one should ask is how this latest action is going to make it any easier to tackle Islamic radicals and the answer is not a bit.He lets these radicals prosper to frighten the West and he will keep them going to stay in power with the blessing of the west and the west has been foolish enough to buy all that.Also if his eight years of absolute rule has brought the country to this mess then it is an admitted failure of his policies and the sigle policy is to stay in power at any cost.Let the country go to dogs.

zaman, hamden, CT

The USA must now surely realise that their support of Musharraf can only lead to more recriminations.When will the americans realise that the days of supporting undemocratic regimes is over and the fact that you are bound to suffer if your supply lines are stretched. Time to pull back and make USA what it once was.

sasha verma, Leiden, Holland

It is absolutely wrong step taken by Mr.Mushraf.We are tired off by army rule in our country.

M.Aslam Bajwa, Karachi, Pakistan