PAKISTAN: Militancy spirals in Pakistan as court keeps President Perez Musharraf in limbo

Amid suicide attacks in various cities, and claims by security forces of wiping out up to 70 militants in northwest Pakistan, a most wanted militant commander assures al Qaeda leaders of his and his followers unfailing support. A suicide attack on an Air Force bus killed eight people on Thursday (November 1) as security forces said they wiped out up to 70 militants in northwest Pakistan, fuelling talk President Pervez Musharraf would invoke emergency powers to put off elections. Nuclear-armed Pakistan is going through a period of intense uncertainty in the run up to a vote due in January that is supposed to transform the country into a civilian-led democracy. Security officials concede that with reference to extremists and terrorists there is a very serious threat to Pakistan's internal security. Al Qaeda leaders Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahri, in audio and video tapes released in September, exhorted followers to wage war on Musharraf and Pakistan's security forces. Maulvi Faqir Mohammad, one of the most wanted militants in Pakistan, is passing on the message. "The last battle between Islam and the infidels is on. On the one side is Sheikh Osama, may Allah keep him safe. The brave man, the honourable man, has challenged all infidels, is standing up to the entire infidel world," he told approving ranks of fighters in Bajaur tribal region, near Swat. "Insha Allah (God willing) we assure him and Mullah Omar, and mujahideen all over the world that we stand solidly behind them," he added. Troops killed up to 70 militants as fighting flared in Swat valley in North West Frontier Province, where more than 180 people have died since last week as the military battles a pro-Taliban movement seeking to impose strict Islamic law. Mohammad warned the government to stop the military operation in Swat immediately. "We demand that the government stop the operation in Swat immediately. If the government does not stop the operation, then we will hold consultations and announce our reaction," he said, amid chants of Jihad (holy war) against Musharraf and his armed forces. Nearly 800 people have been killed in militant-linked violence and there have been more than 22 suicide attacks in the four months since Pakistani commandos stormed the Red Mosque in the capital, Islamabad, to crush a Taliban-style movement. The Supreme Court added to tensions on Thursday by dragging out hearings on whether U.S. ally General Musharraf was eligible to have stood for re-election while still army chief in a vote in parliament that he won easily early last month. Musharraf has promised he will quit the army if he gets a second term, and says he is committed to holding elections. As part of a transition to civilian-led democracy he allowed opposition leader and former prime minister Benazir Bhutto to return from self-imposed exile without fear of being prosecuted for old corruption charges she says were politically motivated. The stand taken by Musharraf and Bhutto against the militancy swamping Pakistan has made them prime assassination candidates. A suicide bomb attack in Karachi killed 139 people at a procession on Oct. 19 to mark Bhutto's return. "The other day, from the Karachi incident, Benazir must have got a taste of what is to come. If not, she will understand very soon and her mouth will be closed," Mohammad told Reuters Television in a very rare on-camera chat. Bhutto flew to Dubai on Thursday to see her family, a day after she put off the trip citing fears Musharraf could impose an emergency. A spokesman said she will be gone up to four days.

ITN Source | November 2, 2007

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