The Benazir Bhutto back-story we aren't being told [UPDATE]

oddly enough, i had completely forgotten about the fact that benazir bhutto fled pakistan a number of years ago under the threat of corruption charges, and it wasn't until today, after reading several articles and posts in, naturally, non-U.S. media, that i remembered... and, of course, i WOULDN'T have remembered at all if i had stuck with our oh-so-context-free media here in the united states...

what our media aren't telling us, this from radio netherlands worldwide...

There are ... many observers in Lahore and Islamabad who don't believe there's a real power struggle going on between Pervez Musharraf and Benazir Bhutto. They argue that it's a matter of a well-orchestrated piece of theatre, with former prime minister Bhutto publicly denouncing the president, while supporting him in secret. One observer, speaking close to the barricades, comments: "She wants Musharraf's support, and so she's supporting him."

Bhutto spent more than seven years living in self-imposed exile, in connection with charges of corruption made against her in Pakistan. Following negotiations between her and Musharraf, which began at the end of 2006, she returned to Pakistan in October this year. The charges against her were dropped. The talks were said to have been aimed at bringing democracy back to Pakistan and have now - according to Bhutto - been ended. President Musharraf, however, has always denied being involved in any negotiations with Ms Bhutto.

[...]

Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party is the only party which has made its voice heard in the protests. Bhutto has also been the only opposition leader who's been given the opportunity to speak to the press while under house arrest. This is one reason why observers think that her power struggle with Musharraf is perhaps being staged. "She has it in her power to get large numbers of people onto the streets, but she's not doing that," is the comment from one observer at the barricade.

[...]

ARY, a local TV station which can now only be received via satellite, reports that police officers have been given orders not to arrest any senior figures from Bhutto's party. Rightly or wrongly, the suspicions remain.

puts a few things in perspective, right...?

[UPDATE]

here's the context-free, benazir bhutto "back-story" as it appears in the nyt...

Ms. Bhutto was prime minister of Pakistan twice and was twice dismissed before she was able to complete her terms.

Submit To Propeller
Tweet