Reference: Foreign invasions unacceptable, Bangkok Post, September 21, 2008

In his address to parliament, Pakistan's newly elected president said that he would not tolerate intrusions into Pakistani territory by US forces and that the independence of the judiciary and all the judges fired by Musharraf should be restored (Foreign invasions unacceptable, Bangkok Post, September 21, 2008). Both of these statements are hollow. There is not much that Pakistan can do against cross border attacks by the Americans because they have allowed themselves to become financially dependent of American military aid. As for the judiciary, there is a danger that independent minded judges may find that the deal between Musharraf and Ms Bhutto that gives the new president amnesty from corruption charges, is illegal and unconstitutional. It is therefore unlikely that the new president will take any action to establish an independent judiciary.

Cha-am Jamal
Thailand