Firebrand cleric raises fear of "soft coup" in Pakistan

[No Elephants]

Firebrand cleric raises fear of "soft coup" in Pakistan



By Matthew Green and Mehreen Zahra-Malik

ISLAMABAD | Wed Jan 16, 2013 10:48pm EST

(Reuters) - To Pakistan's ruling party, a firebrand cleric camped outside parliament with thousands of protesters is looking more and more like the harbinger of their worst fear: a plan by the military to engineer a "soft coup".

In their eyes, Muhammad Tahirul Qadri seems like the perfect candidate for such a mission. A practiced orator who has electrified crowds with his anti-corruption rhetoric, the doctor of Islamic law leapt into action to back the last power grab by the army in 1999.

The aim this time, some politicians suspect, is to use Qadri to bring down the current administration and provide a pretext for the army to hand pick a caretaker cabinet.

"What we are seeing is dangerous and evidence that unconstitutional third forces are up to their tricks again," said Mahmood Khan Achakzai, a politician who has been a frequent critic of the army's record of interfering in politics.

Much more at: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/17/us-pakistan-democracy-idUSBRE90G05M20130117

According to the story, the military denies any connection to the cleric. Story also says the government has a history of claiming the military is victimizing it.

The story is interesting, IMO, for what truth, if any, it tells us about palace intrigue in Pakistan.

It is also interesting, IMO, for how the author handled the story. In my quests for stories to post here, I don't usually see U.S. machinations covered this way.

According

[Enthusiast]

1. I imagine the U.S. has a

plan to quickly disable Pakistan's nuclear capability in the event of coup that would transform the nation into a serious threat. I feel certain we know where every hardened bunker is. Just a guess.

[No Elephants]

2. I agree (even though this is my encounter with the term "hardened bunker").

So, thanks.