Pakistan’s extraordinarily unfortunate season of flooding has left at least 1,600 people dead and 2 million homeless, and now the Pakistani government’s poor response to the disaster has led to threats of social unrest and military takeover. –JCL

The Guardian:

Pakistan’s government faces the threat of social unrest or even military takeover after its shambolic response to the floods that have devastated the country, leaving 1,600 people dead and 2 million homeless, say analysts.

Fears that Asif Ali Zardari, the president, could be overthrown – possibly through an intervention by the army – have grown as the government’s failure to adequately tackle the crisis has fuelled long-held grievances.

“The powers that be, that is the military and bureaucratic establishment, are mulling the formation of a national government, with or without the PPP [the ruling Pakistan People’s party],” said Najam Sethi, editor of the weekly Friday Times. “I know this is definitely being discussed. There is a perception in the army that you need good governance to get out of the economic crisis and there is no good governance.”

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