Floods Stir Social Unrest in Pakistan
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.
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
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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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