Pakistan Update

With eyes focused on Iran and the evil Ahmadinejad, it's easy to lose track of the Muslim nation that actually has nukes, Pakistan.

The week before last, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte met with Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf. That is just after Musharraf unceremoniously booted ex-President Sharif out of the country, just after Sharif's return to the country. Negroponte basically ignored the expulsion.

Since then Musharraf has arrested 'three dozen' (got to love the NYT for counting Pakistanis like eggs) or so opposition leaders, and the US State Department has actually criticized Musharraf for the action. Is Negroponte on board with this criticism? I know the US doesn't like Sharif much, but selective complaining about human rights violations looks so tacky.

Anyway:

The Supreme Court is currently hearing six petitions challenging the eligibility of General Musharraf to contest the elections, and a verdict is expected on Wednesday.

So, the rest of the week should prove interesting. Will the Supreme Court go mano a mano with Musharraf? They did before and won.