 Pakistani security forces have stormed a plane carrying opposition leader Asif Ali Zardari and detained him as he arrived in the country, witnesses told CNN.
Zardari was taken to his home, where government and police authorities said he was in "protective custody."
| I can almost believe that. If Perv's boyz don't beat him to death, somebody from the MMA may very well shoot him... |
Earlier, the government had vowed to block any rallies by Zardari's Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and effectively sealed off the city while awaiting his arrival, with about 12,000 police deployed. In the hours following Zardari's detention, however, tensions appeared to be decreasing in Pakistan. Zardari was allowed to speak to Shahid Masoor, director of the ARY News Channel, by telephone, and Masoor told CNN he was in a "relaxed mood."
| "Yeah. Been there, done this. It's kinda like a kabuki dance, only no fans..." |
The opposition leader was also be allowed to hold prayers at a local shrine later Saturday, Masoor said. Zardari told Masoor he did not request protective custody.
| Comes as a surprise, doesn't it? |
Journalists on the plane told CNN their cameras were taken from them and they were beaten. Authorities shut down cell towers near the airport to cut off cell phone service. Hundreds of PPP members, however, managed to reach the Lahore airport, CNN Producer Syed Mohsin Naqvi reported. They were arrested as soon as they began chanting slogans.
"Hey, Mahmoud! Let's go down to the airport and chant some slogans and get arrested!"
"Hokay." |
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