Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Pakistan's Prime Minister telephoned the British high commissioner this week expressing fears that the army might be about to stage a coup, a British official and an official in Islamabad said yesterday.
The call, which one official said was "panicky", suggests genuine fear in the Pakistani government that the army might support possible moves by the Supreme Court to topple the civilian leadership.
The Prime Minister, Yousuf Raza Gilani, asked the high commissioner, Adam Thomson, for Britain to support his embattled regime, according to the officials. The Pakistani and British governments denied the report. Such is the weakness of state institutions, that Pakistani leaders have often looked to foreign powers, especially the US and Gulf countries, to intervene in domestic affairs and mediate disputes.
The army has staged four coups in Pakistan's history and is believed to consider itself the only true custodian of the country's interests. It has never liked the civilian government headed by Mr Gilani and President Asif Ali Zardari. But a scandal that erupted late last year over an unsigned memo sent to Washington asking for its help in heading off a supposed coup following the US raid that killed Osama bin Laden, has brought the army and civilian government into near-open confrontation.
AP
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments