Pakistani opposition is being rounded up by the hundreds under the rationale that “rising Islamic extremism” in the country poses a large enough threat as to warrant the suspension of the liberty of its citizens for the overall security of the nation. Sound familiar? President Pervez Musharraf has said that he can not allow the country to “commit suicide”. Nawaz Sharif, the acting head of the Muslim League, said that Gen Musharraf would “pay a price” for restricting freedoms as he was being put under arrest. Up to 500 people have been arrested thus far across the country in a crackdown which began after Musharraf declared a state of emergency. Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has said that the emergency rule would last “as long as is necessary,” and that the elections, scheduled for January, could be delayed for up to a year.