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Both ABC and NBC assigned reporters to file from Islamabad on the gathering protests against Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf and his martial law. NBC's Richard Engel focused on the decision by Benazir Bhutto, the former prime minister who recently returned from exile, to "put herself on a collision course" with Musharraf. "Bhutto issued Musharraf an ultimatum: end the State of Emergency and step down as army chief or she shall send a million people onto the streets this Friday." If he were to leave the army, Engel observed, it would be a "devastating concession." For A Closer Look on ABC, Dan Harris profiled the "people getting beaten, tear-gassed and arrested by the hundreds--they are not professional agitators; they are professional attorneys." The lawyers, many marching in their business suits, denounced Musharraf for defying the rule of law and called on the United States for help. Harris heard them accuse George Bush "of preaching democracy while propping up a military dictator." For his part, President Bush urged Musharraf "to have the elections as scheduled and take your uniform off."
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