It became international headline news on November 3, 2007, when General Pervez Musharraf suspended the Constitution of Pakistan, declared a State of Emergency and arrested Pakistan’s Supreme Court judges. The imposition of martial law was met with widespread protests and thousands of lawyers, judges, human rights activists, students, and politicians have been arrested and detained in recent weeks.

But what are its origins? What was the motivation behind Musharraf’s second coup since 1999?  Why did the General believe his regime needed to be protected from facing judicial and electoral challenges? And what implications does the current turbulence in Pakistan have for the US?

The Department of South Asia Languages and Civilizations will hosts a Teach-In on the historical and political dimensions of the current situation and its implication for US foreign policy. The Teach-In will feature several experts on different aspects of Pakistani history and politics:

CM Naim, Professor Emeritus, Department of South Asia Languages and Civilizations, University of Chicago, who will speak on the US/Pakistan  relations since the 1950s.

Atiya Khan, PhD Candidate, Department of History, University of Chicago, who will speak on  Pakistan in the 1960s: Revolt and Counter- Revolution.

Manan Ahmed, PhD Candidate, Department of South Asian Languages and Civilizations, University of Chicago, who will speak on the Baluchistan/Swat crisis behind this emergency.

Aqil Shah, Phd Candidate, Department of Political Science, Columbia University, who will speak on the immediate and structural features of praetorianism in Pakistan.

The Teach-In will take place on November 16, 2007 from 12-2 p.m. in Room 110 of Classics, 1010 E. 59th Street, on the University of Chicago campus.