BLOOMINGTON - An Illinois Wesleyan University student from Pakistan says he thinks his family and ordinary people are safe in his homeland even though his uncle, a leading lawyer, is among the thousands of people jailed in the military crackdown.

Mujtaba Isani, a freshman IWU business student, says he still plans to go home to Pakistan during winter break in December, and he still plans to return home when his education is complete.

An average person's day-to-day life is affected by labor strikes, but they are not directly affected by the military, he said.

"The common man is not affected that much," said Isani, whose brother is a lawyer. When asked about his own family, he said, "They're fairly safe."

Meanwhile, fellow students and others have been asking him about the situation in his country.

"Many Americans don't know much about world affairs," Isani said, noting many Americans have a "sheltered view."

For example, most people in the Twin Cities may not be aware of how U.S. foreign policy is perceived in the region.

"Most people in Pakistan do not consider America's occupation in Afghanistan 'liberation,'" he said.

In Pakistan, the legal establishment, liberal political activists and the media have been principal targets in President Gen. Pervez Musharraf's crackdown since he imposed emergency rule Saturday. The Supreme Court, in particular, had chipped away at his powers this year.

Deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry, now under house arrest, called on lawyers Tuesday to revolt against emergency rule.

Isani's uncle, Muneer Malik, the president of the Supreme Court Bar Association, was among about 2,000 members of the legal system who were jailed Saturday.

Malik's family is safe in the United States, Isani said. They aren't in the Bloomington area.

Malik has spoken out publicly against Musharraf and in favor of an independent judiciary. His comments can be seen on YouTube.

"This storm in a teacup has already ensured that, in the future, only the most foolhardy of governments would dare to lay a hand on the judiciary's independence," Malik said in a public speech in Pakistan.

The West has supported Musharraf as an ally against Muslim extremists and terrorists, but his popularity has waned in Pakistan, Isani said.

"Public opinion is so severely against him. Even the West is scared," Isani said.

Isani talked about the situation Monday at the university's World Piece forum, a monthly meeting that concentrates on different "pieces" of the world.

"We're catching up and learning a lot in a hurry," Reenie Bradley, IWU's international student and scholar adviser, said of the Pakistan situation.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.