President Gen. Pervez Musharraf has declared a state of emergency in Pakistan on Saturday. It has now been announced at PTV. The emergency decision comes ahead of a crucial Supreme Court decision on whether to overturn his recent election win.
The news caster at PTV didn’t give any reasons for emergency but read the following text:
The chief of army staff has proclaimed a state of emergency and issued a provisional constitutional order.
Earlier, Pakistan’s private TV channels had suddenly gone off-air amid speculations that emergency was going to be imposed.
An earlier Reuters report which was among the first to break the news read:
Private television channels Geo News and Dawn News both ran reports quoting unnamed sources as saying the government had made its decision. Speculation has been rife that Musharraf, who is awaiting a Supreme Court ruling on whether he was eligible to run for re-election last month while still army chief, might impose emergency rule or martial law
This has not been the first time that government thought about imposing emergency. The idea has been flirted with from time to time. Rumors kept appearing from time to time from as early as August 8, 2007. We also had a post on this topic then.
According to CNN:
The Supreme Court has declared the state of emergency illegal, claiming Musharraf had no power to suspend the constitution, Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry told CNN.
People were already sensing something was about to happen when Benazir suddenly left the country two days ago without even going to other provinces of the country except Sindh. It may be true that she indeed left Pakistan to be with her ailing mother but it never stops people from speculating. Also the earlier news where Government circles were advising Benazir not to come to Pakistan before Supreme Court decision now seem to put missing links to a continuum.
According to Washington Post news:
The United States had tried to pressure Musharraf on Friday to avoid declaring emergency rule or martial law. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Friday sent a warning to Musharraf not to take authoritarian measures to hold on to power. “I think it would be quite obvious that the United States would not be supportive of extra-constitutional means,” Rice said. “Pakistan needs to prepare for and hold free and fair elections.” That message was followed by a previously scheduled meeting between Musharraf and Adm. William J. Fallon, chief of the U.S. Central Command.
Complete text of emergency declaration can be read here
Martial Law comes back to save Pakistanis from themselves. Sheikh Rashid has been saying it for a while that an emergency plus is coming if things don’t get better soon. And its here. But its a martial law imposed on the mutinous judiaciary and media. Both have been causing the government problems. For the regular man on the street it means nothing.
Zain, I totally agree with what you say. Apne ghar aag lagi hai, par kisko bole, kis taraf dekhe. Its okay until Mushraf is there, he is not an extremist, what happens when he goes. My family is leaving Pakistan as soon as they get the chance. Tell me what can we do?
Jyoti,
You’re right, CJ is suspended and it’s all over the world news. Thanks for the timely news.
Adnan,
It’s not a conspiracy. If you can access Pakistaniat so do you can see Aljazeera site it is reported there too.
It is indeed another dark day in Pakistan’s history. Well it was too good to be true when General decided to let popular political party leader in Pakistan but that dream is over now. I think Lotas around Gen. Musharaff got cold feet when they saw people’s mandate as they know they were defeated in elections so let’s hide in dictatorship. US is against the emergency rule and threatening to pull away all the financial support and General still went with it, why? I’m little worried if Musharaff and his aides who were fighting so called anti terror war would sidelined with extremist factors to remain in power then it would bring more destruction to the region than one can fathom. We are already paying much higher price for letting Gen. Zia to Islamize (his version) in the country. It is reported in Aljazeera that Benazir is planning to come back but is she able to enter the country is another matter.
Ok folks….nice knowing ya all….
it wont be long before sites as this one will be blocked soon…so adios to all,
may we meet sometime soon…..
ab to Allah hi Hafiz
People just want to get on with their lives and prosper. Everyone wants a good life and a stable government. The political battles, between political parties and the military and lost causes like Afghanistan and Kashmir are taking Pakistan backward not forward. We should take what we have, protect it and make it better for every generation to enjoy. Pakistani’s are as hardworking as everyone else, but not respected outside of Pakistan because of its continuing political problems and radical statements. While our Indian and Chinese counterparts are sought after and welcome, we are looked at with disdain. Every Pakistani, in the country or outside should do their best to solve such issues, else the Pakistani people will continue living in misery while the military and politicians fight out for power and money. We need a leader but who? Got any names?
GEO NEWS LATEST:
Troops DID NOT enter the supreme court.
Cheif Justice WAS NOT sacked.
He is STILL in his post and on his seat.
Media has NOT been totally stopped. Geo News reporter was speaking to Dr Shahid Masood from right outside the Supreme Court, speaking very frankly.
Dr Shahid Masood ADMITTED that earlier news reports were totally wrong (i.e. that troops entered parliament, surrounded chief justice etc etc.)
I am not a Musharraf supporter at all, just saying that people should know what the real facts are.
I have watched the deteriorating situation in Pakistan for some time now, and I do not understand why the outrage is directed against Musharraf when murdering savages are slaughtering people in the streets of practically every city in the country.
More horrifying to me than the carnage (qatl-e-aam) in Pakistan, is the response of the public who seem to have no sense of outrage at the fact that savages are killing their countrymen and public order is now approaching the level of a failed state.
Musharraf is flawed. True. But when tribal savages and religious fanatics murder hundreds of innocents in cold blood– and public response is to blame Musharraf and America, I think the country has lost it’s damn mind.
Elections and the mere act of voting– as Iraq has shown us– mean nothing in the face of chaos. The first business of any government is the maintenance of order. Law comes after order, not before. Personally, I think Musharraf has been weak on security and doesn’t act aggressively enough Still, I know for a fact that any democratically elected govt– Benazir or Nawaz– will try to accomodate the murderers and their fellow travellers in the religious parties. After all, Benazir rubber-stamped the support of the Taliban in the 90s. And Nawaz planned to have himself declared Amir-al-Momineen.
Can you imagine that– the title held by Ali, Omar, Osman, and Abu Bakr– claimed by Mullah Omar and Nawaz Sharif?!!! It is the ultimate blasphemy.
1400 years ago we Muslims faced the Kharijites. They murdered Osman and Ali. Ali killed 40,000 of them before he was murdered by a Kharijite assassin. Think about it– Ali had to kill 40,000 of these scum at a time when the population of Arabia was a million people. 4% of the population.
God save Pakistan from the savages. God save Pakistan from its pathetic political class (including the Army). God save Pakistan from its people.
Rona ata hai yaar. Rona ata hai.
At last, Musharaf has imposed an emergency but who put him on the road to emergency,,,,,, i think__we all,,,,indeed the politicians. we, being away from Pakistan are in complete dejection and dipare. when we will be back to our beloved country…perhapse…..God Bless Our Nation.
Muhammad ilmuddin.