I am watching television right now and every news channels is reporting that declaration of emergency in Pakistan is likely sometime tonight or tomorrow for sure. This is happening when rumors about PML(N) leaders Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif’s possible return to Pakistan within next 2-3 days were already in the air. Three likely reasons are being suggested for emergency:
1. Threats from United States to attack so called terrorist targets and growing terrorist activities in Pakistan.
2. General law and order situation in NWFP and Balochistan.
3. Killing and kidnapping of Chinese in Pakistan
I can’t understand HOW declaring emergency is a solution to all these problems. Aitezaz Ahsen suggested that the people who want to get rid of President Musharraf are giving him such advices. There is no justification of declaring emergency except for his malafied intentions of remaining in power at every cost. He said that emergency declaration will really be the biggest blunder by President Musharraf and the end of his regime. Interesting observation.
This is what Geo website has:
A high-level meeting presided over by President General Pervez Musharraf decided Wednesday to declare emergency in the country for one month that could be extended for three months, the well placed sources told Geo News. The meeting reviewed current political situation and various options regarding changes in the political set up came under discussion.
Pakistan Muslim League (QA) president Chaudhry Shujaat also reportedly said while talking to women parliamentarians of party during a reception which was hosted by him at his residence that emergency is likely to be declared. Speaker National Assembly was also called at the reception in which he was consulted that in case of emergency how it could be approved from the National Assembly. Some reliable sources confirmed that the decision regarding declaration of emergency was taken in the meeting.
However, the government sources have denied the reports about the declaration of emergency in the country.
Personally, I don’t see any reason whatsoever for this move now. Declaration of emergency at this time will only be seen as a desperate attempt to prolong Musharraf sahab’s rule in Pakistan and to avoid elections. It will also be interesting to see how the Supreme Court of Pakistan react to this because, if true, this will surely be challenged.
The situation is quite uncertain and unclear so we will have to wait and see what happens in next 24-48 hours. I hope this turns out to be just a rumor. We already have too many problems and this will only make things worse. We do NOT want another crises when we are preparing to celebrate years 60 years of independence. May Allah have mercy on Pakistan and give our leaders wisdom to make right decisions. Ameen.
BBC website had this as the top news until a couple of hours ago. Hence all this discussion that local media played into the hands of the govt is just bull.
Whoever spread the rumor, he has achieved his goal. Stock Market down by -382 points, media did “loose” credibility a bit which they earned during CJ crisis.
What I think that Pakistani media still needs to learn lots of thing. Media giants like Talat Hussain, Shahid Masood ,Hamid Mir,Kamran khan and Ansar Abbasi were really fooled by the the source which spread the rumor.
When will he start talking about elections?
Ali Zain:
I thought that we Indians were the only ones fortunate enough to have mass media that are busily flushing themselves down the toilet. Good to hear that our Pakistani brethren are just as fortunate! :)
Seriously, though, you are absolutely right. It is becoming more and more difficult to sift sensationalism from real news.
Commodification zindabad.
“if musharraf seriously wanted to impose the emergency, he would have just gone ahead and done it rather than telegraphing his actions two days in advance.”
King Faisal /Ali Zain,
I don’t agree with you guys. There are too many signs/indications that emergency was seriously comptemplated:
1) Shaikh Rasheed’s threats in Meray Mutabiq over the weekend saying democracy can be derailed
2) Shujaat, Tariq Azeem saying emergency is an option
3) Mush backing out of the grand jirga that he himself had proposed.
4) The barricades and fences placed in Islamabad yesterday
Musharraf is not the same Musharraf as pre-march 9th who can do anything he liked. Even he has to beat a retreat now in the face of public opposition.
Ominously for him, people from the legal fratenity e.g Aitzaz and others were once again on the channels vowing to challenge the imposition of emergency in the SC.
I consider this another setback for Musharraf, he is finding out how weak he has become after July 20th verdict.