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
@deewana aik!
Well First of all about sucide bombing, I think you know it very well why it is happening(in response to army activities in waziristan) which is happening for sake of US glory.Is there any other reason for doing this.And if the army is attacking people in waziristan for sake of pakistani interest,can you mention that please?About jamat e islami You know army has always backed them.And it was army that wanted to do all the things which you are talking.Look I am not against army but those top rank generals. Hmm huring you is not my motive, but try to get the point of other person too.He might be right.
“Well could you tell me where it is written to go and kill your muslim brothers for some non-islamic state.”
Should ask this question to right wing militant Mullahs (JI et al) who have killed so many fellow Pakistani/Muslim nationalists for the sake of US policies for the last so many decades. Also ask this question to Jamaat Islami backed Al-Badr and As-Shams who brutalised so many fellow Bengali Muslims in 1971. Also ask the suicide bombers this question, and also ask those Mullahs who advocate killing of fellow Muslim Shias. After all Musharaf came only seven years ago but these militants have been there for decades. Don
Its crazy !!!
Its all being done to protect ONE person by aborting constitution and implementing PCO. That is very very very unfortunate for us as a nation. For time being, Musharraf would be rescued but is trapped in the narrow dark alley. Good luck Musharraf for your last days of rule.
But the repercussions of this decision for our sweet homeland would be as bad as one can predict. Musharraf’s coup in 1999 was bloodless but his exit seems other way round. Our federation is at the threshold of disintegration where right wing extremists in NWFP are at war with army and situation in Baluchistan is also grim.
Our Supreme Court which recently got some independence from the mighty establishment is under the trial of PCO and I am sure many black sheep in SC will take oath under this Draconian document.
Shame on You Musharraf for another beginning of Dark Era in my country.
Various govt. ministers had hinted at the annoyance of the govt. and police agencies over the barrage of suo moto notices of any and all investigations. The supreme court was making Pakistan an un-governable land. This bunch of PCO judges was acting like an un-elected opposition and were providing relief to terrorists. So good riddance.
This is not perfect. But I’d rather we be flawed than be in anarchy. The majority of Pakistanis understand the importance of this. A few socialist adventurers can’t be allowed to play games with our country. Now they can sit home and play all the games they want. They could have allowed events to unfold according to initial govt. plans and let us slide into normalcy. Their arrogance has now led to this.
The hand of the general was forced despite repeated assertions by the govt. that this was the last thing they wanted to do. I blame the adventurous supreme court for plunging us into this. But this is familiar and not so bad after all. Haha spoken like a true child of the martial law era.
@ Deewana aik!
Well easy to say that you would have leave your reality but hard to face if that was reality in your life. I am not in favour of abdul rasheed or his brother but the point is that either government should have stopped them when 1st incident happened or they should agreed to the deal which was agreed just some hours from that bloodshed.All thanks to your beloved general.
I am sorry if my earlier comment hurt you but remember always try to put yourself in position of person whom you are commenting on.
And about islamic principles. Well could you tell me where it is written to go and kill your muslim brothers for some non-islamic state.
I agree that principles are more important for you but its not necessary that your principles are right.