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
inlightend moderation: dear the word inlightend moderation still i cant understand in which cater mushraf drums sound well that inlightend moderation is the name of one man show. or to perserve the right of any librel pakistani and whom pakistani those governce pakistan two times,one who was came but not cross the airport belt,and other came with warm welcome and seems attack by agencies,and get back to there’s destination,and uninformally if that body land here shall back from where they arrive,is this is the way of coliation.
A few weeks ago someone attacking Musharraf’s decision to ignore the court’s ruling and deport Nawaz again said something like: “At least previous rulers used to take over the court and dismiss thejudges rather than risk an unfavorable ruling. What Musharraf is doing is much worse”. Well, I hope that person is happy now.
very critical situation for pakistan,if these types of practices more prolong.no wonder to say that pakistan no more survive minimum maximum 2 to 3 years more,totally masive and out of order,then result some one asked that there is no geographical stand in the map of 2012 for pakistan,that would seem to be much closer,that those think tankers pridict the right thing which is infornt of recent senerio.
bs bahi ab to allah he hafiz hey pakistan ka.
Well i don’t blame Musharraf, for all what we are going through. We (The educated masses) as a nation have become too insensitive to the cause of nation, we will comfortably sit in our TV lounges in AC or Heaters watch News channels have a heated debate with our family and friend, but when the original time to act comes we will shy away from doing any thing out of our comfort zone. Now i know this will come blunt to all of us (including me) but how many actually went out to stop the lal-masjid operation we all saw what was going on and commented even on this site heavily its wrong or right but no one went out in support or against
this is what is an active nation is
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20915256/
till we who have a little knowledge and education go out to make a change it will not come, these leaders will keep selling our souls, while we don’t even go out to vote. Wake up every one before it gets too late!
and Waseem for gods sake stop advertising you site in every comment! it is looking lame specially in this grave situation
SC Judges join the list of the disappeared, gone have almost all the names, with Doggar the dog is on it as the CJ, see link here:
http://www.supremecourt.gov.pk//intro-judges.htm
SHAME, SHAME