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
ALL,
Dont worry, this emergency will not hurt you(Common men).
Haq Allah kar bhalla to ho bhalla.
my two cents:)
@Viqar ….Well said
This is not emergency.
Why is everyone referring to it as such? Whatever this chUN chUN ka murabba is, an “emergency” it is not.
Emergency is a constitutional provisions which only curtails certain civil liberties.
Declaration of emergeny has to be ratified by the SC; this one was not. Not only was it not ratified, it was rejected and declared null and void by the Pakistan SC.
Thereupon, a PCO was promulgated, and the constitution was suspended . The provision of emergency permits neither the suspension of the constitution, nor can a PCO be promulgated under it. Both these acts are only possible under “Martial Law”.Martial law? Ssssh!!!
The dissenting judges of the SC were, of course, shown the door. A new CJ has been sworn under the PCO; as such he (automatically) upholds the suspension of the constitution.
The really funny thing is that all the existing assemblies continue to exist and remain fully functional. So says the biggest general, and he is an “honorable” man. Never mind that the MNAs and the MPAs had taken oath under the same, now defunct, constitution which could not save the jobs of the dissenting SC judges. Shouldn’t they have been given their marching orders as well, along with the constitution.
But of course Shuj of Guj and his cohorts were having none of it.
So how does one crack this chestnut? Elementary, my dear Watson. In virtue of the powers vested in him, by him, the biggest general has now Christened “Martial Law” as “Emergency”.
Presto! Problem solved.
Why are the people turning a blind eye to the fast rising wave of extremism that is on the verge of engulfing the nation as a whole.
Our troops are becoming victims of hate and humiliation. Their heads are being chopped of in public in their own homelands by the so called purveyors of Islam. That no way to treat your fellow human beings, country men and people who uphold the security of the nation.
Today its Swat, tomorrow it would the back alleys of Pindi and Lahore. If action is not taken to restrict these gooons or as someone earlier on rightly called them, the kharijites, then the doomsday scenario that several have eluded to on this forum is not at all a far fetched idea.
With the CJ taking up role of a wannabe vigilante, it was apparent that the bigger picture was out of his sight. That he wasnt able to comprehend the gravity of the situation and the need of the day to first protect the nation from the most imminent of threats and then consider what matters on a micro level.
It saddens me that we are facing this situation, its not in the interest of any ruler, politician or individual and specially not in the interest of the nation at large. I am certain and hopeful that Musharaf would now indulge in a quick and rather messy encounter with the extremists. Who comes out on the top would determine the future direction and sustainability of Pakistan.
I can only hope and pray that Musharaf comes out victorious and not the Jihadist who have maligned the body of our nation like an overdose of Cocaine.
Dear All,
Its hapened before, its happened again–
Back to Oblivion !!!!
Naseer
— ps: don’t cry for me Argentina–