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
I wonder why we can complain about how everything has gone wrong in the last few days . Everyone has an opinion about this situation but no one seems to want to discuss the possible effects of the increasing terrorism in Pakistan. I believe that if the Army was going to use violence then half of us would think twice before posting here.We would be scared of the consequences of our freedom of speech. I am not saying the current political situation is ok, all i am saying is that innocent people are getting blasted away and no one seems to have anything to say. Between Martial law,BB or NS i would pick Martial law because i think that we have a better chance to fight the terrorists and i have had a chance to see what the other 2 can do (twice). Maybe i am wrong but from what i see (and its not the whole picture) maybe Musharaf is a person who is willing to put himself on the line for what he thinks is right.Maybe!!!
Having read most of the blogs here, I have come to the conclusion that the Pakistanis living abroad
are perhaps more concerned and aware of the menacing threat of terrorism spreading like wild fire in Pakistan. Pakistanis (living in Pakistan) are de-sensitized to the regular suicide bombings, the bloody body parts lying on the streets, doesn’t seem to bother them anymore. I dont hear too many condemnations against terrorists, in fact there seems to be a perverted sense of sympathy for them, which perhaps arises from misguided loyalty towards an extremist version of Islam. The CJ freed many suspected terrorists, under detention, he also called to restore Lal masjid, didnt hear a peep out of anyone regarding that. There was unabashed vendetta and judicial activism, going on against the government. Whilst many people in Pakistan hold the CJ as their hero and god etc. Pakistanis living abroad, including myself were disgusted with what was going on in the SC. Nobody likes emergency rule, but lets face it, under these circumstances, that was the only option left. The CJ and gang of activist judges are responsible for the present situation.
http://www.aaj.tv/
DOWNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.supremecourt.gov.pk//intro-judges.htm
Mockery of Supreme Court !!!!! only 4 ….Under PCO…. Must be awarded at taxpayers expense.
Thanks Kasim Mahmood for spreading rumours. I won