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
Aaj TV has resumed broadcasting and we are beginning to get first glimpses of the domestic reaction to the imposition of ML in the garb of emergency back home. The PM held a press conference, as did BB; also reactions from JI, PML-N, PML-Q, former Justice Fakhruddin G. Ibrahim, Justice(R) Wajihuddin, and Asma Jahangir were available, courtesy of GEO and Aaj.
My first impression after listening to the various statements, and getting a feel of the body language, is one of guarded optimism. The determination among the media, the legal community, as well as demonstration of some backbone from the political parties is definitely evident.
In the face of international condemnation, and growing domestic defiance, I doubt that the govt. has a lot of room to manouver. The armed forces should seriously think of containing further damage, and show the general the door.
Also newsworthy is the release, at long last, of the 200+ kidnapped security personnel in FATA after a long custody; but not before the militants also got the release of their 29 arrested comrades. While the release of the militants is nothing to celebrate, this development further highlights the weak position of the govt. in spite of the imposition of the emergency.
If the civil society can roll this back, it would be a truly historic achievement. We would have freed the coming generation from being condemned to re-live our past as their future. Pakistan will be on its way.
Just my 2 cents worth.
Lot of people here are asking for army revolt, aggitation, street protests etc. May I know what you have in mind for “after Musharraf” situation. Do you think one man party of Imran Khan will make the country peaceful and progressive, or BB will be any different from her last two tenures, or may be Maulana Fazlur Rehman is the solution? Just curious for your opinions.
The November 03 action by General Musharraf was very much on the cards. Yes, it was insane and, yes, he will end up screwing up any chances or hopes of Pakistan ever walking tall in the comity of nations as a truly democratic polity, yet, the general
None of them are Islamic valeus so what is your point?
Yes, adultery is not an Islamic value, but hypocrisy, looting murder are. Crimes we have been committing in Islamic Rebublic of Pakistan. Get your facts straight before you open your loud mouth.