Our dear President Musharraf, finally have imposed Emergency in Pakistan. At 11:45 he addressed the nation stabilizing the nation aggressiveness. Detailing the consequences and his strategies about it as well all attributes to follow during this emergency in background of all supreme court decisions, Islamabad crisis, and the most recently sawat dis stability.
Seven Supreme Court judges immediately rejected the emergency, which
suspended the current constitution. The government blocked transmissions of
private news channels in several cities and telephone services in the capital,
Islamabad, were cut.
"The Chief of Army Staff has proclaimed a state of emergency and issued a
provisional constitutional order," a newscaster on state Pakistan TV said.
It gave no reason for the emergency but it follows weeks of speculation that the military leader, who took power in 1999 coup and later made Pakistan a US ally in its war on terror, could take that step.
Former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, a long-time rival of Musharraf who has been negotiating with the President about forming a pro-Western political alliance, announced her return to Pakistan from Dubai.
Rehman Chishti, an advisor to Benazir, said she was "absolutely shocked" by the state of emergency and would leave Dubai — where she was visiting family after surviving an assassination attempt on October 18 — and would immediately return to Pakistan.
"Benazir Bhutto is on her way and she will be in Pakistan to be with the people of Pakistan and to challenge Gen Musharraf," Chishti told British Broadcasting Corp television.
Military vehicles patrolled and troops blocked roads in the administrative
heart of the capital. Police barred the doors to the Supreme Court decision,
with the judges believed inside.
The US and other Western allies urged Musharraf this week not to declare
martial law or an emergency that would jeopardise the country's transition to
democracy. Crucial parliamentary elections meant to restore civilian rule are
due by January.
The emergency was expected to be followed by arrests of lawyers and other
perceived opponents of the government, including civil society activists and
possibly even members of the judiciary itself, a ruling party lawmaker said on
condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.
Private Geo TV reported that the president of the Supreme Court Bar
Association, Aitzaz Ahsan, had been arrested. He was a lawyer for Chief Justice
Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry, whom Musharraf tried and failed to oust this spring,
sparking a popular movement against military rule.
Geo TV also reported that the Chief Justice had been told that "his services
were no longer required."
As phones were not working, it was not possible to contact government
spokesmen for confirmation.
During previous emergencies in Pakistan, a provisional constitutional order
has led to the suspension of some basic rights of citizens and for judges to
take a fresh oath of office.
"This is the most condemnable act," said Ahsan Iqbal, a spokesman for the
Opposition Pakistan Muslim League -N of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.
Musharraf barred Sharif from returning to Pakistan from exile in September to
mount a campaign against military rule.
