Pakistan 'facing emergency rule'

BBC
Thursday Aug 9, 2007

Reports from Pakistan say the country's president, Pervez Musharraf, is considering imposing emergency rule.

Pakistani Information Minister Tariq Azeem said the issue was being discussed, given external and internal threats to the country.

However the head of Mr Musharraf's Pakistan Muslim League later said there was "no possibility" of such a move.

The reports came after Gen Musharraf abruptly called off plans to attend a tribal peace conference in Afghanistan.

Emergency rule would limit the role of the courts, restrict civil liberties and curb freedom of expression.

The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says opposition and media figures believe such a drastic step would be related more to domestic politics, particularly Gen Musharraf's desire to be re-elected for another term as both president and head of the army.

This would almost certainly trigger legal challenges, she says.

'Difficult circumstances'

The reports come as Pakistan faces an increasingly volatile political and security situation.

Last month tensions soared after a siege by government troops of Islamabad's radical Red Mosque ended with the deaths of more than 100 people.

Separately, in a move seen as a serious blow to the president, Pakistan's Supreme Court reinstated the country's chief justice, Iftikhar Chaudhry.

Mr Chaudhry was suspended by Gen Musharraf amid claims of corruption, but became the focus of opposition to the president with lawyers staging protests demanding his reinstatement.

Pakistani opposition leader and fierce critic of Gen Musharraf, Javed Hashmi, who had been jailed on charges of sedition, was also freed from prison on Saturday after the Supreme Court ordered his release on bail.

"The possibility of the enforcement of emergency, like other possibilities, is under discussion," Mr Azeem said, although he stressed that the measure might not be necessary.

"I cannot say that it will be tonight, tomorrow or later. We hope that it does not happen.

"But we are going through difficult circumstances so the possibility of an emergency cannot be ruled out," the Associated Press news agency quoted him as saying.

He said US threats to launch an operation in the tribal areas and the recent targeting of Chinese nationals by Islamic militants had played a role in the issue being discussed.

"In addition, the situation on the borders and the suicide attacks are also a concern," Mr Azeem added.

But speaking to reporters, Pakistan Muslim League President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain dampened speculation, saying: "There is no possibility of an emergency", Reuters news agency reported.

A meeting of senior government officials headed by President Musharraf is expected to be held on Thursday to decide the issue.

Elections threat

Under a state of emergency, powers to detain citizens would be extended and parliament could extend its tenure by a year.

It would also allow the president to postpone national elections due to be held later in 2007.

This could enable him to continue in his role as chief of Pakistan's powerful military.

Opposition political parties, like Pakistan's largest party, the PPP, want Gen Musharraf to give up the role.

"The emergency is a big step and the government should think twice before enforcing it," said former Prime Minister and PPP leader Benazir Bhutto.

"I hope such a drastic step will not take place.

"It will be a retrogressive step taking the country backwards."

Gen Musharraf pulled out of the three-day Afghan council, or jirga, on combating the Taleban, citing commitments in Islamabad.

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz is attending in his place.

Up to 700 tribal elders, Islamic clerics and leaders of both countries are invited to the council, starting on Thursday, which will discuss terrorism.

The Taleban have not been included, and are calling for a boycott of the event.