State of Emergency Declared in Pakistan
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071103/ap_on_re_as/pakistan;_ylt=AsAufludLOKhh1nh3XhwGUes0NUE
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - Gen. Pervez Musharraf declared a state of emergency in Pakistan on Saturday, suspending the constitution, replacing the chief justice before a crucial Supreme Court ruling on his future as president, and cutting communications in the capital.
His leadership threatened by an increasingly defiant court and an Islamic movement that has spread to Islamabad, Musharraf's emergency order accused some judges of "working at cross purposes with the executive" and "weakening the government's resolve" to fight terrorism.
Seven of the 17 Supreme Court judges immediately rejected the emergency, which suspended the current constitution. Police blocked entry to the Supreme Court building and later took the deposed chief justice and other judges away in a convoy, witnesses said.
In an address to the nation late Saturday on state-run television, Musharraf said Pakistan was at a "dangerous" juncture, its government threatened by Islamic extremists. He said he hoped democracy would be restored following parliamentary elections.
"But, in my eyes, I say with sorrow that some elements are creating hurdles in the way of democracy," said Musharraf, who was wearing civilian clothes and spoke firmly and calmly. "I think this chaos is being created for personal interests and to harm Pakistan."
He claimed that 61 terrorists have been freed on order from the court - an apparent reference a case that has been led by the now-deposed chief justice to press authorities over suspects held by intelligence agencies without charge.
"Extremists are openly roaming," he said "And no one knows whether any of the these freed men were behind recent bomb attacks."
Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, a longtime rival of Musharraf who recently returned from eight years of exile, flew back to Pakistan from Dubai where she was visiting family. She left the airport under police escort; her house was surrounded by paramilitary troops.
After her arrival at Karachi's Airport, Bhutto said she did not believe there would be fair elections as long as emergency rule remained in place.
"Unless Gen. Musharraf reverses the course it will be very difficult to have fair elections," she told Sky News television by telephone. "I agree with him that we are facing a political crisis, but I believe the problem is dictatorship, I don't believe the solution is dictatorship.
"The extremists need a dictatorship, and dictatorship needs extremists."
The government halted all television transmissions in major cities other than state-controlled Pakistan TV. Telephone service in the capital, Islamabad, was cut.
Musharraf said some independent TV channels had contributed to the atmosphere of uncertainty in the country.
The order drew swift complaints from the United States and Britain - Musharraf's main Western allies. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice urged restraint on all sides and a swift return to democracy in Pakistan.
The United States "does not support extraconstitutional measures," Rice said from Turkey, where she was participating in a conference with Iraq's neighbors.
But, in justification, the emergency order obtained by The Associated Press said "the constitution provides no solution for this situation, there is no way out except through emergent and extraordinary measures," it said.
Musharraf, who seized power in a 1999 coup and has been a close ally of the United States since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, has struggled to contain spreading Islamic militancy that has centered along the Afghan border and spread to the capital and beyond. Hundreds have died in recent weeks.
Pakistanis have increasingly turned against the government of Musharraf, who failed earlier this year to oust Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry - the chief justice replaced Saturday.
Rice said that to her knowledge, U.S. officials had yet to hear directly from Musharraf after his declaration.
"Whatever happens we will be urging a quick return to civilian rule" Rice told reporters traveling with her in Turkey, and a "return to constitutional order and the commitment to free and fair elections."
Crucial parliamentary elections meant to restore civilian rule are due by January. Musharraf himself was overwhelmingly re-elected last month by the current parliament, dominated by his ruling party, but the vote was challenged. The Supreme Court has emerged this year as the main check on Musharraf's dominance and is due to issue a verdict before his current term expires Nov. 15.
Most analysts thought Musharraf was on shaky legal ground in his re-election by lawmakers last month - a vote that was boycotted by most of the opposition - but they still expected the court to rule in his favor to prevent further destabilizing Pakistan.
However in recent days some judges had made comments that they would not be swayed by threats from senior officials that an emergency might be declared if the court ruled against the general.
The seven Supreme Court judges rejected the declaration of emergency and ordered top officials, including the prime minister, and military officers not to comply with it. The two-page ruling said there were no grounds for an emergency "particularly for the reasons being published in the newspapers that a high profile case is pending and is not likely to be decided in favor of the government."
At least seven trucks brought armed police and paramilitary ranger troops to Constitution Avenue that passes in front of the court, Parliament and the official residences of the president and prime minister.
Paramilitary troops behind rolled barbed wire blocked access to an official compound housing lawmakers - barring even wives, children and even a ruling party senator from entering.
Bhutto, seen by many supporters as key to a possible return to democracy, went to Dubai after being targeted by assassins in Pakistan last month. Suicide bombers attacked her homecoming parade after eight years in exile, killing more than 140 people.
Musharraf's order allows courts to function but suspends some fundamental rights guaranteed by the constitution, including freedom of speech. It also allows authorities to detain people without informing them of the charges.
In Karachi, about 100 police and paramilitary troops surrounded Bhutto's house and a bomb disposal squad searched the building, witnesses said.
There were reports of gunfire in several districts of the city, but it appeared to be aerial firing, police said.
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 the arrest of the president of the Supreme Court Bar Association, Aitzaz Ahsan - a lawyer for Chaudhry in the case that led to his reinstatement in July.
With telephone lines cut, it was not possible to contact government spokesmen for confirmation.
Nawaz Sharif, a former prime minister who was deported in September as he tried to return from exile, condemned the emergency and said Musharraf should resign. He also urged the people of Pakistan to rise against Musharraf.
"If you don't do it today, it will too late then," he told Geo TV from Saudi Arabia.
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - Gen. Pervez Musharraf declared a state of emergency in Pakistan on Saturday, suspending the constitution, replacing the chief justice before a crucial Supreme Court ruling on his future as president, and cutting communications in the capital.
His leadership threatened by an increasingly defiant court and an Islamic movement that has spread to Islamabad, Musharraf's emergency order accused some judges of "working at cross purposes with the executive" and "weakening the government's resolve" to fight terrorism.
Seven of the 17 Supreme Court judges immediately rejected the emergency, which suspended the current constitution. Police blocked entry to the Supreme Court building and later took the deposed chief justice and other judges away in a convoy, witnesses said.
In an address to the nation late Saturday on state-run television, Musharraf said Pakistan was at a "dangerous" juncture, its government threatened by Islamic extremists. He said he hoped democracy would be restored following parliamentary elections.
"But, in my eyes, I say with sorrow that some elements are creating hurdles in the way of democracy," said Musharraf, who was wearing civilian clothes and spoke firmly and calmly. "I think this chaos is being created for personal interests and to harm Pakistan."
He claimed that 61 terrorists have been freed on order from the court - an apparent reference a case that has been led by the now-deposed chief justice to press authorities over suspects held by intelligence agencies without charge.
"Extremists are openly roaming," he said "And no one knows whether any of the these freed men were behind recent bomb attacks."
Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, a longtime rival of Musharraf who recently returned from eight years of exile, flew back to Pakistan from Dubai where she was visiting family. She left the airport under police escort; her house was surrounded by paramilitary troops.
After her arrival at Karachi's Airport, Bhutto said she did not believe there would be fair elections as long as emergency rule remained in place.
"Unless Gen. Musharraf reverses the course it will be very difficult to have fair elections," she told Sky News television by telephone. "I agree with him that we are facing a political crisis, but I believe the problem is dictatorship, I don't believe the solution is dictatorship.
"The extremists need a dictatorship, and dictatorship needs extremists."
The government halted all television transmissions in major cities other than state-controlled Pakistan TV. Telephone service in the capital, Islamabad, was cut.
Musharraf said some independent TV channels had contributed to the atmosphere of uncertainty in the country.
The order drew swift complaints from the United States and Britain - Musharraf's main Western allies. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice urged restraint on all sides and a swift return to democracy in Pakistan.
The United States "does not support extraconstitutional measures," Rice said from Turkey, where she was participating in a conference with Iraq's neighbors.
But, in justification, the emergency order obtained by The Associated Press said "the constitution provides no solution for this situation, there is no way out except through emergent and extraordinary measures," it said.
Musharraf, who seized power in a 1999 coup and has been a close ally of the United States since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, has struggled to contain spreading Islamic militancy that has centered along the Afghan border and spread to the capital and beyond. Hundreds have died in recent weeks.
Pakistanis have increasingly turned against the government of Musharraf, who failed earlier this year to oust Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry - the chief justice replaced Saturday.
Rice said that to her knowledge, U.S. officials had yet to hear directly from Musharraf after his declaration.
"Whatever happens we will be urging a quick return to civilian rule" Rice told reporters traveling with her in Turkey, and a "return to constitutional order and the commitment to free and fair elections."
Crucial parliamentary elections meant to restore civilian rule are due by January. Musharraf himself was overwhelmingly re-elected last month by the current parliament, dominated by his ruling party, but the vote was challenged. The Supreme Court has emerged this year as the main check on Musharraf's dominance and is due to issue a verdict before his current term expires Nov. 15.
Most analysts thought Musharraf was on shaky legal ground in his re-election by lawmakers last month - a vote that was boycotted by most of the opposition - but they still expected the court to rule in his favor to prevent further destabilizing Pakistan.
However in recent days some judges had made comments that they would not be swayed by threats from senior officials that an emergency might be declared if the court ruled against the general.
The seven Supreme Court judges rejected the declaration of emergency and ordered top officials, including the prime minister, and military officers not to comply with it. The two-page ruling said there were no grounds for an emergency "particularly for the reasons being published in the newspapers that a high profile case is pending and is not likely to be decided in favor of the government."
At least seven trucks brought armed police and paramilitary ranger troops to Constitution Avenue that passes in front of the court, Parliament and the official residences of the president and prime minister.
Paramilitary troops behind rolled barbed wire blocked access to an official compound housing lawmakers - barring even wives, children and even a ruling party senator from entering.
Bhutto, seen by many supporters as key to a possible return to democracy, went to Dubai after being targeted by assassins in Pakistan last month. Suicide bombers attacked her homecoming parade after eight years in exile, killing more than 140 people.
Musharraf's order allows courts to function but suspends some fundamental rights guaranteed by the constitution, including freedom of speech. It also allows authorities to detain people without informing them of the charges.
In Karachi, about 100 police and paramilitary troops surrounded Bhutto's house and a bomb disposal squad searched the building, witnesses said.
There were reports of gunfire in several districts of the city, but it appeared to be aerial firing, police said.
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 the arrest of the president of the Supreme Court Bar Association, Aitzaz Ahsan - a lawyer for Chaudhry in the case that led to his reinstatement in July.
With telephone lines cut, it was not possible to contact government spokesmen for confirmation.
Nawaz Sharif, a former prime minister who was deported in September as he tried to return from exile, condemned the emergency and said Musharraf should resign. He also urged the people of Pakistan to rise against Musharraf.
"If you don't do it today, it will too late then," he told Geo TV from Saudi Arabia.
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Sounds like the Shah in 1979 or Battista in 1959. The ship is sinking. 0 -
Yes, very similar,.......the difference this time, is a radical Islamic state, that IS nuke capable now,......unlike Iran.
This could turn into the next "foray".[:(]0 -
so 0 -
So what if India and Pakistan nuke each other. It could affect us in the number of cab drivers and convenience store operators but if we get too short, the Mexicans can allways fill in.
Who else will join the war on either side if they duke it out? It could possibly reduce the poverty level of the world by several percentage points. especially if Bangladesh gets nuked. Tom0 -
I'll bet if we send about a 100,000 troops over there that would take care of it........oops thats right they are all busy freeing IRAQ right now. GET READY HERE WE GO AGAIN. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by tccox
So what if India and Pakistan nuke each other. It could affect us in the number of cab drivers and convenience store operators but if we get too short, the Mexicans can allways fill in.
Who else will join the war on either side if they duke it out? It could possibly reduce the poverty level of the world by several percentage points. especially if Bangladesh gets nuked. Tom
they'll have a lot of beach front propert, who cares! this is whats wrong with America, we are in shambles and we're worried about pakistan, SCREW PAKISTAN THEIR KNIVES SUCK!0 -
Pakistan is the Joker in Bush's deck of cards, as an ally in the war on terrorism.
They have nukes, and are the home of Osama bin Laden.
If the govt. is overthrown the radical Muslims could take over.
Yikes! al Quaeda with nukes and missles.0 -
quote:Originally posted by allen griggs
Pakistan is the Joker in Bush's deck of cards, as an ally in the war on terrorism.
They have nukes, and are the home of Osama bin Laden.
If the govt. is overthrown the radical Muslims could take over.
Yikes! al Quaeda with nukes and missles.
allen,.......some just don't get how important this is, or could become.0 -
If Pakistan falls, all Hell is going to break loose. 0 -
Time for America to rush in and save the day!! 0 -
Perhaps we could convince the packies to nuke mexico ??
Doug0 -
EMM, please explain!! Tom 0 -
Pakistan goes under..the Nukes become the property of the Islamofascists.
Remember the nightmare scnerio of the little war president ? Something about absolutely denying nukes to Iran ?0 -
Oil and ammo just jumped up again!! 0 -
Gen. Pervez Musharraf is our own hand picked stooge and a best buddy of GW who just can't do enough to sing his praises in the war on terror and as a stabilizing force in the area. Basically the guy is a whole lot like our one time best buddy Saddam in the '80s, excepting Musharraf has not been able to turn Pakistan into the same secular state that Saddam had set up in Iraq in order to avoid the influence of Islamic extremists. In the case if Iraq that also meant moderates or religious leaders of any standing since power sharing was not on his agenda. Bhutto's return really complicates the situation and I am surprised that she has not been forced to leave because it will be difficult to impossible to kill her at this point in time. This reminds me of the Phillipines with Marcos and Benigno Aquino. 0 -
Looks like things are getting bad over there. The Pakistani government is rounding up the opposition.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071104/ap_on_re_as/pakistan
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - Police and soldiers emboldened by state of emergency powers swept up hundreds of activists and opposition members on Sunday, dragged away protesters shouting "Shame on you!", and turned government buildings into barbed-wire compounds.
Gen. Pervez Musharraf's government said parliamentary elections could be delayed up to a year as it tries to stamp out a growing Islamic militant threat - effectively linking two of the greatest concerns of Pakistan's biggest international donors: the United States and Britain.
Increasingly concerned about the unfolding crisis, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Washington was reviewing billions of dollars in aid to its close terrorism-fighting ally. Britain is also examining its assistance.
"Some of the aid that goes to Pakistan is directly related to the counterterrorism mission," Rice told reporters traveling with her. "We just have to review the situation."
But, she said, she did not expect the U.S. "to ignore or set aside our concerns about terrorism."
Scores of paramilitary troops blocked access to the Supreme Court and parliament. Streets in the capital appeared largely calm, with only a handful of demonstrations. But one, attended by 40 people at the Marriott Hotel, was broken up by baton-wielding police.
"Shame on you! Go Musharraf go!" the protesters shouted as officers dragged some out of the crowd and forced them to the ground. Eight were taken away in a van.
Others were apathetic. Standing at on a dusty street corner in Islamabad, Togul Khan, 38, said he didn't care about the emergency declaration.
"For us, life stays the same, even when politicians throw Pakistan into the sky, spin it around and watch as it crashes back down to earth," the day laborer said as he waited for work.
In an address to the nation late Saturday, Musharraf said the growth of a militant Islamic movement and a court system that hindered his powers forced him to declare a state of emergency, despite the urging of Western allies against authoritarian measures.
Less than 24 hours after the order was issued, militants in the Afghan border freed 211 captured Pakistani soldiers in exchange for the army's decision to free 28 insurgents, including some allegedly connected to suicide attacks, officials said.
Though they gave no explanation for the decision, it appeared to fly in the face of Musharraf's claims that emergency rule was needed to make sure terrorists - dozens of whom he says have been freed by Pakistani courts - stay off the streets.
Critics say Musharraf, a 1999 coup leader who had promised to give up his army post and become a civilian president this year, imposed emergency rule in a last-ditch attempt to cling to power.
His leadership is threatened by the Islamic militant movement that has spread from border regions to the capital, the reemergence of political rival and former prime minister, Benazir Bhutto, and an increasingly defiant Supreme Court, which was expected to rule soon on the validity of his recent presidential election win. Hearings scheduled for next week were postponed indefinitely.
Attorney General Malik Mohammed Qayyum denied claims by Bhutto and others that Musharraf had imposed martial law - direct rule by the army - under the guise of a state of emergency. He noted the prime minister was still in place and that the legislature would complete its term next week.
Crucial parliamentary elections had been scheduled for January, but Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said the polls could be delayed up to a year. He said the extraordinary measures would be in place "as long as it is necessary."
In Islamabad, phone service that was cut Saturday evening appeared to have been restored by Sunday morning, but television news networks other than state-controlled Pakistan TV remained off the air.
Aziz said up to 500 people were detained nationwide in 24 hours.
Among them were Javed Hashmi, the acting president of the party of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif; cricket star-turned politician, Imran Khan; Asma Jehangir, chairman of the independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan; and Hamid Gul, former chief of the main intelligence agency and a critic of Musharraf.
Around 200 police with assault rifles and sticks stormed the rights commission's office in the eastern city of Lahore, breaking up a meeting and arresting about 50 members, said Mehbood Ahmed Khan, legal officer for the activists.
"They dragged us out, including the women," he said from the police station. "It's inhuman, undemocratic and a violation of human rights to enter a room and arrest people gathering peacefully there."
Bhutto, who narrowly escaped assassination in an Oct. 18 suicide bombing that killed 145 others, scoffed at claims that Musharraf imposed the emergency measures to fight Islamic militants - even though Muslim insurgents were widely blamed for the attempt on her life.
"Many people in Pakistan believe that it has nothing to do with stopping terrorism, and it has everything to do with stopping a court verdict that was coming against him," she told the weekend edition of ABC News' "Good Morning America."
Musharraf replaced the chief justice, Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry, who had emerged as the main check on the his power. Aitzaz Ahsan, a lawyer who represented the judge, also was arrested.
The U.S. has provided about $11 billion to Pakistan since 2001, when Musharraf made a strategic shift to ally with the United States after the Sept. 11 attacks. Rice told reporters that Washington would review its aid in light of the new emergency measures, though the Pentagon earlier said the emergency rule would not affect its military support to the Muslim nation.
Britain also said it was examining if Musharraf's steps would affect the hundreds of millions of dollars in aid it has pledged to the south Asian nation.
Musharraf's emergency order suspended the 1973 constitution. Seven of the 17 Supreme Court judges immediately rejected the order, and only five agreed to take the oath of office under the new provisional constitution.
Musharraf issued two ordinances toughening media laws, including a ban on live broadcasts of "incidents of violence and conflict." Also, TV operators who "ridicule" the president, armed forces, and other powerful state bodies face up to three years in jail.0 -
"The sky is falling !! The sky is falling !!"
-Chicken Little
Doug0 -
quote:Gen. Pervez Musharraf declared a state of emergency in Pakistan on Saturday
Isn't that a dandy power to grant your military?0 -
quote:Originally posted by dakotashooter2
quote:Gen. Pervez Musharraf declared a state of emergency in Pakistan on Saturday
Isn't that a dandy power to grant your military?
He's the Prez and also the top military guy. The Pakistani Supreme Court was going to rule in one week about whether or not he could hold both positions at the same time, so he declares an emergency, boots the SC justices, suspends their Constitution, and starts rounding up the opposition. This IS a big deal for the region.0 -
quote:Originally posted by tccox
EMM, please explain!! Tom
If Pakistan falls apart, can you imagine the implications of having a failed nuclear-armed state in the middle of South Asia?
We are looking at Iran rushing in to salvage what they can of Pakistan's nuclear arsenal, India going in to keep it from falling into the hands of terrorists, and possibly Pakistan's ISI nuking India and/or Iran to keep all of that from happening.
Let us also not forget the tremendous quantity of small arms Pakistan has in her arsenals. We think Iraq is bad? Iraq was suffering under ten years of sanctions... Pakistan has no such issues. We are looking at enough small arms to equip every jihadi movement from the Phillipines to Turkey and beyond. And given the tenuous hold on power many secular, albeit tyrannical regimes have in Central Asia, we can expect the Caspian and Caucasus regions to go up in flames. A destabilized Central Asia would lead to a mobilization of not only the Russian army, but the Chinese PLA as well.
With the resulting destabilization in world affairs, we can expect commodities of all varieties to skyrocket as well as a massive amount of refugee movement, both of which would result in even further destabilization. We think three bucks a gallon for gas is bad? Imagine paying fifteen.
In short, we would be looking at World War III for real. But whereas World War II was a fight between nation states, this one would be bloody murder, plain and simple. A Thirty Year's War for the 21st Century, in effect. It may seem like a far-fetched domino effect theory, but all the pieces are in place and if the first step is taken to set it all into motion, this current war on terror will look like the good old days in comparison...0
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