Emergency Clamped in Pakistan: Constitution Suspended
Soon after the proclamation of emergency by Gen Musharraf, an eight-member bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, reportedly set aside the decision. Setting aside General Musharraf's proclamation of emergency, the panel asked all members of the superior judiciary against taking oath under the new PCO.
President General Pervez Musharraf, declares a state of emergency.
007-11-03 17:46:35 - Musharraf, as the chief of army staff, on Saturday declared emergency rule in the country, suspended the country's constitution, and issued a new Provisional Constitutional Order
The emergency is imposed in Pakistan,the official announcement on the state-run Pakistan Television (PTV) came within minutes of a high-level meeting at the President House (Aiwan-i-Sadr) which was chaired by the President and attended by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, senior security and intelligence officials.
Before the emergency came into force or announcement all the media in Pakistan freedom was suspended and the internet,mobiles and other channels were off the air,private and independent news channels in the country were put off the cable network, which lead to intense speculations of a possible take over reigns of governance by the military and imposing of the emergency .The constitution is suspended.
In General Musharraf's tenure this is second time that an emergency rule has been imposed, and provisional constitution order PCO issued. Firstly the emergency was imposed at time when the military seized power on October 12, 1999. Today it was when President Musharraf had already ruled the country for eight long years, and was faced with a piquant situation . it was a possibility of the judiciary and Musaraff 's election to coveted Post of president may come under sccanner of the Supreme Court which may rule against his move to get himself elected for the second time as the head of the state.
Reasons for this extra constitutional hunt is attributed to daily growing of menace of terrorism and suicide attacks at the nodal points of the the military jurisdiction propelled the General to impose the Emergency as being telecast in various TV channels.
Dawn newspaper reports from pakistan,
According to some details of the new PCO made available to the media, the National Assembly, Senate, provincial assemblies, the prime minister, provincial chief ministers, federal and provincial ministers, governors and all those in the 'government services- will continue to function normally.
However, it was not clear how this will be possible, or be legitimate, with President Musharraf resorting to the extra-constitutional action of suspending the constitution and issuing his own provisional constitutional order or PCO.
The Supreme Court, in its order, termed Gen Musharraf's action 'illegal and unconstitutional- and asked the corps commanders and all civil and military officials not to take oath under the PCO. Till filing of this report, the judges of the SC were still inside the court building.
However, under the circumstances chances of a major rebellion on part of the superior judiciary appeared highly unlikely. In any case, legal experts said, the government must have contemplated such a resistance, and as has been the past practice during military rule, some of the judges will not be invited to take oath, some will refuse, and a few will accept the new order to provide legitimacy to the this kind of emergency rule. In a latest development Justice Abdul Hamid Dogar was sworn in as a Chief Justice of Pakistan by the President.
There were also reports that some of the lawyers, including the president of the Supreme Court Bar Association, Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan, have been taken into custody. Mr. Ahsan's wife told reporters that her husband was arrested soon after the imposition of emergency.
Although news of a possible emergency rule had been doing rounds for the past several days, on Saturday it became quite evident when a large contingent of paramilitary troops started to arrive in Islamabad, and cable operators were asked to pull the plug on all independent news channels, including DawnNews, Geo, ARY and Aaj TV.
Land telephone lines and mobile phones are also partially down in Islamabad and communication has become almost impossible in many parts of the capital. TV channels and newspapers had been reporting for the past few days that the government had made up its mind to declare emergency rule.www.dawn.com.
Army troops also entered the Supreme Court building while dozens of security
personnel blocked the road leading to the apex court with the judges
inside, witnesses said.A private news channel reported that Chaudhry was approached by an army officer who told him that his services were not required.The Supreme Court had earlier said it will give its verdict by 6th November on the legality of Musharraf's re-election in uniform for the post of President.Musharraf,who grabbed power after a bloodless coup ousting Nawaz Sharif in 1999,had said that if re-elected he would doff his uniform, a key demand of the opposition.
However,later he said he will decide on his course of action after the Supreme Court ruling on his re-election, leading to speculation that he may declare a state of emergency or martial law in case of an adverse verdict.
Judges would have to take a fresh oath under the new provisional constitutional order.Senior security officials were meeting in the interior ministry to discuss the situation and the possible detention of senior political leaders and lawyers, they said.
Ahead of clamping emergency, Musharraf held a series of meetings with close aides, security advisors and senior ministers. He was briefed by Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao on the situation in Swat, where over 150 people have died in clashes between government troops and militants.This was followed by a meeting at the presidency between Musharraf, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, ruling PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, cabinet ministers and senior intelligence officials.
International reactions to this event has been quick.
As US has condemned the Musharaff plan expressed"deeply disturbed" that Pakistani President Musharraf had declared emergency rule, calling it a step backwards for democracy.
The process of restoration of democracy may be impaired with these news.
European Unions has condemned the Imposition of emergency.
Imran Khan the ace cricket turned Politicians calls it an act of treason by president.
President General Pervez Musharraf, declares a state of emergency.
007-11-03 17:46:35 - Musharraf, as the chief of army staff, on Saturday declared emergency rule in the country, suspended the country's constitution, and issued a new Provisional Constitutional Order
The emergency is imposed in Pakistan,the official announcement on the state-run Pakistan Television (PTV) came within minutes of a high-level meeting at the President House (Aiwan-i-Sadr) which was chaired by the President and attended by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, senior security and intelligence officials.
Before the emergency came into force or announcement all the media in Pakistan freedom was suspended and the internet,mobiles and other channels were off the air,private and independent news channels in the country were put off the cable network, which lead to intense speculations of a possible take over reigns of governance by the military and imposing of the emergency .The constitution is suspended.
In General Musharraf's tenure this is second time that an emergency rule has been imposed, and provisional constitution order PCO issued. Firstly the emergency was imposed at time when the military seized power on October 12, 1999. Today it was when President Musharraf had already ruled the country for eight long years, and was faced with a piquant situation . it was a possibility of the judiciary and Musaraff 's election to coveted Post of president may come under sccanner of the Supreme Court which may rule against his move to get himself elected for the second time as the head of the state.
Reasons for this extra constitutional hunt is attributed to daily growing of menace of terrorism and suicide attacks at the nodal points of the the military jurisdiction propelled the General to impose the Emergency as being telecast in various TV channels.
Dawn newspaper reports from pakistan,
According to some details of the new PCO made available to the media, the National Assembly, Senate, provincial assemblies, the prime minister, provincial chief ministers, federal and provincial ministers, governors and all those in the 'government services- will continue to function normally.
However, it was not clear how this will be possible, or be legitimate, with President Musharraf resorting to the extra-constitutional action of suspending the constitution and issuing his own provisional constitutional order or PCO.
The Supreme Court, in its order, termed Gen Musharraf's action 'illegal and unconstitutional- and asked the corps commanders and all civil and military officials not to take oath under the PCO. Till filing of this report, the judges of the SC were still inside the court building.
However, under the circumstances chances of a major rebellion on part of the superior judiciary appeared highly unlikely. In any case, legal experts said, the government must have contemplated such a resistance, and as has been the past practice during military rule, some of the judges will not be invited to take oath, some will refuse, and a few will accept the new order to provide legitimacy to the this kind of emergency rule. In a latest development Justice Abdul Hamid Dogar was sworn in as a Chief Justice of Pakistan by the President.
There were also reports that some of the lawyers, including the president of the Supreme Court Bar Association, Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan, have been taken into custody. Mr. Ahsan's wife told reporters that her husband was arrested soon after the imposition of emergency.
Although news of a possible emergency rule had been doing rounds for the past several days, on Saturday it became quite evident when a large contingent of paramilitary troops started to arrive in Islamabad, and cable operators were asked to pull the plug on all independent news channels, including DawnNews, Geo, ARY and Aaj TV.
Land telephone lines and mobile phones are also partially down in Islamabad and communication has become almost impossible in many parts of the capital. TV channels and newspapers had been reporting for the past few days that the government had made up its mind to declare emergency rule.www.dawn.com.
Army troops also entered the Supreme Court building while dozens of security
personnel blocked the road leading to the apex court with the judges
inside, witnesses said.A private news channel reported that Chaudhry was approached by an army officer who told him that his services were not required.The Supreme Court had earlier said it will give its verdict by 6th November on the legality of Musharraf's re-election in uniform for the post of President.Musharraf,who grabbed power after a bloodless coup ousting Nawaz Sharif in 1999,had said that if re-elected he would doff his uniform, a key demand of the opposition.
However,later he said he will decide on his course of action after the Supreme Court ruling on his re-election, leading to speculation that he may declare a state of emergency or martial law in case of an adverse verdict.
Judges would have to take a fresh oath under the new provisional constitutional order.Senior security officials were meeting in the interior ministry to discuss the situation and the possible detention of senior political leaders and lawyers, they said.
Ahead of clamping emergency, Musharraf held a series of meetings with close aides, security advisors and senior ministers. He was briefed by Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao on the situation in Swat, where over 150 people have died in clashes between government troops and militants.This was followed by a meeting at the presidency between Musharraf, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, ruling PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, cabinet ministers and senior intelligence officials.
International reactions to this event has been quick.
As US has condemned the Musharaff plan expressed"deeply disturbed" that Pakistani President Musharraf had declared emergency rule, calling it a step backwards for democracy.
The process of restoration of democracy may be impaired with these news.
European Unions has condemned the Imposition of emergency.
Imran Khan the ace cricket turned Politicians calls it an act of treason by president.
Comments