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| November 03, 2007 | Saturday | Shawwal 21, 1428 |
Updated round-the-clock, with major updates after 10:00 PST (05:00 GMT)
ISLAMABAD, Nov 3: President General Pervez Musharraf, in his capacity 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 (PCO).Text of emergency proclamationThe 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.
Shortly before the official announcement all the private and independent news channels in the country were pulled off the cable network, leading to intense speculations of a possible emergency rule or martial law.
This is the second time in General Musharraf’s tenure that an emergency rule has been imposed, and PCO issued. First it was at the time when the military seized power on October 12, 1999. This time it was when President Musharraf had already ruled the country for eight long years, and was faced with a situation where there was a strong possibility that the Supreme Court may rule against his move to get himself elected for the second time as the head of the state.
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.
Soon after the proclamation of emergency by Gen Musharraf, a seven-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.
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. (First Posted @ 20:24 PST Updated @ 21:06 PST)
Musharraf addresses nation ISLAMABAD, Nov 3 (Agencies): Chief of Army Staff, General Pervez Musharraf addressed the nation (Saturday) about 1845GMT. President General Pervez Musharraf said in his address that Pakistan was at a dangerous juncture. Extremists, he said had challenged the writ of the government. The country’s unity is in danger without emergency rule, he added. He said terrorism and extremism had reached their limit and his country's sovereignty was at stake. “Pakistan has reached a dangerous point, and is undergoing an internal crisis. Whatever is happening is because of internal disturbances,” he said in a pre-recorded televised address wearing a Sherwani. “I fear that if timely action is not taken, then God forbid there is a threat to Pakistan's sovereignty.” He said some media channels had added to uncertainty in the country, but did not specify which. He also accused the courts of setting free 61 men who he said had committed terrorist acts. He said there will be no change in government during the state of emergency; parliament will continue to function. He said that he remained committed to holding parliamentary elections. (First Posted @ 22:10 PST Updated @ 00:44 PST)
Benazir demands reversal of PCO, free fair elections KARACHI, Nov 4: Pakistan People’s Party Chairperson condemned the imposition of emergency in the country, calling it a mini martial law. Speaking to a packed press conference at Bilawal House, she demanded immediate withdrawal of the Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO). She said the action had been taken because General Musharraf feared the Supreme Court judgment would go against him in the presidential election petiton. Benaziir demanded immediate restoration of the constitution, and free and fair elections. (Posted @ 01:15 PST)
Supreme court orders emergency suspended, govt rejects ruling ISLAMABAD, Nov (Reuters): The Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry and eight other judges refused to endorse the provisional constitutional order issued by the president, and Chaudhry has been told his “services are no longer required”, private news channels said. The Supreme Court on Saturday ordered the suspension of emergency rule imposed by President Pervez Musharraf, a private television channel said, but the government rejected the move. “The emergency rule has been set aside by a seven-member bench declaring it illegal and all judges of the supreme court and high court barred from taking an oath under the new provisional constitutional order,” private Geo television reported. A government spokesman told AFP that the Supreme Court order would not come into effect because the emergency proclamation has a clause stating that it cannot be challenged in any court of law. “All judges of the superior courts are now governed by the new order and they will be required to take a fresh oath under new measures,” the official said. Chaudhry and his fellow judges, according to a Reuters journalist, were still inside the court building on Constitution Avenue, the broad thoroughfare where the presidency and the National Assembly are also located. The road has been sealed off by troops. (Posted @ 19:36 PST)
Govt appoints new chief justice ISLAMABAD, Nov 3, 2007 (AFP): President Pervez Musharraf appointed Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar as the new chief justice of Pakistan on Saturday after the imposition of a state of emergency, a government spokesman said. The government replaced Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, a thorn in the government's side since Musharraf's botched bid to sack him earlier this year, with Hameed Dogar. (Posted @ 21:22 PST)
High court CJs take oath under PCO KARACHI Nov 3 (PPI): The new chief justices of the provincial high courts took oath under the Provincial Constitutional Order (PCO). In Lahore, Mr. Justice Iftikhar Hussain Chaudhry on Saturday night took oath as new Chief Justice of Lahore High Court under the PCO. In Karachi Justice Muhammad Afzal Soomro took oath as Chief Justice of the High Court of Sindh (SHC) under the Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO) at a ceremony at the Governor House here on Saturday night. Sindh Governor, Dr. Ishrat-ul- Ebad Khan, administered the oath of the Chief Justice SHC to Justice Mohammad Afzal Soomro. Later, Chief Justice Afzal Soomro administered oath to three judges of Sindh High Court under the PCO. They were Justice Munib Ahmed Khan, Justice Mrs. Yasmin Abbasi and Justice Mrs. Qaiser Iqbal. In Peshawar, Mr Justice Talat Qayyum Qureshi was sworn in as the new Chief Justice of Peshawar High Court. In Quetta Justice Amanullah Yasinzai took oath under Provisional Constitutional Order as Chief Justice Balochistan High Court at a ceremony at Governor House here Saturday night. Governor Owais Ahmad Ghani administered oath to him. Later Justice Amanullah Yasinzai administered oath to four judges of Balochistan High Court. They included Justice Akhtar Zaman Malghani, Justice Ahmad Khan Lashari, Justice Muhammad Nadir Khan and Justice Metha Kelash Nath Kohli. (First Posted @ 22:14 PST Updated @ 00:12 PST)
Benazir says will oppose emergency rule LONDON, Nov 3 (Reuters): Former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto said on Saturday she planned to discuss with other political leaders a strategy for reversing President Pervez Musharraf's decision to suspend the constitution. “I came back to the country so that I could encourage the people, raise their morale. I plan to meet other leaders of political parties and discuss with them a course of action to reverse the suspension of the constitution,” she told Sky News after returning to Karachi. Earlier: Benazir Bhutto returned to Pakistan late Saturday following a decision by the government to impose a state of emergency. A plane carrying the former prime minister landed in Karachi from Dubai, and she disembarked before leaving in a white car under police escort. Supporters of her Pakistan People's Party who had gathered at the airport shouted slogans of support. “We have deployed more than 100 police guards at the airport to provide security to Ms Benazir Bhutto and to escort her safely to the Bilawal House,” a police officer said. (First Posted @ 19:18 PST Updated @ 00:32 PST)
Musharraf action 'very disappointing' -- White House WASHINGTON, Nov 3 (AFP): The White House Saturday called Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf's declaration of a state of emergency “very disappointing” and said he needs to keep a pledge to hold elections by January. “This action is very disappointing. President Musharraf needs to stand by his pledges to have free and fair elections in January and step down as Chief of Army Staff before retaking the Presidential oath of office,” said the statement from White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe. Rice says move highly regrettable: U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told CNN television on Saturday Pakistan's declaration of emergency rule was “highly regretable” and she hoped its intention was to have free and fair elections. (First Posted @ 21:30 PST Updated @ 23:40 PST)
Nawaz Sharif says Pakistan heading for anarchy ISLAMABAD, Nov 3 (Reuters): Exiled former President Nawaz Sharif said on Saturday Pakistan was heading towards anarchy and described President Pervez Musharraf's decision to invoke emergency powers as a form of martial law. “We are heading towards a chaotic situation, heading towards anarchy,” Sharif told Indian news channel CNN-IBN in an interview replayed by Dawn Television in Pakistan. (Posted @ 20:18 PST)
Cabinet, assemblies to continue working ISLAMABAD, Nov 3 (Reuters): Pakistan's cabinet will continue working, and the national and provincial assemblies will also contine to function following the imposition of emergency rule on Saturday, state-run Pakistan Television said. “The Federal Cabinet, governors and their (provincial) ministers will continue their work,” the channel reported. “The National Assembly, Senate, the provincial assemblies of Punjab, Sindh and Baluchistan will continue functioning”. (Posted @ 19:42 PST)
No decision taken to impose Martial Law: Tariq ISLAMABAD, Nov 3 (APP): Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Tariq Azeem on Saturday said that no decision had been taken to impose martial law in the country. Talking to a private TV news channel, he said that martial law was an unconstitutional step while declaring an emergency was the constitutional right of the government under Article 232 of the Constitution. He said the situation in Swat, Rawalpindi and Sargodha stimulated the government to fulfil its responsibility to maintain law and order at every cost. He added that the government could enforce emergency to improve the situation. Mr Azeem said the NRO was an internal matter of the country and other countries should not interfere in its internal affairs. (Posted @ 19:16 PST)
Aitzaz Ahsan detained in emergency ISLAMABAD, Nov 3 (Reuters): A leading Pakistani lawyer and opposition figure, Aitzaz Ahsan, said he had been detained after President Pervez Musharraf invoked emergency powers on Saturday. “They have served me a detention order for 30 days,” Ahsan, president of the Supreme Court Bar Association, told reporters outside his home in the capital. “One man has taken entire nation hostage... Time has come for General Musharraf to go.” Fellow lawyers shouted “Go Musharraf Go” as Ahsan was taken away by police, waving a victory sign to his supporters. (Posted @ 19:50 PST)
Shots heard in Karachi KARACHI, Nov 3 (Reuters): Shots were heard in several neighbourhoods of Karachi, after President Pervez Musharraf invoked emergency powers on Saturday. The most intense firing was heard in Lyari, the neighbourhood, where support for Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party is high, witnesses said. (Posted @ 21:44 PST)
Musharraf has committed treason: Imran Khan ISLAMABAD, Nov 3 (AFP): Opposition politician and former cricketer Imran Khan said Saturday that President Pervez Musharraf has committed treason and should face the penalty for declaring a state of emergency. He called on the people to resist Musharraf's move and not to recognise the new chief justice appointed by him. “He has committed high treason by negating the orders of the Supreme Court which bars him from taking any unconstitutional steps and by sending in troops after the Supreme Court decision,” Khan told AFP. (Posted @ 22:34 PST)
India calls for normalcy in Pakistan NEW DELHI, Nov 3 (AP): Indian leaders reacted with concern Saturday after President General Pervez Musharraf declared a state of emergency, calling for a speedy return to “normalcy” and “democracy”. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met with Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee to assess the situation, the foreign ministry said. “We regret the difficult times that Pakistan is passing through,” said Foreign Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna. (Posted @ 21:46 PST)
Pakistan to continue India tour: cricket team official NEW DELHI, Nov 3 (Reuters): Pakistan will continue their cricket tour of neighbouring India even though emergency rule has been imposed back home, a team official said on Saturday. “We are just focusing on cricket,” the team's media manager Ehsan Malik said. “We've had no intimation (from the Pakistan board). Everything is status quo.” Pakistan will leave New Delhi on Sunday for Guwahati for the first one-dayer to be played the next day. (Posted @ 21:24 PST)
Pakistani militants capture two police stations in Swat SWAT, Pakistan, Nov 3 (AP) - Militants said Saturday they captured two police stations in Swat valley of North West Frontier Province. A flag was hoisted over one of the buildings, abandoned by officers in Swat valley, a region that has been plagued by intense fighting between paramilitary security forces and militant supporters of cleric Maulana Fazlullah, said Sirajuddin, speaking on behalf of the insurgents. Hours later, militants took control of a second police post 10 kilometers to the north, after convincing 60 officers to leave and then locking the doors to prevent against looting of weapons, said Mian Rasool Shah, a Taliban commander in the area. No government official was immediately available to comment on the claims. Meanwhile, private TV channels reported that shopping areas in Mangora, the main town in the region, were partially opened on Saturday. (First Posted @ 11:30, Updated @ 12:25 PST)
Thousands perched on rooftops in Mexico floods VILLAHERMOSA, Mexico, Nov 3 (Reuters): Thousands of people perched on rooftops in southern Mexico on Saturday, hoping to be evacuated from devastating flooding that has left most of Tabasco state under water and 800,000 people homeless. Some 70,000 people spent the night in emergency shelters, as the army brought in food and drinking water and airlifted people out by helicopter or took them out by boat. (Posted @ 22:50 PST)
Jets destroy Tamil Tiger armoury: Sri Lanka military COLOMBO, Nov 3 (AP): Sri Lankan air force jets bombed and destroyed an armoury of Tamil Tiger rebels in the north on Saturday, the military said as the rebels mourn a top leader who was killed in a similar air raid a day before. The airstrike deep in northern rebel-held territory hit a compound used as a communications center with Tamil sympathizers abroad, who contribute funds and arms to the separatists, said air force spokesman. (Posted @ 21:48 PST)
Two dead in Indonesian train accident JAKARTA, Nov 4 (AFP): Two people were killed and more than 20 injured when a train smashed into three carriages stranded on one of Indonesia's busiest rail lines Saturday, reports said. A train was travelling from Jakarta to Bandung in West Java when the carriages became detached prior to the collision. “Two passengers were killed, three badly injured and 22 others slightly injured,” Mateta Rizalullhaq told the Detikcom news website. Fire was reported in one of the carriages, causing it and two other carriages behind it to become detached from the main train, according to the report. “ (Posted @ 20:48 PST)
Woman, two rebels die in occupied Kashmir SRINAGAR, occupied Kashmir, Nov 3 (AFP): A Muslim woman and two suspected militants were killed Saturday in a gun battle in Indian occupied Kashmir, police said. The fighting erupted in Nilah Patan village about 30 kilometres north of Srinagar when Indian troops surrounded a house where two militants were hiding. A woman inside the house died after being caught in the crossfire, a police spokesman said, adding an Indian soldier was hurt during the operation. (Posted @ 13: 10 PST)
Firefighter killed, three missing in warehouse blaze LONDON, Nov 3 (Reuters): A firefighter died and three others were missing after they were called to a huge blaze at a vegetable packing warehouse on an industrial estate near Stratford upon Avon in Warwickshire, emergency services said on Saturday. More than 80 firefighters tackled the fire which broke out on Friday evening. Large parts of the roof collapsed as flames engulfed the building. Three firefighters are missing inside the building. Police are treating the fire as suspicious. (Posted @ 13:00 PST)
Zawahri says Libyan group joins Al Qaeda - Web DUBAI, Nov 3 (Reuters) - Al Qaeda second-in-command Ayman al-Zawahri said on Saturday that a Libyan group had joined the militant group and he urged mujahideen in North Africa to topple the leaders of Libya, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco. Zawahri’s audio-tape was posted on Saturday on a Web site. (Posted @ 12:55 PST)
Two police officers killed, one wounded in separate attacks in Iraq BAGHDAD, Nov 3 (AP): Two Iraqi policemen were killed and one wounded Saturday in three separate attacks south of Baghdad, police said. Gunmen attacked a checkpoint in Jbala, about 70 kilometers south of Baghdad, wounding one officer. Half an hour later, a roadside bomb exploded next to a police patrol in Mahaweel, 56 kilometers south of Baghdad, killing one officer and damaging his vehicle. Gunmen killed a plainclothes officer in a civilian car in Hillah, 95 kilometers south of Baghdad. (Posted @ 12:40 PST)
German leader in Afghanistan KABUL, Nov 3 (AFP) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrived in Afghanistan on Saturday, a European diplomat told AFP. (Posted @ 11:25 PST)
N. Waziristan: 8 killed, 7 injured in explosive material blast Peshawar, Nov 3 ( PPI): At least eight persons were killed and seven others injured when explosive material went off late Friday in Danda Darpa Khel area of North Waziristan Tribal Agency. Official sources said the explosive material was stored in a house. (Posted @ 10:40 PST)
Foreign Office rejects apprehension of Sultan Mahmood on Kashmir Islamabad, Nov 3 (PPI): Pakistan Foreign Office has rejected apprehensions of former AJK Prime Minister Barrister Sultan Mehmood Chaudhry that Pakistan and India have come close to some kind of agreement to divide Kashmir by converting Line of Control LoC into international border. Commenting on a Press statement of Barrister Sultan Mehmood Foreign Office spokesman Muhammad Sadiq said: “This is far removed of status of discussion on Kashmir, including discussion that has taken place in last two years. Unfortunately Barrister Sultan Mahmood, has not presented correct picture.” (Posted @ 10:30 PST)
Hollywood writers call Monday strike vs studios LOS ANGELES, Nov 3 (Reuters) - The union representing U.S. screenwriters called for a strike against film and TV studios starting on Monday in a move giving negotiators one last weekend to reach a contract deal or shatter 20 years of Hollywood labour peace. The strike deadline was issued on Friday, a day after a three-year contract covering the 12,000-member Writers Guild of America expired. It follows months of talks that deadlocked over the union's demands for a greater share of DVD and Internet revenues. (Posted @ 10:10 PST)
Russian, Chinese PMs meet Central Asian allies; Pakistan also attends TASHKENT, Nov 3 (AFP) - The prime ministers of Russia, China and four ex-Soviet Central Asian states met Friday in the Uzbek capital Tashkent for talks on energy, trade and transport. The annual meeting was organised by Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), and was part of a tour by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao through the former Soviet bloc. At the meeting Russia also proposed the establishment of an “energy club” to complement the SCO regional security bloc. Pilot projects to create a regional transport corridor linking Western Europe to the Asia Pacific region were a particular focus, a communiqué at the end of talks said. Ministers from India, Iran, Mongolia, Pakistan were also present, along with the vice-president of Afghanistan. (Posted @ 10:05 PST)
30 illegal Indian immigrants caught in French Alps CHAMONIX, France, Nov 3 (AFP) - Thirty illegal Indian immigrants travelling in “inhuman conditions” were stopped while crossing the French Alps in a small truck, border police said Friday. “They were packed together, standing up, in inhuman conditions in an area of less than six square metres. It was horrible,” said Michel Drezen, head of the border police in France's Haute-Savoie region. The illegal immigrants -- aged between 16 and 30 -- were mostly from the northern Indian state of Punjab. Seven of them were aged under 17. Each of them paid about 10,000 euros (14,500 dollars) to be transported to Belgium from Rome, where they landed with fake visas. (Posted @ 09: 55 PST)
Olmert’s deputy says Israel wants peace before Bush quits JERUSALEM, Nov 3 (AFP) – Israel’s Deputy Prime Minister Haim Ramon said on Friday that Israel wants a peace deal with the Palestinians before US President George W. Bush leaves office in early 2009. “We hope to agree a final settlement before the end of President Bush's term of office, or between now and the end of 2008,” he told public television. But Ramon said Israel would continue to resist Palestinian demands for a firm timetable for the negotiations on the most divisive issues of the Middle East conflict -- the borders of the promised Palestinian state and the fate of annexed east Jerusalem and Palestinian refugees. (Posted @ 09:50 PST)
Obama promises face-to-face talks with Iran WASHINGTON, Nov 3 (AFP) - Democrat Barack Obama Friday promised an “aggressive” diplomatic drive and face-to-face talks with Iran's leaders if he is elected US president, igniting a new 2008 campaign foreign policy row. “There is the potential, at least for us finding ways of peacefully resolving some of our conflicts,” Obama said on NBC, in the latest sign that Iran policy is becoming a premier issue in the White House race. (Posted @ 09:45 PST)
Tamil Tigers breakaway chief arrested in Britain LONDON, Nov 3 (AFP) - Colonel Karuna, the leader of a breakaway faction of Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers rebel group, has been arrested in Britain and is being held in immigration detention, the interior ministry said Friday. He was arrested in an operation carried out by Britain's immigration authority and the London police, the Home Office said. (Posted @ 09:40 PST)
Six powers push towards further sanctions on Iran LONDON, Nov 3 (AFP) -Six world powers holding talks in London on Iran's nuclear programme agreed Friday to push towards a third round of UN sanctions against Tehran if the stand-off persisted. Political directors from the “E3” of Britain, France and Germany, plus the United States, Russia and China, backed the drive for a third United Nations Security Council resolution and vote on Iran, unless forthcoming reports showed “a positive outcome”, said a spokesman for Britain's Foreign Office. (Posted @ 09:35 PST)
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