Pakistan's Dictator, Perviez Musharraf, Proclaims State of Emergency, Suspends Constitution, Arrests Opposition Leaders

Opposition leaders arrested in Pakistan

www.chinaview.cn 2007-11-04 19:39:01 Print

ISLAMABAD, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) --

The police arrested and put under house arrest several senior political leaders in Pakistan following the proclamation of emergency by President General Pervez Musharraf, the News Network International (NNI) news agency reported Sunday.

The acting president of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), the party led by exiled former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, was arrested on Sunday along with 10 party activists in his home town of Multan in the eastern Punjab province, the NNI report said.

The Chairperson of Human Rights Commission of Pakistan Asma Jehangir was arrested in Lahore, the capital of Punjab. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan, Khawaja Asif of PML-N and nationalist opposition leaders Mehmood Khan Achakzai and Qadir Magsi were also arrested.

Former chief of Inter Services Intelligence Lieutenant General Hamid Gul was arrested when proceeding to the judges' colony in Islamabad to present flowers to those judges who refused to take oath under the provisional constitutional order (PCO). The police were deployed on the main road to the judges' colony and movement of the public to the area has been banned.

Gul told reporters that Musharraf had imposed martial law not an emergency. He added that one person had put the country at stake to save his rule.

The police also detained five lawyers from Quetta, the capital of southwestern Balochistan province.

The number of arrests is likely to increase as the police continue raids on residences of several other political leaders indifferent cities across the country.

The president of the Supreme Court Bar Association, Aitzaz Ahsan, and other legal leaders including Munir A. Malik, Ali AhmadKurd and Tariq Mehmood were also taken into custody immediately after the emergency was imposed.

Meanwhile, the police continue raids on leaders of various political parties in various parts of country including Lahore, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Islamabad, Karachi, Quetta and Hyderabad.

Musharraf on Saturday proclaimed a state of emergency in the country and issued the PCO according to which the constitution had been held in abeyance.

Musharraf proclaims state of emergency in Pakistan

www.chinaview.cn 2007-11-04 00:18:39

ISLAMABAD, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) --

Chief of Army Staff of Pakistan General Pervez Musharraf on Saturday declared a state of emergency in the country and issued a provisional constitutional order (PCO).

Under the PCO, the National Assembly, Senate and the provincial assemblies of Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan will remain functional, with Prime Minister and his cabinet, Chief Ministers and provincial cabinets and the governors. All those in the service of Pakistan will also continue performing their duties.

Musharraf ordered and proclaimed that the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan should remain in abeyance. The proclamation shall come into force at once under the PCO.

In view of the ascendancy in the activities of extremists and incidents of terrorist attacks in the country, and the abuse of the judiciary in the country, Musharraf decided to declare a state of emergency after meeting with the Prime Minister, Governors of all four Provinces, and Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, Chiefs of the Armed Forces, Vice-Chief of Army Staff and Corps Commanders of the Pakistan Army, according to the PCO.

President Musharraf is expected to address the nation at 11 p.m.(1800 GMT), according to a report of the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP).

More police forces have been deployed at all exit and entry points of the capital Islamabad and strict checking of vehicles is underway at various points.

Former prime minister and Chairperson of Pakistan People's Party(PPP) Benazir Bhutto will not return to Pakistan from Dubai after Musharraf declared the state of emergency, a spokesman of PPP was quoted by local media as saying.

President Musharraf is expected to address the nation at 11 p.m.(1800 GMT), according to a report of the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP).

More police forces have been deployed at all exit and entry points of the capital Islamabad and strict checking of vehicles is underway at various points.

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