Musharraf's Emergency

JAYSHREE BAJORIA / Council on Foreign Relations 3nov2007

[Text of Musharraf's statement below]

Mindfully.org note: Americans reading this are probably not aware of just how close Bush is to doing the same thing. If anyone was to prove a serious threat, he'd declare a state of emergency in a flash. In fact, he's already passed secret laws that essentially make the president above all. Condolezza Rice put Musharraf down for declaring the state of emergency, all the while, secretly planning for it in the USA.

Pakistan’s president, General Pervez Musharraf, declared a state of emergency in the country on November 3, suspending the constitution, and giving himself the ability to rule by decree (Dawn). Since Musharraf’s reelection as president under controversial terms last month, the country has been in political flux awaiting a ruling on the legitimacy of the vote from the Supreme Court. Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, who quickly condemned the general’s decree, has been replaced (BBC). Meanwhile, telephone lines in the capital went down and troops were deployed inside state-run TV and radio stations. Independent channels went off air (VOA).

The move came a day after United States warned Musharraf not to impose emergency rule or martial law in the country (WashPost). But pressure on Musharraf to act decisively has been building as the court deliberated his reelection and violence increasingly spilled into areas not normally associated with the lawlessness and religious zealotry of the Pakistan-Afghan border region. Last week, intense clashes raged between the militants and army troops in the Swat valley in North West Frontier Province (IHT). Late last month, bombings in Karachi targeted former prime minister Benazir Bhutto as she returned from years in exile. Other bombs shook a district of Rawalpindi which houses the army’s headquarters.

CFR President Richard N. Haass, who traveled to Pakistan in October, told CFR.org last week “we’re seeing elements of what many are calling the ‘Talibanization’ of Pakistan.” This Backgrounder examines the challenges facing the central government in the so-called Tribal Areas along the northern border, and this interactive map examines the history of this anarchic region.

Musharraf’s declaration of emergency rule occurred while Bhutto was out of the country visiting her family in Dubai, and the popular former prime minister rushed back as soon as the degree was announced (NDTV). The United States had been hoping for a deal between Bhutto and Musharraf that would lend new legitimacy to his government and, ultimately, restore democracy in a country ruled by the general since he overthrew an elected government in a 1999 coup (BBC). State Department spokesman Sean McCormack described the Bush administration as “deeply disturbed” by Musharraf’s move (Bloomberg), which he deemed “a sharp setback for Pakistani democracy.”

United States has been facing growing criticism for its support of Musharraf, as this recent CFR.org debate points out. But the Bush administration has banked heavily on Musharraf's ability to help control Taliban and Al Qaeda forces along the Afghan border, and the country's nuclear arsenal adds an extra level of urgency to anything concerning its stability. Calling Pakistan “arguably the most important partner of United States” in its struggle against global terrorist groups, U.S. Undersecretary for Political Affairs R. Nicholas Burns told a CFR meeting last month “what happens in that country (Pakistan) has a profound and direct impact on our country.”

source: 3nov2007

Text of emergency proclamation

ISLAMABAD, Nov 3 (AFP): This is the full text of the proclamation of the emergency:

PROCLAMATION OF EMERGENCY

Whereas there is visible ascendancy in the activities of extremists and incidents of terrorist attacks, including suicide bombings, IED explosions, rocket firing and bomb explosions and the banding together of some militant groups have taken such activities to an unprecedented level of violent intensity posing a grave threat to the life and property of the citizens of Pakistan. Whereas there has also been a spate of attacks on state infrastructure and on law enforcement agencies;

Whereas some members of the judiciary are working at cross purposes with the executive and legislature in the fight against terrorism and extremism, thereby weakening the government and the nation's resolve and diluting the efficacy of its actions to control this menace; Whereas there has been increasing interference by some members of the judiciary in government policy, adversely affecting economic growth, in particular;

Whereas constant interference in executive function, including but not limited to the control of terrorist activity, economic policy, price controls, downsizing of corporations and urban planning, has weakened the writ of the government; the police force has been completely demoralized and is fast losing its efficacy to fight terrorism and Intelligence Agencies have been thwarted in their activities and prevented from pursuing terrorists;

Whereas some hard core militants, extremists, terrorists and suicide bombers, who were arrested and being investigated were ordered to be released. The persons so released have subsequently been involved in heinous terrorist activities, resulting in loss of human life an property. Militants across the country have, thus, been encouraged while law enforcement agencies subdued;

Whereas some judges by overstepping the limits of judicial authority have taken over the executive and legislative functions;

Whereas the Government is committed to the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law and holds the superior judiciary in high esteem, it is nonetheless of paramount importance that the honourable Judges confine the scope of their activity to the judicial function and not assume charge of administrations;

Whereas an important constitutional institution, the Supreme Judicial Council, has been made entirely irrelevant and non est by a recent order and judges have, thus, make themselves immune from inquiry into their conduct and put themselves beyond accountability.

Whereas the humiliating treatment meted to government officials by some members of the judiciary on a routine basis during court proceedings has demoralized the civil bureaucracy and senior government functionaries, to avoid being harassed, prefer inaction; Whereas the law and order situation in the country as well as the economy have been adversely affected and trichotomy of powers eroded;

Whereas a situation has thus arisen where the government of the country cannot be carried on it Accordance with the constitution and as the constitution provides no solution for this situation, there is no way out except through emergent and extraordinary measures;

And whereas the situation has been reviewed in meetings with the Prime Minister, governors of all Provinces, and with chairman joint chiefs of staff committee, chiefs of the armed forces, vicechief of army Staff and corps commanders of the Pakistan army;Now, therefore, in pursuance of the deliberations and decisions of the said meetings, I, General Pervez Musharraf, Chief of the Army Staff, proclaim emergency throughout Pakistan.

I hereby order and proclaim that the constitution of the Islamic republic of Pakistan shall remain in abeyance.

This Proclamation shall come into force at once.

source: 3nov2007