PAKISTAN: State of Emergency Declared

[UPDATE: SAJA's list of freelance journalists in South Asia might be useful for foreign media outlets right now. Meanwhile, please post your comments and news links below.]

Pakistan's President, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, has declared a state of emergency (full text of the declaration below).

New Jersey-based Asif Alam, head of the Association of Pakistani Professionals, was the first to alert SAJA about this, beating out alerts from CNN, Yahoo and several others.

Here are his messages, in reverse order (more will be added as they come in)...

This is all NY/NJ time on Saturday, Nov. 3, sent by Alam, whose e-mail is asifalam[at]aopp.org (COAS = Chief of Army Staff):

• 9:24:58 AM - Chief Justice removed from the Supreme Court. Emergency implemented - 1973 constitution suspended -federal and provincial assemblies removed - PCO similar to the one of 1999 - all television and radio station off the air in Pakistan.- cell and internet will be closed according to the news agencies in another hour.
  Justice Dogar slated to be new chief justice.
  Musharraf will address the nation.
• 9:35:17 AM - 8 Justices  of Supreme Court called emergency meeting and have issued notice that PCO issued by COAS is not valid.
• 9:13:52 AM - Chief justice removed from the post - emergency implemented. - News agencies are saying that the decision to implement emergency is all but confirmed.
  Mushrraf may address the nation later today
  Emergency declared by COAS!!!

See the rest of the Asif Alam postings below.

An update from DC-based Murtaza Solangi, who's watching Pakistani TV:

Pakistani media is reporting that Musharraf regime is imposing Emergency in Pakistan in a few hours. Under government orders cable operators have already pulled the plug on the news TV channels.

Follow the news here: Google News | Yahoo News | BBC

Blog coverage: Lahore Metblog | Islamabad Metblog | Prof. Anil Kalhan

Post your comments and thoughts - and news updates below.

See previous Pakistan items on SAJAforum, including coverage of last week's Newsweek cover story, calling Pakistan the most dangerous nation in the world.

Asif Alam postings, continued...

• 10:38:53 AM - Aitazaz Hussain arrested and sent to Adilia Jail!!!
• 10:41:26 AM: 8 bench Supreme Court headed by CJ (suspended?) ordered all the justices not to take oath under PCO because PCO is against law..remeber COAS has earlier suspended CJ.
  
  CJ and 8 justices are in the supreme court right now
• 10:49:08 AM - worst crisis - CJ and 8 supreme court have ordered all the army staff officers (including cor commanders) and all the goverment officers not to bless pco and has stopped all the judges to take fresh oath under pco  - war b/w GHQ and Judges
• 11:10:48 AM : Aitazaz H on ARY calling from  restroom under arrest - he is saying that the constitution cannot be suspended - PCO cannot be implemented. - calls Musharraf bad looser and spoiled child.
• 11:33:47 AM : musharraf to address at 11pm Pakistan Time.
• 11:42:00 AM: Indian Army on high alert
  11:44:18 AM : Rally outside New York Pakistani Consulate at 2:30 pm today - call Dr Nasir Gondal - 917-860-0808
• 11:55:51 AM: Justice Dogar takes oath under PCO - He is the new CJ according to PTV.
• 12:38:08 PM: 4 out 28 taking oath in Sindh Supreme Court - CJ Soomro new Sindh CJ - big revolt in Sindh HC as only 4 turned out to take oath.
• 12:39:38 PM: 35 pages press ordinance promulagated by the Govt - strict law on airing and printing news will be implemented including postings on website!!
• 12:43:31 PM: CJ Amanullah new Balochistan HC CJ
• 12:44:51 PM: Judje Javed buttar and two  more supreme court justice take oath with CJ Dogar.
• 12:49:22 PM: 7 Supreme Court Judges reject PCO
• 12:52:22 PM: Benazir refuses to comment on Emergency in Pakistan according to GEO.
• 1:44:14 PM: Punjab HC judges take oath
• 1:48:32 PM: unconfirmed news that BB arrives in Pakistan (KHI) - large number of PPP workers at KHI airport.
• 2:21:02 PM: President will address in 25 minutes
• 2:09:57 PM: Leader of Opposition Maulana Fazlul-Rehman says that country is in martial law and not emergency. He is saying that the martial law is against the supreme and high courts.
• 2:15:37 PM: White House has asked Musharraf to quit the army office before he is sworn in as the president. State department spokesman issued a statement that United States is deeply disturbed by reports.
• 2:24:23 PM: Benazir Bhutto returns to Karachi.
• 2:49:33 PM: Musharraf speach:
  
  - sucide bombing, terrorism and extremism at its peak - not afraid of security officials.
  
  - extremism in islmbd is spreading - they are trying run a govt within a govt.
  
  - extremist trying to enforce there version of islam on everyone.
  
  - all govt officials are being punished by the courts - they are afraid of taking any orders. 100's of suo mot cases against govt is in place by the court against govt.
  
  - security forces have lost hopes because there senior officials have been asked to visit court everyday blocking them from do what they are suppose to.
  
  - before 1999 Pakistan was a failed state. When I came I have three stage in mind for transition - in stage 1, I controlled everything in stage 2 I was only overseeing with PM, assembly in place. In the final stage 3, full democracy will be implemented. Some elements are trying to block the country to get to stage 3.
  
  - lots of FDI that was comming till last year has all of a sudden stopped.
  
  - 7 years of development in the infrastructure, telecommunication, foreign investment which is essential for Pakistan future is in danger.
  
  - Pakistan is facing internal crisis - some media channels has projected negative influence in Pakistan. It is the same media channels that I have given independence to.
  
  - Ask the nation why this negative behavior?
  
  - clash of judicial and govt is causing lot of damage to Pakistan. This all started on March 9th on the recmd. of Prime Minister and I submitted according to the constitutuion. Law and order breakdown because of the political involment. I may not agree with the decision but I accepted the decision whole heartedly. Unfortunately even after my full cooperation the problem still existed.
  
  - Lal Masjid was trageic - Pakistani image was put to shame in the whole world. They took chineese hostage.
  
  -61 terrorist because of supreme court orders are roaming around the country
  
  - because of supreme court orders - maderassa that harbor terrorism were ordered to be open.
  
  - supereme court has ordered to put the same admintration that was responsible for so many killlings
  Inquiry.
  
  - uncertainity and political instability is because of supreme court - court is not issuing the order - whole nation is waiting for the decision yet the court is delaying the decision. Prime Minister wrote to me that it is very difficult to run the country.
  
  - because of all this we have to take action and we need to stop the downslide.
  
  - three pillars of the country  has to sit together for a better governance.
  
  - this is the only way to get back on the track - with all this in mind, I discussed with govt, politicians, expat pakistani's and my plan remains the same to complete the stage 3 for restoration of full democracy.
  
  - all the assemblies will remain intact under pco and PM and all the ministers will remain as before.
  
  - now in english - to the friends in the west - I would ask you to kindly understand the criticality in and around pakistan. Pakistan is on the verge of distablization. The saddest part is that after we have achieved in 7 years we see a downward trend because of extremism and I feel that "inaction" will be disaster and therefore I had to take this action in order to protect the democratic transition - the three stage - 1st being I being in control - 2nd where the local and federal govt was incharge and I was just overseeing and the 3rd stage that I want the coutry to go to which is full democracy and for us to go that 3rd stage I request you all to bare with us - to the critics and idealist - do not demand the level of democracy that you learned over centuries - Lincoln broke laws in term of preserving the constitution.
  
  - we are learning democracy. It is the nation that is important and it is pakistan that comes first and whatever I do is for pakistan.
  
  - I am doing with full conviction
  
  - back to urdu - there was no other way - I know how to fight and I am figting for the nation - with your support, with you next to me, we can bring Pakistan back on track together.
  
  - nation is fed up of extremism, terrorism - let's fight together. May Allah take care of all of us.
  
  End at 3:35:46 PM
• 3:55:32 PM: BB press conference, condems enforcement of emergency - terms emergency as martial law. I returned to Pakistan to support the Pakistani and to be with them at this difficult time. Wants restoration of democracy as soon as possible. Peace and stablization can come only through democracy. Emergency imposed because the govt was afraid of the decision on court decision on presendential election.

Text of emergency law proclamation
  Updated at 2150 PST, Nov. 3, 2007
  Proclamation of Emergency declared by Chief of the Army Staff General Pervez Musharraf on Saturday:

“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 functions, 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 and 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 administration;

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, made 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 in 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 four Provinces, and with Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, Chiefs of the Armed Forces, Vice-Chief 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.

2. I hereby order and proclaim that the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan shall remain in abeyance.

3. This Proclamation shall come into force at once.”