New Delhi: According to reports in Pakistan media a high-level meeting presided over by President General Pervez Musharraf decided on Wednesday to declare emergency in the country for one month that could be extended for three months.
However, the Pakistan government has denied imposition of emergency.
The timing of this speculated emergency declaration is particularly important when one takes into account the fact that on Thursday the Supreme Court of Pakistan is taking up the petition of deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif.
“We are watching the situation closely. This development is the result of excerpts of petition published in newspapers that I had made no deal with Musharraf before my extradition to Jeddah.” Sharif told CNN-IBN.
It is rumoured that Musharraf fears the apex court may give a favourable verdict on the exiled leader’s fundamental rights and in view of this, an emergency declaration by the President makes a lot of sense.
Reinstated Pakistani Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry and senior judge M Javed Buttar will hear the petitions of Sharif and his brother Shabaz, who seek to be permitted to return to Pakistan after being forced into exile in 2000.
With the Islamic uprising in the background, the whole purpose of an emergency being declared is for Musharraf to retain power.
Meanwhile, speculation is also rife on whether martial law will be declared along with emergency in Pakistan. This reference is important because when Musharraf came to power in a coup, he had declared emergency, but at that time no martial law had been imposed.
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