Pakistan declares state of emergency
President Musharraf today declared a state of emergency in Pakistan ahead of a crucial supreme court decision on whether to overturn his recent election win amid rising Islamist militant violence.
Eight judges immediately rejected the decision, which suspended the constitution. The government has blocked transmissions of TV news channels in several cities and telephone services in the capital, Islamabad, have been disrupted.
"The chief of army staff has proclaimed a state of emergency and issued a provisional constitutional order," announced state broadcaster Pakistan TV, adding that President Musharraf, who took power in a1999 coup, would address the nation later today.
The state TV report gave no reason for the emergency but it follows weeks of speculation that the president could take the step. Military vehicles patrolled and troops blocked roads in the administrative heart of the capital.
The US and other western allies this week urged him not not to take steps that would jeopardise the country's transition to democracy.
During previous emergencies in Pakistan, a provisional constitutional order has led to the suspension of citizens' basic rights and for judges to take a fresh oath of office.
"This is the most condemnable act," said Ahsan Iqbal, a spokesman for the opposition PML-N party of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, whom President Musharraf barred from returning to Pakistan from exile in September to mount a campaign against military rule. "The whole nation will resist this extra-constitutional measure," he said.
The Private Geo TV network reported the eight judges rejected the declaration of emergency and ordered top officials, including the prime minister and military officers, not to comply with it.
Dozens of police blocked the road in front of the court building, with the judges believed to be inside. Unconfirmed reports from Geo indicated the army had entered the court building.
The government blocked transmissions of private news channels in the capital and other cities.
Shahzad Iqbal, an official at a cable TV news provider in Islamabad, said the authorities were blocking transmissions of private news channels in Islamabad and neighbouring Rawalpindi. State TV was still on the air.
"The government has done it," he said. Residents of Karachi said their cable TV was also off the air.
Original article posted here.
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