ISLAMABAD, 9 August 2007 — Pakistan’s embattled President Pervez Musharraf is contemplating to impose a state of emergency in the country, sources said.
Former prime minister and chief of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (Q) Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain has reportedly instructed lawmakers from his party to be present in the Parliament, sources said. Sources further said that this was one of the reasons that Musharraf pulled out of Pak-Afghan jirga being organized in Kabul from today.
However, president’s Media Adviser retired Maj. Gen. Rashid Qureshi denied reports that Musharraf was mulling a state of emergency.
Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan, a legislator from Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), told a private TV channel ARY One, ”My information says, President Musharraf has already signed a draft suggesting imposition of state of emergency.”
Aitzaz said we will move courts if Musharraf imposes emergency.
Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto yesterday warned Musharraf that time is running out for them to make a deal.
In an interview with Voice of America, Benazir — who ruled Pakistan twice between 1988 and 1996 — said Musharraf had as yet made no gestures suggesting he was willing to act on her key demands.
The president is trying to win support from the opposition Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) that Benazir leads in order to get through the worst crisis since he seized power in a coup in 1999.
Benazir, currently living in exile, suggested that she wants the military ruler to lift a ban on her returning to Pakistan and drop the corruption charges against her.
“One thing is certain, that time is running out for Gen. Musharraf’s side to reach some kind of an accommodation with the opposition,” she told VOA.
“And unless they can come up with up-front gestures, I think it is going to be very difficult, given that nothing has happened since the process began.” Benazir again declined to confirm a reported meeting with Musharraf in Abu Dhabi last month, where they reportedly discussed making a deal.
