Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., November 07, 2007 Cheshvan 26, 5768 | | Israel Time: 09:24 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Print Edition Diplomacy Defense Arts & Leisure Real Estate Jewish World National Advertising Magazine Week's End Business Opinion Rosner's Domain Anglo File Books Travel

del.icio.us Digg It!  new Last update - 15:33 04/11/2007 Pakistani opposition members detained after emergency rule set By News Agencies tags: Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf  Police detained Pakistani opposition figures and lawyers on Sunday as military ruler President Pervez Musharraf tried to stifle the outcry over the imposition of emergency powers. The United States and other Western allies condemned General Musharraf's decision to announce emergency rule on Saturday. Musharraf addressed the nation early on Sunday, hours after imposing emergency rule, and said terrorism and extremism had reached their limit and Pakistan's sovereignty was at stake. Advertisement Military ruler Musharraf, whose emergency rule proclamation cited rising militancy and a hostile judiciary, said Pakistan's system of government had become paralysed by judicial interference and he had imposed emergency rule to complete a transition to civilian-led democratic rule. "Pakistan has reached a dangerous point, and is undergoing an internal crisis," he said in a pre-recorded televised address wearing a traditional Sherwani frock coat. "Whatever is happening is because of internal disturbances. "I fear that if timely action is not taken, then God forbid there is a threat to Pakistan's sovereignty. I cannot allow this country to commit suicide." Musharraf, whose decision drew strong expressions of disappointment from the United States and Britain, appealed to the international community to understand the "criticality" of the situation and accept Pakistan needed time to reach the level of democracy enjoyed in the west. "Please do not expect or demand your level of democracy which you learned over a number of centuries. Please give us time," he said. He was awaiting a Supreme Court ruling on whether he was eligible to run for re-election last month while still army chief. Musharraf said some media channels had added to uncertainty in the country, but did not specify which. Musharraf declared a state of emergency in Pakistan on Saturday, ahead of a crucial Supreme Court ruling on his future as president, thrusting the country deeper into political turmoil as it struggles to contain spreading Islamic militancy. Seven Supreme Court judges immediately rejected the emergency, which suspended the current constitution. The government blocked all television transmissions in major cities other than state-run Pakistan TV, and telephone services in the capital, Islamabad, were cut. Opposition leader Benazir Bhutto flew from Dubai on Saturday and was sitting on a plane at Karachi airport, waiting to see if she would be arrested or deported, her spokesman Wajid Hasan said after speaking to the former prime minister by telephone from London. The chief of army staff has proclaimed a state of emergency and issued a provisional constitutional order, a newscaster on PTV said, adding that Musharraf would address the nation at 6 P.M. GMT. A copy of the emergency order obtained by The Associated Press justified the declaration on the grounds that some members of the judiciary are working at cross purposes with the executive and weakening the government's resolve to fight terrorism. PTV reported that a new chief justice had been appointed to replace Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry, whom Musharraf tried and failed to oust this spring, sparking a popular movement against military rule. Judge Abdul Hameed Dogar was sworn in by Musharraf in his place. The state of emergency follows weeks of speculation that the military leader, who took power in a 1999 coup and later made Pakistan a U.S. ally in its war on terror, could take the step. Military vehicles patrolled and troops blocked roads in the administrative heart of the capital. The U.S. and other Western allies urged Musharraf this week not to declare martial law or an emergency that would jeopardize the country's transition to democracy. Crucial parliamentary elections are due by January, which are meant to restore civilian rule. The emergency was expected to be followed by arrests of lawyers and other perceived opponents of the government, including civil society activists and possibly even members of the judiciary itself, a ruling party lawmaker said on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue. Private Geo TV reported that the president of the Supreme Court Bar Association, Aitzaz Ahsan, had been arrested. He was a lawyer for Chaudhry in the case that led to his reinstatement in July. As telephone lines were cut, it was not possible to contact government spokesmen for confirmation. Chaudhry and other judges drove out of the court building in a convoy of black cars over two hours after the emergency was declared, under police escort. A police officer at the scene said they were being shifted to their official residences nearby. During previous emergencies in Pakistan, a provisional constitutional order has led to the suspension of some basic rights of citizens and for judges to take a fresh oath of office. "This is the most condemnable act," Ahsan Iqbal, a spokesman for the opposition PML-N party of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, said of the emergency. Musharraf barred Sharif 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. Bookmark to del.icio.us Guest speaker Peres has been invited to address the Turkish parliament. Resisting slavery Nearly 28% of Israeli males avoided conscription in 2007.   1.   Emergency in Pakistan 17:50  |  Ahmed m Ibrahim 03/11/07   2.   I agree with #1 18:03  |  Aaron 03/11/07   3.   A second nuclear problem on the horizon 19:11  |  Jonathan S 03/11/07   4.   Pakistan emergency 20:01  |  Ray 03/11/07   5.   A step closer to Al Qaeda acquiring a nuclear arsenal. 20:02  |  Chris Linthwaite 03/11/07   6.   Unfortunately, the Americans have made the world very 21:52  |  Goo 03/11/07   7.   george bush 22:38  |  Steve 03/11/07   8.   terror card is an ace of spades 22:48  |  akiva (zionist) 03/11/07   9.   Excellent Move by Musharraf 23:09  |  Brod 03/11/07   10.   Now is the time 23:52  |  Baz Mann 03/11/07   11.   Australia`s Howard government sells uranium to China... 01:23  |  Maureen Ann 04/11/07   12.   Baz Mann @#10 01:45  |  akiva (zionist) 04/11/07   13.   The Islamic Bomb 01:50  |  Mark Lincoln 04/11/07   14.   Pakistan is lost, people will destroy themselves 02:05  |  Johnny 04/11/07   15.   muslims,muslims.... 03:33  |  nmf 04/11/07   16.   MAURREN N Australia sells uranium to India 04:07  |  PETER S.M. 04/11/07   17.   CLINTHWAITE all the Israel bashing and blood libels will not help 04:24  |  PETER S.M. 04/11/07   18.   #16PeterSM. China-Pakistan-Myanmar. 05:59  |  Maureen Ann 04/11/07   19.   CONGRATULATION TALIBAN AND OSAMA 08:09  |  indrajaya 04/11/07   20.   MAUREEN N.You just put the kybosh on the Greens 11:02  |  PETER S.M. 04/11/07   21.   INDRAJAYA.Indonesian brothers need one to do proper job in Bali 11:09  |  PETER S.M. 04/11/07   22.   Musharraf & # 1 are right, while Indrajaya... 11:51  |  Ben - Africa 04/11/07   23.   # 22, BEN-AFRICA 12:15  |  indrajaya 04/11/07   24.   Two dictators on same day! 13:06  |  Democrat 04/11/07   25.   Another fiasco for US foreign policy 13:35  |  Tess 04/11/07   26.   Another fiasco for US foreign policy 13:35  |  Tess 04/11/07   27.   Tess - what foreign policy? 13:54  |  Mark Lincoln 04/11/07   28.   Mr. Lincoln.... 14:32  |  Tess 04/11/07   29.   opps lost a sentence... 15:31  |  Tess 04/11/07   30.   Mark Lincoln #13 15:37  |  Brod 04/11/07   31.   Indrajaya #19 15:43  |  Brod 04/11/07   32.   against Haartez policy 19:25  |  American 04/11/07   33.   to Indrajaya,Don`t let your anger blind you soul 19:45  |  Muslim 04/11/07   34.   to Indrajaya,Don`t let your anger blind you soul(part2) 19:58  |  Muslim 04/11/07   35.   democracy needs political Maturity 20:18  |  Muslim 04/11/07   36.   sounds familiar 20:30  |  montyrosen 04/11/07   37.   to Democrat#24 do you have a better alternative 20:39  |  Muslim 04/11/07   38.   Don`t Worry Ray. The Americans Support Musharraf 21:04  |  Reader 04/11/07   39.   Thank you for the support guys 21:28  |  Pervaiz Musharraf 04/11/07   40.   Are You a Gambler? 21:33  |  Reader 04/11/07   41.   nuke exchange if al-queda gets pakestans control 23:17  |  monterosen 04/11/07   42.   Pakistan`s nuclear arsenal 02:49  |  Amir Khan 05/11/07   43.   Once more dictator! 05:17  |  Niva dos santos 05/11/07   44.   #9 05:19  |  Niva dos santos 05/11/07   45.   world-get off of pervez musharrafs back-fix your own problems 22:29  |  yahn goodey 05/11/07   46.   #43 nazi-zionism ? 07:21  |  Yohan Dahal 07/11/07

Today Online Livni to Egyptian FM: Put a stop to weapons smuggling into Gaza Responses: 193 Burston: Hijacking the Holocaust in order to fight abortions Responses: 103 Rosner: Should U.S. Jews help shape Israel's policies? Responses: 96 Netanyahu: No PA partner for peace, PM's partner is virtual Responses: 138 Former U.S. Pres. Bill Clinton remembers Yitzhak Rabin Responses: 65 Haaretz TV: Mentally challenged girl kicked out of day care Responses: 89 Rosner's Domain * The 2008 candidates and the lies of "change" * Upturn in positive views of the war in Iraq (WTR) * Should American Jews have a voice in shaping Israel's policies? * Rosner's Guest: Trying to integrate Judaism and feminism More Headlines 08:46 MI: Abbas likely to resign if Mideast summit fails 08:57 Barak: Israel to retain control of passage between W. Bank, Gaza 08:58 Italy: Iran has every right to a peaceful nuclear program 06:53 Israel to remove Jordan, Egypt from list of 'dangerous states' 19:30 Mukasey one step closer to becoming second Jewish AG in U.S. history 22:50 Israel: UN Human Rights Council 'morally bankrupt' 09:22 Yossi Benayoun nets hat trick in record-setting Champions League match 04:53 Labor MKs slam Barak for failing to politically capitalize on Annapolis 03:31 Hamas plans to build $200 million movie production house in Gaza 23:10 Three treated for shock after Qassam hits Sderot, damaging cars Previous Editions Select Day 06 nov 05 nov 04 nov 02 nov 01 nov 31 oct 30 oct 29 oct 28 oct 26 oct 25 oct 24 oct

Special Offers Advertisement learn Hebrew online with israel's best teachers. Sign up for a trial lesson today Invest in Macedonia New Business Heaven in Europe Long-term Israel programs MASA is your gateway. More programs. More grants. Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations JOIN FREE AT JDATE.COM The most popular online Jewish dating community in the world! Explore the possibilities! Click Here! Dead Sea Salt Beauty and skin care from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 10% off! Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt. Holiday Inn and Crown Plaza Israel Lowest internet rate Guaranteed at ichotelsgroup.com !

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved