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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Pakistan considers emergency rule | Pakistan considers emergency rule |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Pakistan's government is considering imposing emergency rule, the country's information minister has said. | Pakistan's government is considering imposing emergency rule, the country's information minister has said. |
| Tariq Azeem conceded that the issue was being discussed, as Pakistani TV channels reported that a declaration state of emergency was imminent. | Tariq Azeem conceded that the issue was being discussed, as Pakistani TV channels reported that a declaration state of emergency was imminent. |
| An emergency would limit the role of the courts, restrict civil liberties and curb freedom of expression. | An emergency would limit the role of the courts, restrict civil liberties and curb freedom of expression. |
| Earlier, Pakistan's president said he would not attend a tribal council in Afghanistan on combating the Taleban. | Earlier, Pakistan's president said he would not attend a tribal council in Afghanistan on combating the Taleban. |
| General Pervez Musharraf pulled out of the three-day council, or jirga, citing commitments in Islamabad. | General Pervez Musharraf pulled out of the three-day council, or jirga, citing commitments in Islamabad. |
| Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz will attend in his place. | Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz will attend in his place. |
| Up to 700 tribal elders, Islamic clerics and leaders of both countries are invited to the council, starting on Thursday, which will discuss terrorism. | Up to 700 tribal elders, Islamic clerics and leaders of both countries are invited to the council, starting on Thursday, which will discuss terrorism. |
| The Taleban have not been included, and are calling for a boycott of the event. | The Taleban have not been included, and are calling for a boycott of the event. |
| 'Difficult circumstances' | 'Difficult circumstances' |
| Gen Musharraf faces a volatile political and security situation after a siege at a radical Islamabad mosque and protests by lawyers angry at the sacking of the country's chief justice. | Gen Musharraf faces a volatile political and security situation after a siege at a radical Islamabad mosque and protests by lawyers angry at the sacking of the country's chief justice. |
| We are going through difficult circumstances so the possibility of an emergency cannot be ruled out Tariq AzeemPakistan Information Minister | We are going through difficult circumstances so the possibility of an emergency cannot be ruled out Tariq AzeemPakistan Information Minister |
| US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice reportedly spoke at length with Gen Musharraf early on Thursday, amid widespread reports of the possibility of an emergency. | US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice reportedly spoke at length with Gen Musharraf early on Thursday, amid widespread reports of the possibility of an emergency. |
| "The possibility of the enforcement of emergency, like other possibilities, is under discussion," Mr Azeem said, although he stressed that the measure might not be necessary. | |
| "I cannot say that it will be tonight, tomorrow or later. We hope that it does not happen. | "I cannot say that it will be tonight, tomorrow or later. We hope that it does not happen. |
| "But we are going through difficult circumstances so the possibility of an emergency cannot be ruled out," the Associated Press quoted him as saying. | "But we are going through difficult circumstances so the possibility of an emergency cannot be ruled out," the Associated Press quoted him as saying. |
| He said US threats to launch an operation in the tribal areas and the recent targeting of Chinese nationals had played a role in the issue being discussed. | |
| "In addition, the situation on the borders and the suicide attacks are also a concern," Mr Azeem added. | "In addition, the situation on the borders and the suicide attacks are also a concern," Mr Azeem added. |
| Hostile judiciary | Hostile judiciary |
| A meeting of senior government officials headed by President Musharraf was expected to be held on Thursday to decide the issue. | A meeting of senior government officials headed by President Musharraf was expected to be held on Thursday to decide the issue. |
| The emergency is a big step and the government should think twice before enforcing it Benazir BhuttoOpposition leader | The emergency is a big step and the government should think twice before enforcing it Benazir BhuttoOpposition leader |
| Under an emergency, powers to detain citizens would be extended and parliament could extend its tenure by a year. | Under an emergency, powers to detain citizens would be extended and parliament could extend its tenure by a year. |
| Observers believe if Gen Musharraf opts for emergency rule it would primarily affect the powers of the increasingly hostile judiciary, says the BBC's Syed Shoaib Hasan, in Islamabad. | Observers believe if Gen Musharraf opts for emergency rule it would primarily affect the powers of the increasingly hostile judiciary, says the BBC's Syed Shoaib Hasan, in Islamabad. |
| It would also allow the president to postpone national elections due to be held later in 2007. | It would also allow the president to postpone national elections due to be held later in 2007. |
| This could enable him to continue in his role as chief of Pakistan's powerful military. | This could enable him to continue in his role as chief of Pakistan's powerful military. |
| Opposition political parties, like Pakistan's largest party, the PPP, want Gen Musharraf to give up the role. | Opposition political parties, like Pakistan's largest party, the PPP, want Gen Musharraf to give up the role. |
| "The emergency is a big step and the government should think twice before enforcing it," said former Prime Minister and PPP leader Benazir Bhutto. | "The emergency is a big step and the government should think twice before enforcing it," said former Prime Minister and PPP leader Benazir Bhutto. |
| "I hope such a drastic step will not take place. | "I hope such a drastic step will not take place. |
| "It will be a retrogressive step taking the country backwards." | "It will be a retrogressive step taking the country backwards." |