Musharraf declines emergency declaration
Pervez Musharraf is considering implementing emergency rule
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Thursday, 09, Aug 2007 06:05
Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf has ruled out imposing a state of emergency, a government minister said.
Earlier a government spokesperson had suggested that the measure was being considered because of threats from external groups. In particular the recent talk of US military action against the Taliban in the north of the country had caused concern.
Later today, however, information minister Mohammad Ali Durrani said there was no need to introduce the measures, which would have delayed elections and allowed the president to restrict movement of people, large gatherings and political activities for a two-month period.
"The president was under pressure from different political parties to impose an emergency, but he believes in holding a free and fair election and is not in favour of any step that hinders it," the Reuters news agency quoted information minister Mohammad Ali Durrani as saying.
Although Pakistan has been engaged in military action against the Taliban, many commentators believe the possibility of emergency rule is linked to internal problems.
The news comes shortly after General Musharraf pulled out of a three-day meeting with Afghan president Hamid Karzai which was billed as a peace discussion - or jirga - to deal with the Taliban militancy in the north of Pakistan.
US president George Bush had put great emphasis on the talks during a press conference with Mr Karzai on Monday as Pakistan's peace agreement with pro-Taliban militants - which has now ended – collapsed in the aftermath of last month's Red Mosque siege in Islamabad.
The Taliban has been excluded from the talks and militants from the group have called for them to be boycotted.
Pakistan's prime minister, Shaukat Aziz, is attending the conference instead of General Musharraf.
US state department spokesman Sean McCormack said that the Pakistani president "certainly wouldn't stay back in Islamabad [Pakistan's capital] if he didn't believe he had good and compelling reasons to stay back".
He added: "Certainly, we would understand that. He's the president of the country; he has to make these kinds of decisions."
It is understood that US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice has been in contact with General Musharraf about the situation.