CNews
Musharraf declares state of emergency, issues PCO
Musharraf declares state of emergency, issues PCO
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ISLAMABAD
ISLAMABAD (updated on: November 04, 2007, 06:50 PST):
President General Pervez Musharraf has imposed emergency in the country, held in abeyance the constitution, sacked most of the superior judges and suspended some basic fundamental rights including curbs on freedom of expression.According to the Provisional Constitutional Order(PCO) issued on Saturday night, President blamed Islamic militancy and "interference" by judiciary as the main reasons for proclamation of emergency rule.-- Constitution held in abeyance;-- Fundamental Rights suspended: curbs on freedom of expression;-- National Assembly, Senate and assemblies of Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan to remain functional alongwith PM, his cabinet, CMs, provincial cabinets and governors;-- Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry sacked, Dogar takes oath as CJP, Iftikhar, Soomro, Qureshi, Yasinzai new CJs of high courts;-- Troops deployed at PTV, Radio Pakistan;-- Most telephone lines were down."No court including the Supreme Court, the Federal Shairat Court, and the High Courts, and any tribunal or other authority shall call or permit to be called in question this Order," It said that the fundamental rights under articles, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17 , 19 and 25 shall remain suspended.AFP adds: President Pervez Musharraf imposed emergency rule on Saturday, deploying troops and sacking a top Judge in a bid to reassert his flagging authority against political rivals and militants.Pakistan Television said that Musharraf had suspended the constitution and declared an emergency, ending weeks of speculation that the general might impose emergency rule, or martial law. Witnesses said that troops were deployed at Pakistan Television and Radio Pakistan stations, and most phone lines were down.Other troops sealed off Islamabad thoroughfare where the presidency building, the National Assembly and the Supreme Court are located. Shots were heard in several neighbourhoods of Karachi, where there is strong support for Benazir Bhutto.Television channels said that Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, whose earlier dismissal in March had marked the beginning of a slide in Musharraf's popularity, had been told that his services were "no longer required".Justice Iftikhar had been reinstated in July. Musharraf had been awaiting a Supreme Court ruling on whether he was eligible to run for re-election last month while still army chief. The court said on Friday it would reconvene on Monday and try to finish the case quickly.APP ADDS: President General Pervez Musharraf administered oath to Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar as Chief Justice of Pakistan at the Aiwan-e-Sadr. Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, members of the cabinet and federal secretaries attended the ceremony.Justice Nawaz Abbasi, Justice Faqir Muhammad Khokhar and Justice M Javed Buttar took oath as the judges of the Supreme Court under the Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO).Similarly Chief Justice Aman Ullah Yaseen Zai took oath under the PCO for Balochistan High Court, Justice Talat Qayyum Qureshi for Peshawar High Court and Justice Mohammad Afzal Soomro for Sindh High Court and Justice Iftikhar Hussain Chaudhry for Lahore High Court.
