US dismayed by Musharraf's move
Monday, 5 November 2007
ISLAMABAD, Nov. 4 (Agencies): Pakistan's government probably will announce a new schedule for parliamentary elections soon, as lawyers plan to shun courts across the country tomorrow and opposition parties agitate to protest against President Pervez Musharraf's decision to impose emergency rule.
``The state of emergency was only declared last night so a lot of things have to be decided,'' Deputy Information Minister Tariq Azeem said in a telephone interview today from Islamabad.
``Now that an emergency has been declared, one needs to look at the schedule again. We will learn in the next day or two what the new schedule is going to be.''
Meanwhile, the Bush administration responded to Musharraf's decision to impose emergency rule in Pakistan with dismay and concern, after having spent recent days pleading with him not to take such a step.
Indeed Musharraf's move to suspend Pakistan's normal constitutional order marks his most significant break with the US since he heeded President George W Bush's warning of "you are either with us or against us" in 2001 and turned against the Taliban in Afghanistan, whom Pakistan had previously sponsored.
"This action is very disappointing," said the White House.
"President Musharraf needs to stand by his pledges to have free and fair elections in January and step down as Chief of Army Staff before retaking the Presidential oath of office."
Musharraf (64) suspended the constitution yesterday for the second time since he took power, extending the military's nine- year control of the world's second-most populous Muslim nation.
He made no reference to parliamentary elections due to be held by Jan. 15 in a 45-minute address to the nation early today in which he explained his reasons for imposing emergency rule.
Musharraf's crackdown came as the Supreme Court was nearing a decision on the legality of his re-election Oct. 6 as president by lawmakers while also serving as army chief.
The president's decision to step down as army chief before Nov. 15 will now ``depend on the circumstances,'' his spokesman Rashid Qureshi said in a phone interview, without giving details. Musharraf had earlier promised to quit his post as army chief before Nov. 15.
Lawyers and leaders of opposition parties condemned Musharraf's decision to suspend citizens' rights. As many as 150 lawyers and human rights activists staged a protest near judges' homes in Islamabad today.
Condoleezza Rice, US secretary of state, had personally made such arguments to Musharraf in several telephone calls over the past week. Admiral William Fallon, head of the US military's central command, visited the country on Friday and made his own case against military rule - but to no avail.
``The state of emergency was only declared last night so a lot of things have to be decided,'' Deputy Information Minister Tariq Azeem said in a telephone interview today from Islamabad.
``Now that an emergency has been declared, one needs to look at the schedule again. We will learn in the next day or two what the new schedule is going to be.''
Meanwhile, the Bush administration responded to Musharraf's decision to impose emergency rule in Pakistan with dismay and concern, after having spent recent days pleading with him not to take such a step.
Indeed Musharraf's move to suspend Pakistan's normal constitutional order marks his most significant break with the US since he heeded President George W Bush's warning of "you are either with us or against us" in 2001 and turned against the Taliban in Afghanistan, whom Pakistan had previously sponsored.
"This action is very disappointing," said the White House.
"President Musharraf needs to stand by his pledges to have free and fair elections in January and step down as Chief of Army Staff before retaking the Presidential oath of office."
Musharraf (64) suspended the constitution yesterday for the second time since he took power, extending the military's nine- year control of the world's second-most populous Muslim nation.
He made no reference to parliamentary elections due to be held by Jan. 15 in a 45-minute address to the nation early today in which he explained his reasons for imposing emergency rule.
Musharraf's crackdown came as the Supreme Court was nearing a decision on the legality of his re-election Oct. 6 as president by lawmakers while also serving as army chief.
The president's decision to step down as army chief before Nov. 15 will now ``depend on the circumstances,'' his spokesman Rashid Qureshi said in a phone interview, without giving details. Musharraf had earlier promised to quit his post as army chief before Nov. 15.
Lawyers and leaders of opposition parties condemned Musharraf's decision to suspend citizens' rights. As many as 150 lawyers and human rights activists staged a protest near judges' homes in Islamabad today.
Condoleezza Rice, US secretary of state, had personally made such arguments to Musharraf in several telephone calls over the past week. Admiral William Fallon, head of the US military's central command, visited the country on Friday and made his own case against military rule - but to no avail.