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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Army soldiers stand alert outside the Parliament House after declaration of emergency rule by President General Pervez Musharraf. |
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ISLAMABAD: President Pervez Musharraf has declared emergency rule, suspended the 1973 constitution and has issued Provisional Constitutional Order, state-run TV has reported, as independent channels went off air.
President Gen Pervez Musharraf in his capacity as Army Chief under article 232 of the constitution announced the imposition of emergency. All civil rights from article 232 till 237 have been suspended.
The proclamation of emergency order says that there is visible ascendancy in the activities of extremists and incidents of terrorist attacks including suicide bombing explosions, rocket firing and the banding together of some militant groups have taken such activities to an unprecedented level of violent intensity posing a grave threat to the life and the property of the citizens of Pakistan.
There has been a spate of attacks on state infrastructure and law enforcement agencies.
The order further says that some members of the judiciary are working at cross purposes with executive and legislature in the fight against terrorism and extremism thereby weakening the government and the nations resolve and dialuting the efficiency of its action to control this menace. There has been increasing interference by some members of the judiciary in government policy, adversely affecting economic growth in particular.
The order explains that constant interference in executive function including but not limited to the control of terrorist activities, economic policy, price controls, downsizing of corporations and urban planning, has weakened the writ of the government. The police force has been completely demoralized and it is fast loosing efficiency to fight terrorism and intelligence agencies have been thawarted in their activities and prevented from pursuing terrorists.
Under the Provisional Constitution Order promulgated Pakistan shall subject to this order and any other order made by the President be governed, as nearly as may be, in accordance with the constitution. The President may from time to time by order amend the constitution as is deemed expedient.
Under the PCO the fundamental rights under Article-9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 19 and 25 shall remain suspended.
All provision of the constitution emodying Islamic injunction including Article-2, 2A, 31, 203A to 203J, 227 to 231 and 260(3) (a) and (b) shall continue to be enforced.
Subject to clause (1) of the PCO and oath of office of judges Order 2007, all courts in existance immediately before the commencement of this order shall continue to function and exercise their respective powers and jurisdiction.
Under the PCO the Supreme Court or a High Court and any other court shall not have the power to make any order against the President or the Prime Minister or any person exercising powers or jurisdiction under this authority.
All persons who immediately before the commencement of this order were in office as judges of the Supreme Court, the Federal Shariat Court or a High Court shall be governed by and be subject to the oath of office (Judges) Order 2007 and such further orders as the President may pass.
The Parliament and the Provincial Assemblies shall continue to function. All persons who immediately before the commencement of this order were holding any service, post or office in connection with the affairs of the federation or a province including an all Pakistan service, service in the Armed forces and any other service declared to be a service of Pakistan by or under act of Parliament or of a provincial assembly or chief Election Commissioner, or Auditor General shall continue in the said service on same terms and condition and shall enjoy the same privilege unless these are changed under order of the President.
No court including the Supreme Court, the Federal Shariat Court and the High Courts and any tribunal or other authority shall call or permit to be called in question this order.
No judgment, decree, writ, order or process whatsoever shall be made or issued by any court or tribunal against the President or the Prime Minister or any other authority designated by the President.
Notwithstanding the abyance of the provisions of the constitution, but subject to the orders of president, all laws other than the constitution, all ordinances, orders, rules, byelaws, regulations, notifications and other legal instruments in force in any part of Pakistan whether by the President or Governor of a Province shall continue in force untill altered, amended or repealed by the Presidnet or any authority designated by him.
An ordinance promulagated by the Presidnet or Governor of a province shall not be subject to any limitation as to duration prescribed in the constitution, the order says.
Meanwhile Paramilitary troops have been deployed inside state-run television and radio stations in Islamabad.
Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry has been removed from his post as army troops take control of the Supreme Court.
All communication contacts have been cut off mobile and Internet services have been suspended and private TV channels transmission closed down.
President Musharraf has ordered the heads of the security agencies to ensure law and order during the state of emergency, due to which security has been intensified in the federal capital and four provincial capitals.
The army has taken control of the federal capital and a large number of troops and rangers have been deployed at public places, embassies and other key government installations. More than 1000 troops of frontier constabulary have been summoned to maintain security.
All ways towards Constitutional Avenue and Parliament House has been closed. Media men have also been barred from entering.
Meanwhile the federal cabinet has endorsed the imposition of Emergency imposed by President and COAS Gen. Musharraf.
Endorsing ythe emergency, the cabinet defended and supported the move of President Pervez Musharraf and said that due to volatile situation in Country the imposition of emergency was inevitable.
The emergency meeting of the cabinet was held in PM House on Saturday evening, convened by PM, Shaukat Aziz, which was attended by the federal cabinet and other high-ranking civil officials.
Addressing the meeting the PM said that all necessary steps would be taken to ensure law and order situation, which would be implemented vigorously with the help of all security related institutions, including Army.
Sources have disclosed that cabinet was informed that the general socio-political situation of the Country had reached a volatile point-of no return due to confrontation between various institutions, rampant increase in terrorism and extremism, confrontation of government against the Judiciary, were some of the prime causes that gave way to imposition of the emergency.
He said that despite all odds it was nevertheless an encouraging factor that the newly promulgated PCO keeps the senate, assemblies and all other institution intact.
The PM directed all the law enforcement elements to take all necessary steps to maintain the law and order situation of the country intact. | 
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