I'm generally not one to be overly critical of a politicians lack of experience. Sen. Obama's inability (or refusal) to understand that threatening an ally with unilateral invasion might have these sorts of ramifications, however, is unforgivable.
Pakistan May Declare State of Emergency
ABC NewsLegal experts and security officials met with Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf Thursday, as the government weighed whether to invoke a state of emergency for what it said were mounting "external and internal" threats, officials said.
Tariq Azim, minister of state for information, said talk from the United States about the possibility of U.S. military action against al-Qaida in Pakistan "has started alarm bells ringing and has upset the Pakistani public." He mentioned Democratic presidential hopeful Barak Obama by name as an example of someone who made such comments, saying his recent remarks were one reason the government was debating a state of emergency.
But it appeared the motivation for an emergency declaration was domestic political woes of Musharraf, a key ally in the U.S. war on terrorism.
His popularity has dwindled and his standing has been badly shaken by a failed bid to oust the country's chief justice, Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry an independent-minded judge likely to rule on expected legal challenges to Musharraf's bid to seek a new five-year presidential term.
It was not immediately clear how Musharraf might gain politically from a state of emergency, but it would give him sweeping powers, including the ability to restrict people's freedom to move, rally, and engage in political activities.
He would also gain powers to restrict the parliament's right to make laws, and to suspend the courts' ability to hear cases on fundamental rights such as freedom of movement. Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has lodged a freedom of movement case with the Supreme Court that could allow him to return from exile to run in parliamentary elections due soon.
"These are only unconfirmed reports although the possibility of imposition of emergency cannot be ruled out and has recently been talked about and discussed, keeping in mind some external and internal threats and the law and order situation," Tariq Azim, minister of state for information, told The Associated Press.
UPDATE: President Musharraf has decided not to suspend democratic institutions, but this does not excuse Sen. Obama's comments, which provided him an excuse to do so.
Musharraf rejects emergency
ABC NewsISLAMABAD (Reugers) - President Pervez Musharraf rejected calls to declare emergency powers and wants Pakistan's elections to go ahead, a spokesman said on Thursday after reports the beleaguered leader would opt for authoritarian rule.
Private television channels and newspapers had reported General Musharraf was poised to take a step that would probably delay elections due by the turn of the year and could result in restrictions on rights of assembly and curbs on the media.
"In the president's view, there is no need at present to impose an emergency," Information Minister Mohammad Ali Durrani said.
"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 favor of any step that hinders it," Durrani added, without specifying the parties.
Members of the ruling coalition have the most to lose at the polls, and Musharraf's own popularity has plunged since he tried in vain to oust the country's most senior judge.
Western countries with troops in Afghanistan are sensitive to any instability in nuclear-armed Pakistan, whose help is crucial to fighting the Taliban insurgency and al Qaeda.
U.S. President George W. Bush on Thursday urged Musharraf to hold a free and fair election.
"That's what we've been talking to him about and I'm hopeful they will," Bush told a news conference.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment