Pakistan's Future Uncertain After Fall to Military Power

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has announced that January elections could be rescheduled over Musharaf's decision on Saturday to impose emergency rule.

Pakistan's General Musharraf Courtesy: themoderatevoice.com

(SALEM, Ore.) - Just days ago, former Prime Minister Bhutto's return to Pakistan was heralded as a sign of progress and future peace. Then a set of bombs exploded near her motorcade killing many and injuring hundreds.

The situation has disintegrated further now, amid reports of police detaining hundreds of Pakistani opposition figures and lawyers Friday as the country's military ruler President Pervez Musharraf tried to stifle the outcries of his opposition by imposing a state of emergency.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said while en route to Tel Aviv, Israel yesterday, "Let me just say that we have an unfolding story in Pakistan. There appear to be authoritative sources, Pakistani television, saying that a state of emergency is going to be declared. We've not heard from President Musharraf, to my knowledge, yet."

Some reports predict that General Pervez Musharraf might be on his last legs, and that his rash behavior is a sign of paranoia. His decisions in recent days to crack down on opposition has cost him international support, while others say it has set him on a collision course with the main political parties, courts and lawyers.

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Musharraf's declaration of “emergency rule” is said to have been spurred by terrorism, but watchdog groups say this is nonsense. But it is true nonetheless, that there has been a suicide attack almost every day for weeks, as militants move into the previously peaceful Swat valley in the North West Frontier Province.

What Musharaf means by “a state of emergency” is still unclear. It appears to be martial law, with soldiers in controlling the main institutions.

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has announced that January elections could be rescheduled over Musharaf's decision on Saturday to impose emergency rule.

"If you look at Pakistan's constitution," he told one British reporter, "when you have an emergency, parliament could give itself more time, up to a year, in terms of holding the next elections," Aziz said, at a time when Musharraf has also suspended the constitution.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said late yesterday financial aid to Pakistan was being reviewed.

Rice stated, "I just want to be clear that the United States has made clear that it does not support extra-constitutional measures because those measures would take Pakistan away from the path of democracy and civilian rule. And whatever happens, we will be urging a quick return to a constitutional order, we will be urging that the commitment to hold free and fair elections be kept, and we'll be urging calm on all the parties."

Some experts say the only conceivable peaceful outcome is Musharraf's agreement to go ahead with elections due in January, and accept the results. Others say it is more likely that he will not, they suggest this would lead to his being pushed out, and succeeded by another person in uniform, which there would be plenty of.