A Pakistan daily in its lead editorial has said that a proclamation of national emergency is on the table for the approval of President Pervez Musharraf, but it would endanger the interest of the country.
Islamabad, Aug 10 : A Pakistan daily in its lead editorial has said that a proclamation of national emergency is on the table for the approval of President Pervez Musharraf, but it would endanger the interest of the country.
The paper said that the Pakistan Muslim League (Quami) chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain is worried that it might come "within days".
Off and on since one year, Hussain, has been hinting at the imposition of emergency, always adding that, in case it is done the 2007 elections could be postponed for a year under the Constitution.
On the other hand, President Musharraf has always denied the possibility of an emergency although he apparently never stopped Chaudhry Shujaat from repeating the emergency mantra.
"If the President is satisfied that a grave emergency exists in which the security of Pakistan, or any part thereof, is threatened by war or external aggression, or by internal disturbance beyond the power of a provincial government to control, he may issue a Proclamation of Emergency".
The editorial said what has changed since last year's alarms and diversions to make the President step up to the brink, if the reports are true?
With the automatic suspension of Articles 15, 16 and 17 pertaining to fundamental rights, the government would arm itself against any agitation which the opposition might plan to stage on the eve of the presidential or general elections.
Certainly, if the elections are postponed for one year, these leaders may not have the incentive to return home after all, which is what the government wants.
In any case, in the eyes of the government, an emergency would enable it to oust the Supreme Court from its jurisdiction to adjudicate cases pertaining to the leaders' return.
But these are all the wrong reasons for the imposition of an Emergency. There is no external threat to Pakistan unless one seriously believes the statements made by the presidential candidates in the United States - about attacking Pakistan in pursuit of al Qaeda.
The Supreme Court will certainly adjudicate the imposition of an emergency and may find it wrongly applied. A joint session of the parliament will have to pass the Emergency Act and, if it doesn't, the emergency will lapse after two months.
An Emergency will not work whereas the holding of free and fair elections will resolve the dangerous political divide in the country.
High-handedness of the state during an Emergency will alienate the people further and produce more anarchy than prevalent today.
The timing of Musharraf's move is wrong. It is perceived to be linked to the return of Nawaz Sharif and will make him more popular as the victimised leader.
It implies that Musharraf has not gracefully accepted the restoration of the CJP and wants to clip the wings of the SC, The Daily times said.
It suggests that General Musharraf is putting his own mundane personal interest above the national interest, which might unite the divided opposition.
The way out is not an Emergency but free and fair general elections that return the mandate to the people to whom it belongs.
ANI