Aziz doesnt rule out imposition of emergency

Keeping the option of declaring a state of emergency in Pakistan open, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has said that the government is currently reviewing the situation and a final decision would be taken accordingly.

Islamabad, Aug 13 : Keeping the option of declaring a state of emergency in Pakistan open, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has said that the government is currently reviewing the situation and a final decision would be taken accordingly.

In an interview to Online News, Aziz said the President imposes an emergency on the advice of the Prime Minister, and he had not recommended this to Pervez Musharraf.

"We have no plan to impose an emergency in the country at the moment. We are reviewing the situation, and the decision would be taken according to the situation. The imposition of emergency is a constitutional and legal issue," he said.

He went on to say that Musharraf had held consultations with him and Pakistan Muslim League (PML) president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain on the possibility of emergency rule on the basis of a poor law and order situation.

On the prevailing political scenario in the country, Aziz said that speculations are not unusual in politics, but categorically stated that the PML with its allied parties would contest the next general elections.

He said the presidential election would be held between September 15 to October 15, and the government was determined to hold free and fair elections, The Nation reported.

Responding to a query on who would be the next Prime Minister, Aziz said the PML would nominate the candidate, if it wins the election with majority.

Commenting on the media reports that the US is considering military action against extremists in the country's tribal areas, he made it clear that no country would be allowed to launch operation inside Pakistan at any cost, adding that the government cannot comprise on the country's sovereignty.

ANI