A state of emergency can be declared in Pakistan anytime, sources here said.
Islamabad, Aug 9 : A state of emergency can be declared in Pakistan anytime, sources here said.
"It is now a matter of days," said a senior Muslim Leaguer close to President Pervez Musharraf.
"The President's kitchen cabinet deliberated on the issue last night and his advisers pressed him to impose an emergency in view of the current political situation in which certain unexpected decisions on various Constitutional petitions, including the one related to his uniform are expected," he added.
Sources said many options, including the imposition of emergency, were being discussed.
However, a presidential spokesman, who had earlier denied any meeting between Musharraf and Benazir Bhutto in Abu Dhabi, said no meeting was held to discuss the imposition of emergency.
The President would consult his top aides today before issuing the emergency order, sources said.
They said Musharraf had also taken the corps commanders into confidence on this issue in their recent meeting at the General Headquarters.
Many leaders of the PML-Q are urging Musharraf to impose a state of emergency and suspend Parliament, or extend its tenure for one year, the Daily Times quoted sources, as saying.
They said the imposition of an emergency would stop any intervention by the superior judiciary; and it would help to handle the uniform issue, which is likely to create political unrest in the country.
PML-Q leaders supporting an emergency said that this would help to extend the tenure of the National Assembly, giving them more time. They believe that the next six months are very important vis-à-vis the war on terror, and are of the view that during this period general elections would not be possible.
However, there are also some in the PML-Q who oppose the imposition of emergency, because they think it would be a disaster.
In case an emergency is imposed, fundamental rights would be the first casualty. According to Article 233, nothing contained in articles 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 24 shall restrict the power of the state as defined in Article 7 to make any law or to take any executive action.
ANI