Shujaat, Durrani deny emergency imposition in Pakistan

Pakistan Muslim League (Quami) chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Information Minister Mohammed Ali Durrani today ruled out that President Pervez Musharraf is considering imposing the state of emergency in the country.

Islamabad, Aug 9 : Pakistan Muslim League (Quami) chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Information Minister Mohammed Ali Durrani today ruled out that President Pervez Musharraf is considering imposing the state of emergency in the country.

Reacting to the media reports that Musharraf is about to announce the emergency rule, both leaders said that no emergency is being imposed and all reports in this connection are rumours.

Shujaat said this in Geo News program "Parliament Cafeteria". Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed, who was also in the program, said there is no truth in reports of imposition of emergency in the country, The News reported.

He said these are rumours spread by those elements who had advised for filing the reference against the Supreme Court Chief Justice, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.

Durrani said the decision not to impose emergency was taken at a high-level meeting presided over by Musharraf.

Earlier, media reports suggested that a state of emergency could be declared in Pakistan anytime.

"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," a senior Muslim Leaguer close to President Pervez Musharraf said.

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.

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.

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