Skip to content Skip to navigation

Emergency in Pakistan

By Rituparna Goswami Pande |

Life came to a standstill in Pakistan with the declaration of Emergency by self styled Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf. His actions reeked more of him being an army chief rather than a president of Pakistan. He cited the growing instances of Islamic militant violence and “constant” judicial interference as the reasons behind his clamping emergency and sacking of Ifthikar Choudhary, the Supreme Court chief justice which incidentally came in the wake of the crucial apex court ruling on the legality of his election.

The declaration of emergency has resulted in the suspension of all constitutional rights, all independent news media were gagged, telephone services were cut off and probably the internet services will soon be blocked. Paramilitary deployed in all strategic locations such as the street housing the presidency building etc. Moreover, the detention of politicians, lawyers and journalists may be on the cards.

Before anyone could cry foul play which was attempted by the seven member apex court bench headed by the Chief justice himself, he was shown the door and promptly replaced by Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar.

Former leader of Pakistan Nawaz Shariff condemned Musharaff’s role while Benazir Bhutto cut short her stay in Dubai to return to Pakistan. But on her arrival at Karachi she was not allowed to get of the plane and runs the risk of being either arrested or deported depending on the whim of the president.

Pakistan as a nation has always been politically volatile. History is witness to the fact that Presidents in Pakistan are doomed either to be assassinated or banished from their country after they relinquish power.
The political history of Pakistan is a chequered one. The Muslim League which had formed the first government of Pakistan under the leadership of Muhammed Ali Jinnah and Liaquat Ali Khan, found its leadership in Pakistani politics on the decline with the rise of other political parties.
The first Constitution of Pakistan was adopted in 1956, but was suspended in 1958 by Ayub Khan. The Constitution of 1973, suspended in 1977 by Zia-ul-haq, was re-instated in 1991 and is the country's most important document, laying the foundations of government. Pakistan is a federal democratic republic with Islam as the state religion.

Once again the martial law brought about by Musharaff has made the world react in unison.

The world at large too poured out its reaction with the US Secretary of state Condoleeza Rice criticizing the measures as “highly regrettable”. Musharraff defied the warnings of US officials and imposed Martial law in the country.
“The US has made very clear that it does not support extra constitutional measures as they would take Pakistan away from the path of democracy and civilian rule” said Rice.
The Indian government too expressed its concern at the developments in Pakistan while BJP and the Left denounced the emergency.

With Pakistan’s future hanging in balance only time will tell what other coup Musharaf has up his sleeve for his country of crisis.

Photo by Atif Gulzar, Lahore, Pakistan

Comments

charlie's picture

Submitted by charlie on Wed, 07/11/2007 - 10:12
Its best cover up editorial by u
jaay's picture

Submitted by jaay on Wed, 12/12/2007 - 03:14
Pakistan has proved to be a failed state, with that certain things that need to be clearly understand is that in isolation, no concept succeeds. Mr. Jinnah proposed a solution that Islam and Muslims would be better off, if they are separated off from the so called HINDU civilization. So he went out in order to create a new order in the form of Pakistan. Leave alone decades, but it could not even last for few years. Pakistan is paying for a decision which was taken in the garb of religion and settling of political scores and nobody knows what is store for future. It is a common sense and a fundamental thing which is taught to even a child that if the foundation is not strong, it is bound to fall, it is just matter of time, the question is not how, the question is WHEN. As an individual and human being, it gives us no pleasure at what is happening in Pakistan, but the fact is that it is heading for destruction. The question is when. Musharaf or no Musharaf, anybody who comes to the top, will always have couple of things in mind: One, that he is the champion of for the cause of Islam, two, how to take advantage of the situation and turn the state in private machinery for minting money for self. Situation in India is also not rosy, but we can boast that we have no single individual at the top, manipulating us, we don’t have run training camps for Talibans to go out and bring down towers and kill people in the name of religion. And we will flourish and come out in flying colors because we believe in equality and prosperity for all. Musharraf is not solution, rather a problem. People not only think but firmly believe that he is a puppet of American regime, and so do they about Bhutto and Sharrif, can we think of alternates to these stalwarts, think and shiver will run through your spine. Let’s wait and watch and prey that whatever happens, happens for the good of people and region. It’s not a political crisis that Pakistan is facing, it is IDENTITY crisis and if they don’t come to terms with the fact that all human beings have equal right to exist, then I am afraid, something worst is in store for them.
mahroosh ali's picture

Submitted by mahroosh ali on Fri, 07/11/2008 - 10:45
Well in reply to your opinion that the foundation on which Pakistan was built is weak and unstable, I recommend that you need to read an account of the partition of sub-continent and it shouldn't be by some Indian author but an unbiased and true account.particularly the time period when the congress ministries were formed and there treatment of the Muslim minorities of India will truly enlighten you as to why Pakistan was founded by Jinnah. As to the current scenario of chaos in Pakistan your explanation is pretty childish and u should get a little know how of international pressure on Pakistan and many other factors.We as citizens of Pak are accountable for the mess our country is in our religion isn't and have Islamic values been followed the situation would have been very different............

Pages

Add new comment

Random Stories

Rabiram, Majendra file nominations

17 Mar 2016 - 5:59pm | Hantigiri Narzary
Bodoland Peoples Front(BPF) candidates from Kokrajhar west and Gossaigaon LAC Rabiram Narzary and Majendra Narzary fielded their nominations in the presence party leader and supporters to the...

Gogoi hints at amnesty for ULFA boss

22 Oct 2014 - 7:33pm | AT News
In his renewed appeal to ULFA's anti talk faction, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Wednesday said that his government is all prepared for amnesty to Paresh Baruah, if the ULFA chief comes overground...

Global expert advocates for canopy research in N-E

12 Feb 2011 - 6:20pm | Amarjyoti Borah
Globally renowned expert on forest canopy ecology, Professor Margaret Lowman of North Carolina State University, USA has underlined the need for undertaking research on forest canopy in the North...

IITian found dead

18 Sep 2015 - 7:26pm | AT News
A B Tech student is believed to have committed suicide in the morning leaving the Guwahati IIT in utter shocked on Friday.Identified as Ujjal Salil, the body of student from Bihar was found at the...

Other Contents by Author

Media in Chains in Manipur

The media which is a mirror of society has been broken into shards by the the guns of millitants in Manipur. The newspapers were missing from their usual stands in Manipur following threats and counter threats by rival factions of rebel organisation PREPAK over publication of a statement. According to the All Manipur Working Journalists Union the media was torn over a decision to publish a statement which a faction of the PREPAK wanted to publish while another opposed and threatened to react violently if published.The journalists fearing for their lives sought safety in the Imphal Press clubs instead of their homes for fear of persecution. But this is not unusual in manipur as earlier also...

Celebrating Wildlife Week

We are celebrating Wild life week but as we read this hundreds of animals are falling prey to the poacher’s gun, succumbing to the onslaught of floods or becoming senseless victims of man’s cruelty. Destruction of natural habitat is a serious threat to wild life which deprives these wild animals of food shelter and water. Their quest for survival brings them in the proximity of human dwellings which in turn puts them in danger of being pelted with stones, bludgeoned by machetes or simply shot at point blank range. Indians are not abreast with the techniques of handling wild animals which stray into human habitation. Rough handling and terror of being attacked leads people to...

Remembering the Mahatama

“I shall work for an India in which the poorest shall feel that it is their country, in whose making they have an effective voice, an India in which there shall be no high class and low class of people; an India in which all communities shall live in perfect harmony. There can be no room in such an India for the curse of untouchability, or the curse of intoxicating drinks ad drugs. Women will enjoy the same rights as men. We shall be at peace with all the rest of the world. This is the India of my dreams”. Mohandas Karam Chand GandhiSadly we Indians have failed to live up to the India of the mahatma’s dreams. For India is still afflicted by the maladies that the Mahatma...

NE Women Writer’s Conference held

The Assam Lekhika Santha, a forum of women writers from the state organized a two day North East women writer’s meet on September 30 and October 1 in Shilpa Gram Panjabari Guwahati. The aim of the meet is to promote integrity among the north-eastern states and to provide a common platform to the women writers from the region.The eminent writers who were to grace the occasion are Mamang Dai and Nanni Dai from Arunachal Pradesh, Dr Limattula and Dr Temsula Ao from Nagaland, Dr Shanti Kshetri from Sikkim, Dr Shilaramani Changkham from Manipur, Karabi Deb Barman from Tripura, P Kolongungi from Mizoram, Patricia Mukhim and Al Varin Dokher from Meghalaya and other noted writers from the...

Charged Emotions

The paeans had not yet subsided regarding the communal and ethnic unity and harmony that the Indian Idol finalists had brought about in the states of Sikim and Meghalaya and the northeast for that matter that pandemonium broke loose. The fans of newly crowned Indian Idol Prashant Tamang erupted in fury at jibes made on their idol by a Radio Jockey of a Delhi based FM station. The 2000 odd fans of Tamang undertook a procession in Siliguri to submit a memorandum to the local SDO but the march turned into mayhem as they indulged into a controversy regarding the passage of an ambulance carrying a patient. The tiff led to widespread arson and triggered a chain of violence which brought in the...

Duped by Dopes- An alarming trend

Lucky Mahanta was a handsome lad in his school days, always ahead of his class academically and a bright boy indeed. After passing his Higher Secondary from a reputed boy’s school in Assam he went on to pursue higher studies in the capital city of India, a trend that is an in thing these days and gaining popularity by the day. But soon Lucky’s disposition changed his grades fell and so did his friend circle. He started hanging out with shady characters and formed a group of his own. Slowly he started borrowing money from his college mates and sometimes even begged for a couple of bucks. He sold his car and other expensive belongings to make ends meet. Vicky is now a mere shadow...

Reality behind reality shows

Indian television is experiencing a new revolution in the form of reality shows. There is a deluge of reality shows in each and every channel that you turn on. MTV Roadies, Popstar ki khoj in Channel V, Big Boss a rip off from the British show called Big Brother of Shilpa Shetty fame, and the plethora of singing contests from Voice of India in Star Plus, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, challenge in ZEE to the Indian Idol in Sony reality shows have captured the viewers imagination. The northeast has not yet forgotten the frenzy created by Debojit Saha’s victory in one such contest that catapulted the struggling singer into a house hold name overnight and now the northeast people are in crossroads once...

The price is not right

The rising price of onions is bringing real tears in the eyes of the consumers. The onion vendors are pricing them at exorbitant prices forcing the public to opt for an onion free diet. Onions are an inherent part of Indian cuisine hence such a situation greatly distresses the common people.The price rise is a direct outcome of the delay of trains bringing consignments of onions coming from outside the state.The All Guwahati Potato Onion Merchants’ Association (AGPOMA) has allegedly approached Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav to look into the matter. The late arrival has also led to the damage of thousands of these products further escalating the prices of these perishables....

Irom Sharmila: Lone Crusader

Manipur’s human rights activist Irom Sharmila who has been on a fast-unto-death since November, 2000 seeking the repressive Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act repealed. She opposes the Act that gives draconian powers to the security forces and has repeatedly been used with brazen brutality in the Northeast. For five years, she has been imprisoned and force-fed by the State for her ‘crime’. Irom Sharmila’s lone battle against the government is a proof of the grit and determination of a woman scorned.Popularly known as the iron lady of Manipur Irom Sharmila has approached UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi for help by handing over a letter addressed to Sonia Gandhi to Sandeep...

A ban on Bandhs

A bandh is the choicest means of protest for all political parties or organizations. We have seen umpteenth number of bandhs for hundreds of reasons such as killings, price rise, atrocities etc. But have these bandhs ever benefited the cause they are called for? Instead these bandhs reverse the wheel of an already slow progress that Assam is involved in. School children and college going youngsters are unable to complete their syllabi on time which later has a bad effect on their future results, ailing people suffer immensely for non availability of medical attention, daily wage earners are the worst sufferers who are unable to feed the hungry mouths at home. In such a predicament do these...