BB FANS

Pakistan in turmoil as Musharraf declares state of emergency

President takes advantage of Bhutto's absence abroad to suspend constitution and disband Supreme Court days before it was due to rule on the legality of his recent election. By Omar Waraich and Andrew Buncombe

Pakistan was thrown into crisis last night after President Pervez Musharraf suspended the constitution and declared a state of emergency just days before the Supreme Court was due to rule on the legality of his recent election victory.

After days of speculation and rumour, troops surrounded the Supreme Court building in Islamabad where the Chief Justice, Iftikhar Chaudhry, and a number of his colleagues refused to endorse the declaration issued by the President. They were then told their services "were no longer required" and a new Chief Justice was appointed. Meanwhile, telephone lines and mobile networks were shut down in the capital, as were private television channels. The opposition leader Imran Khan was placed under house arrest hours after the imposition of martial rule. He was one of a number of opposition figures and lawyers detained.

Adding to the drama, the former prime minister Benazir Bhutto was last night back in Pakistan from Dubai, where she had flown just days before. "We condemn this martial law. We will protest it," Ms Bhutto said. However, there were claims last night that Ms Bhutto – who made a dramatic return to Pakistan from eight years of exile last month – had known in advance of General Musharraf's plans.

The Pakistani leader said in his emergency order that he was acting to help protect the country against terrorism. In a televised address, General Musharraf said the country was at a "dangerous juncture and Islamic extremists had challenged the government's authority". He also criticised the Supreme Court, saying it had "punished government officers, including police, leaving the government semi-paralysed". He said he hoped democracy would be restored following parliamentary elections due in January.

The Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, said last night: "I am gravely concerned by the measures adopted by the Pakistan government."

Most observers saw the move as nothing other than a blatant move by the general to cement his leadership amid a growing belief that the Supreme Court was going to invalidate his recent election victory.

Aitzaz Ahsan, one of Pakistan's most senior lawyers, said he had been detained after General Musharraf invoked emergency powers. "One man has taken the entire nation hostage... Time has come for General Musharraf to go, " he said.

The move by General Musharraf will be of huge embarrassment to the US, which has long backed the military leader politically and financially. This year, when there were previous rumours that General Musharraf was about to invoke emergency powers, the US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, telephoned urging him not to do so. Britain has also been closely involved in helping to broker a deal between the general and Ms Bhutto, who had planned to try to win a historic third term as Prime Minister in parliamentary elections scheduled to take place in January.

Ms Rice, in Turkey, said yesterday the US believed General Musharraf's move was "highly regrettable". "The US has made clear it does not support extra-constitutional measures because they take Pakistan away from the path of democracy and civilian rule."

A spokesman for Ms Bhutto – whose return from exile two weeks ago was marked by a bomb attack that killed almost 140 people in Karachi – said last night that she was already back in Pakistan.

"As soon as she heard of the threat of emergency she took the first plane back to Pakistan," said Wajid Shamsul Hasan. "They may arrest her or send her back. We condemn this move to impose a state of emergency. It is an attempt to subvert the path of democracy."

Meanwhile, another former prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, who was deported when he tried to return from exile in Pakistan in September, told the Indian news channel CNN-IBN: "We are heading towards a chaotic situation, heading towards anarchy."

Imran Khan, head of the Justice Party, said: "This is a blatant attempt to destroy our judiciary and remove the Chief Justice. They want pliant judges in place and a pliant parliament."

Only a month ago General Musharraf was elected for another five years by an overwhelming majority of members of the national and regional parliaments. But the Supreme Court had said it would consider legal challenges to the constitutionality of the candidacy, which the general's opponents claimed was invalid because he was still serving as head of the military.

Though the court had ruled the vote should go ahead, it said it would examine the issue and decide whether the vote was valid. It was due to rule in a matter of days. General Musharraf apparently decided it was set to rule against him. While he could have chosen to ignore the court's decision – as he did its ruling that Mr Sharif should be allowed to return – it seems he decided a ruling against him would be too damaging.

He has been on a collision course with the Supreme Court since March, when he ousted Mr Chaudhry. The move backfired spectacularly as a campaign to reinstate the sacked Chief Justice drew support. General Musharraf was eventually forced to accept Mr Chaudhry's reinstatement.

The general was due to be sworn in as President on 15 November, after first relinquishing his position as head of the armed forces. Parliamentary elections, in which Ms Bhutto would have challenged for the premiership as head of the Pakistan People's Party, were scheduled for some time in January. Now, having invoked emergency powers, General Musharraf has no need to be sworn in and can also postpone the parliamentary elections if he chooses.

A key issue will be the influence Washington can bring to bear on Pakistan, which has received an estimated $10bn of US aid since the attacks of 11 September 2001. Washington has readily overlooked human rights transgressions while the general was seen to be co-operating with the " war on terror", but has been supportive of Ms Bhutto, whose election would provide at least a veneer of democracy.

Countdown to crisis

March 2007 General Pervez Musharraf wants to be re-elected as president. But first he wants rid of Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, he is suspended, but protests follow.

July Musharraf forced to reinstate Chief Justice to the Supreme Court.

September Supreme Court rules that ex-PM Nawaz Sharif – whom Musharraf deposed in 1999 – can return from exile, maybe to stand for election. Arrested at airport on arrival, he is sent back to Saudi Arabia.

6 October Musharraf "wins" election, but the court says he cannot be declared the winner until it has decided if it was legal for him to stand.

18 October Ex-PM Benazir Bhutto flies in from exile. Rumours of a power-sharing deal. Bombs kill over 130.

3 November Court said to be about to rule Musharraf's re-election illegal. He declares emergency rule. Judges confined to court.
Independent

Imran Khan on the run
Pakistan in fury over Musharraf's martial law Protests as armed cops round up hundreds Roads in Islamabad blocked by barricades

Imran Khan and other Pakistani opposition leaders were on the run last night as the country was on the brink of chaos.

The former cricket ace, who founded his Movement for Justice party in 1997, escaped from house arrest under the noses of police guards after President Pervez Musharraf declared military rule.

Musharraf, who seized power in a coup eight years ago, also suspended the constitution, claiming he was trying to stop a wave of Islamist violence and interference by judges paralysing government.

In a midnight TV address he said: "I cannot allow this country to commit suicide."

But amid worldwide condemnation most Pakistanis and foreign diplomats believe his main motive was to prevent the Supreme Court ruling that his re-election last month while still army chief was illegal.

Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, suspended eight months ago by Musharraf and reinstated in July, was fired.

Elections due in January were "put on the back burner" and may not be held for a year - despite Musharraf promising Gordon Brown this week he was committed to holding them.

Troops carrying automatic weapons were on the streets and private radio and TV stations went off the air.

Hundreds of opposition figures and lawyers were arrested at gunpoint. Barricades blocked the road to the presidency building in Islamabad, where police arrested 40 opposition activists.

Javed Hashmi, leader of exiled ex-Premier Nawaz Sharif's party, said defiantly as he was arrested: "People will win. Generals will lose. They have to surrender."

Sharif, exiled in Saudi Arabia, called on Musharraf to quit: "The more he prolongs his misrule, Pakistan moves towards anarchy."

In a speech to 20,000 followers in Lahore, Qazi Hussein Ahmed, leader of an alliance of Islamist parties, called for people to "come on the streets and will throw out the military dictator".

Even Musharraf's staunchest ally America was having second thoughts. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said they would review financial aid to Pakistan.

It was more than £5billion of US cash that saved the country from bankruptcy after Musharraf backed the "War on Terror" after 9/11.

In London the Foreign Office said it will "consider the implications on development and other programmes".

Foreign Secretary David Miliband said he was "gravely concerned ... We recognise the threat to peace and security faced by the country but its future rests on harnessing the power of democracy and the rule of law". Shadow Home Secretary David Davies said: "The future of Pakistan must be with democracy and an independent judiciary. Musharraf's actions don't make us optimistic."

Musharraf had promised to quit the army and be a civilian leader if he was given a second five-year term.

Security has deteriorated sharply recently with a wave of suicide attacks, including an assassination attempt on former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto last month.

Ms Bhutto, who returned from exile days earlier, said last night she was consulting other opposition parties about their next move.

She said: "We cannot accept martial law ... It is important that Musharraf heeds his commitment to the Supreme Court and the people and steps aside as army chief."

THE KEY PLAYERS

PRESIDENT MUSHARRAF
Ex-GENERAL, 64, won power in 1999 bloodless coup. Helping West after 9/11 got financial aid for country. But agreed deal with Islamists in 2003 to stand down. Now even own judiciary believe he heads mini-dictatorship. Has escaped at least five assassination attempts.

BENAZIR BHUTTO
Ended eight years of self-imposed exile last month after corruption charges dropped. Now admits she may have been duped and could call out her supporters. Escaped suicide bomber on return but more than 130 people died. Twice Premier. Born 1953.

IMRAN KHAN
Former Test cricketer founded Movement for Justice party in 1997. Two years earlier wed Sir James Goldsmith's daughter Jemima. They divorced in 2004. Supports an independent judiciary and has criticised pro-US government policies. Quit his MP's seat.

JAVED HASMI
Acting president of ex-PM Nawaz Sharif's party. Musharraf critic and is under arrest with 10 of his staff at Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy. Got 23 years' jail in 2004 for inciting mutiny in the Army and forgery but pardoned in August. Age 59.

THERE NEEDS TO BE A VOTE
By Mohammad Sarwar Britain's First Muslim MP
Politicians and generals make mistakes, like everyone else. Some people make one mistake and try to cover that and make many more.

I think that is what President Musharaff is doing.

Anyone in Pakistan they will tell you the reason for this state of emergency was to get rid of the Chief Court Justice, as he was finding it difficult to run the government because of his clash with the judiciary.

Musharaff has made the argument that he is fighting against radical Islam. We know there is a problem with extremism, but the fact is there is one law in Pakistan and one government.

The solution is simple - clear, impartial elections. Defeat extremism through democracy.

The West has invested a lot in General Musharaff and it is in their interest to see him there. But we cannot give unconditional support to anybody - support has to be conditional. If Musharaff is supported unconditionally I am afraid the sectarianism and terrorism will grow.

I have met him many times and I think he should establish a rule of law and ensure every political party is allowed to participate in an election. He should strengthen the institutions of Pakistan, rather than weakening them.
Mirror

---------------

Imran: I'll fight on from my hideout
Defiant cry smuggled to ex Pakistan rivals' 'rise up' call

Imran Khan vowed last night to fight Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf from his hideout.

The former cricket ace - who fled house arrest under the noses of police - said: "Our aim is to continue the struggle and mobilise the youth of the country from underground.

"When you suppress democratic forces, the only way to resist is through militancy."

Khan, founder of the Movement for Justice party, smuggled a message to ex-wife Jemima accusing police of "ill treating" his family as they ransacked his home.


Jemima said they "roughed up" the family and he fled into hiding before they returned to arrest him.

Sacked Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, also under house arrest, called for the nation to "rise up" in a show of defiance.

He phoned a meeting of lawyers to urge: "Go to every corner of Pakistan and give the message that this is the time to sacrifice.

"Do not be afraid - God will help us and the day will come when you will see the constitution supreme and no dictatorship."

There were ugly scenes as stone-throwing lawyers clashed for a second day with baton-wielding police.

In the city of Multan police stopped 1,000 lawyers leaving a court complex for a protest rally.

Hundreds of Islamic militants seized the town of Matta after outnumbered security forces laid down their arms.

Security forces and riot police were out in force at Islamabad airport as ex-Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto arrived for talks with other opposition leaders.

Ms Bhutto, who survived an assassination bid last month which killed 145, ruled out talks with Musharraf.

The president declared a state of emergency and military rule on Saturday. He suspended the constitution, gagged the media and granted sweeping powers to crush dissent.

Opposition groups said 3,500 people have been rounded up and thrown in jail - 1,000 more than official claims.

Musharraf, who remains army chief, said he was trying to stop a wave of Islamist violence and interference by judges he blamed for paralysing government.

But it is believed he wanted to stop the Supreme Court ruling illegal his re-election last month.
Mirror

'Bush's new poodle' Sarkozy arrives in U.S. Mail

Exploiting the chaos in Pakistan

A few hours' drive from Islamabad, Islamic militants in the Swat valley are taking on government forces.

While protesters in Pakistan's cities call on President Musharraf to restore democracy, in the tribal hinterlands bordering Afghanistan his enemies have a different agenda and are capitalising on the chaos in government.

Just a few hours' drive northwest of the capital, the Swat valley - once a picturesque tourist destination - is now the scene of an armed uprising as Islamist militants led by a pro-Taliban cleric take on government forces.

In the past two weeks more than 180 have died and thousands have fled their homes. The militants' black and white jihadi flag flies over more and more villages as the Pakistani army soldiers - reluctant to fight their fellow countrymen - appear powerless to halt their advance.

Channel 4 News

Bhutto under effective house arrest

Pakistani police backed by armoured vehicles detained opposition leader Benazir Bhutto at her Islamabad residence today and reportedly rounded up 5,000 of her supporters to prevent a mass protest against emergency rule.

Authorities were adamant the rally Ms Bhutto planned in nearby Rawalpindi would not go ahead - under the government's emergency powers declared a week ago, mass gatherings are banned. The mayor of Rawalpindi, Javed Akhlas, also said there was a "credible report" of six or seven suicide bombers in the city.

"We condemn this government move. It shows that the government is scared of Benazir Bhutto's popularity and it does not want her to be among masses," the former prime minister's lawyer said.

There was confusion among her aides as to whether she would still attempt to reach the venue in Rawalpindi, which has also been sealed off by riot police backed by armoured vehicles. The headquarters of Pakistan's army and President Pervez Musharraf's residence are also located in the city.

Nazir Dhoki, a spokesman for ms Bhutto's Pakistan People's party (PPP) said she still planned to leave on schedule for Rawalpindi, but her lawyer said party leaders were meeting to discuss whether the rally would go ahead.

Pakistan's military leader showed no signs of letting up on his political foes despite his announcement yesterday - following pressure from the US and other Western allies - that elections would go ahead by mid-February, just a month later than originally planned.

The PPP claimed today that that authorities had arrested 5,000 of its supporters in the last three days across the eastern province of Punjab, where Rawalpindi is located.

"It is a massive crackdown on our party," said Raja Javed Ashraf, a PPP MP.

Pakistan's information minister, Tariq Azim, said Ms Bhutto was not formally under house arrest, but insisted that "we will not allow any leader to carry out any rally".

Mr Azim said he didn't know what would happen if Ms Bhutto tried to leave her house.
guardian

Washington tells EU firms: quit Iran now


UK, French and German companies begin pullout under US pressure


Multinational companies are coming under increasing pressure from the US to stop doing business with Iran because of its nuclear programme. European operators are facing threats from Washington that they could jeopardise their US interests by continuing to deal with Tehran, with increasing evidence that European governments, mainly France, Germany and Britain, are supporting the US campaign.

It emerged last night that Siemens, one of the world's largest engineering groups and based in Germany, has pulled out of all new business dealings with Iran after pressure from the US and German governments. This follows the decision by Germany's three biggest banks, Deutsche, Commerzbank, and Dresdner, to quit Iran after a warning from US vice-president Dick Cheney that if firms remain in Tehran, they are going to have problems doing business in the US.


The Foreign Office, while sympathising with City firms, has privately backed the US warnings in recent weeks, telling companies such as Shell and BP of the risks of continuing business with Iran. The French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, has urged French energy firms Total and GDF not to pursue new business in Iran. Angela Merkel, Germany's chancellor, is joining him in pressing for new sanctions, probably at EU level.

The US is tightening its economic squeeze on Iran and last month unilaterally imposed a new round of sanctions. It regularly complains in private to the British and other European governments that American efforts are being undermined by European companies continuing to do business with Tehran. If economic sanctions fail to have an impact by next year, pressure will mount from Mr Cheney to launch air strikes against Iran.

The under-secretary for political affairs at the US state department, Nicholas Burns, and the under-secretary at the Treasury, Stuart Levey, have made frequent trips to Europe to warn companies they face the loss of American business if they continue to deal with Iran.

BP said back in 2005 that "politically Iran is not a flyer" because of the company's huge presence in the US. Rival Shell has been tentatively moving forward with engineering studies on a large gas project in Iran but has insisted in the past that it would only take a final decision once it knew it was commercially viable. A spokesman for the company would not comment last night but industry sources said it was a "very sensitive issue", given the scale of Shell's oil business in the US.

The two British banks most frequently mentioned in Washington in relation to Iran are HSBC and Standard Chartered. Both banks have scaled down their operations in Iran but maintain a modest presence in Tehran.

Siemens insiders said the group, which is in the throes of clearing up a series of bribery and corruption cases involving payments of some €1.3bn (£900,000), would carry out existing contracts in Iran which have attracted government export credit guarantees, but would seek no new contracts. The engineering group won a contract four years ago to supply 24 power stations to the Iranians and last year secured a provisional €450m deal to supply 150 locomotives for Iran's railways.

Officials said Siemens' Iranian business amounted to less than 1% of annual group turnover of €84bn last year. This compares with sales of $21.4bn (€14.4bn or £10.1bn) in the US where the group employs 70,000. It is understood that 80% of the company's trade is in power generation but sources insisted that Siemens had no involvement in Iran's nuclear power programme. Germany is Iran's biggest trading partner, with a 2006 surplus of €4bn, but trade was down 18% in the first half of this year. UK exports to Iran fell 7% last year to £431.4m, according to the British-Iran chamber of commerce.
guardian

Bhutto house arrest order lifted

Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto has been released from house arrest in the capital, Islamabad.

The order was imposed early on Friday, blocking Ms Bhutto's attempt to lead a rally against the emergency rule declared by President Pervez Musharraf.

The United States had criticised the move saying that she must be "permitted freedom of movement."

BBC

Afghan suicide attack killed 59 children, ministry confirms


Afghan men carry the body of a victim of a suicide bombing in Baghlan, northern Afghanistan, in which 59 children were killed

A suicide attack in northern Afghanistan earlier this week killed 59 schoolchildren and wounded 96 others, the education ministry said today.

The schoolchildren were lined up to greet a group of lawmakers visiting a sugar factory in the northern province of Baghlan on Tuesday when a suicide bomber detonated explosives.

In total, at least 75 people were killed, including several parliamentarians.

The 59 schoolchildren, aged eight to 18, and five teachers were among those killed in the attack, said Zahoor Afghan, a ministry spokesman.

The attack was the deadliest in the country since the removal of the Taliban regime from power in the 2001 US-led invasion.

"The education minister has ordered that no children should be ever again be used in these sort of events," Mr Afghan said.

The Afghan president, Hamid Karzai, declared three days of mourning on Wednesday and ordered an investigation. No group has claimed responsibility, and the Taliban has denied any involvement.

Nato and Afghan troops, meanwhile, battled Taliban fighters near Gulistan district, in western Farah province, today.

The soldiers seized the district centre after it was overrun by militants last week, said Bariyalai Khan, the spokesman for the provincial police chief.

In southern Zabul province, Taliban militants on motorbikes ambushed and killed Shahjoy's district chief and two of his bodyguards yesterday, said Mohammad Rasool Khan, a district police chief.

The victims were shopping in a market when four militants on two motorbikes shot them dead, Mr Khan said.

US-led coalition forces and Afghan troops, meanwhile, clashed with Taliban insurgents in southern Helmand province's Nahr Surk district on Wednesday, leaving several militants dead, a coalition statement said.

The joint force was conducting a reconnaissance patrol near the district when insurgents fired on them with machine guns, rocket-propelled grenades and small arms, the statement said.

"The combined force immediately engaged the Taliban fighters with small-arms fire and close air support, killing many of the insurgents before they fled the area," it said.

Violence in Afghanistan this year has been the deadliest since the Taliban was ousted. More than 5,700 people, mostly militants, have died so far this year in insurgency-related violence, according to an Associated Press count based on figures from Afghan and western officials.
guardian

Iraq's new crisis: Moms, dads abandoning kids CNN

Benazir house arrest called-off Sun

Journalists protest news blackout

Pakistan's attorney general says the emergency rule there could end in a month's time.

But there have been violent scuffles as opposition leader Benazir Bhutto took to the streets after being released from house arrest.

She warned the country was 'imploding' and called for urgent action to diffuse the situation. Hundreds of journalists have protested against a partial news blackout in Pakistan. And tonight three British journalists have been ordered to leave the country.

Channel 4 News

Maldives suspects 'in Pakistan'

Police in the Maldives say 10 suspects in a bomb attack on foreign tourists in September, which wounded 12, are on the run in Pakistan.
A police spokesman told Reuters they were seeking support from Interpol to arrest the fugitives.

Eleven suspects are already in custody for the 29 September attack near a mosque in the capital Male.

BBC

MY FEARS FOR IMRAN, BY JEMIMA

JEMIMA Khan spoke of her fears for ex-husband Imran last night as she led a protest against Pakistan’s military regime.

The heiress joined demonstrators outside Downing Street to call for the ending of the martial law imposed by besieged president General Pervez Musharraf.

Ms Khan, who was married to the Pakistan cricket-legend-turned-politician for a decade before their divorce in 2004, has only had “sporadic contact” with her ex-husband since the state of emergency was declared last Saturday.

Express