Musharraf suspends constitution of Pakistan, declares state of emergency

Last night the chief of Pakistan's army, Gen Pervez Musharraf, declared a state of emergency across the country and suspended…

Last night the chief of Pakistan's army, Gen Pervez Musharraf, declared a state of emergency across the country and suspended the constitution. Under the order, the first since the army deposed the Prime Minister, Mr Nawaz Sharif, on Tuesday, President Muhammed Rafiq Tarar will stay in his post but cabinet ministers will cease to hold their offices.

The official statement said the National Assembly lower house, provincial legislatures and the Senate (upper house) were suspended and the constitution would remain "in abeyance".

The statement said Gen Musharraf would assume the role of chief executive.

Army spokesman, Brig Rashid Qureshi said yesterday the coup had only been hatched to save the life of Gen Musharraf.

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He said the army was compelled to thwart a "conspiracy of physically eliminating" Gen Musharraf.

No one on the streets yesterday had a good word to say about their deposed prime minister, who is seen as corrupt and autocratic. An army spokesman has accused him of plotting against the military. "We have certain evidences which prove that Sharif was busy in conspiracies against the army," he said.

Mr Sharif is reported to have been moved from Islamabad to his home town of Lahore. He may be under house arrest, but there is little to indicate that there has been a seismic shift in the country's power balance.

Pakistanis have responded positively to Gen Musharraf's plea for calm and for support of the army. Commerce is being conducted normally, people continue to go about their everyday business, and there is little evidence of military presence on the streets. The airports are open, mobile telephones are working after a brief period when they were jammed, and national television is broadcasting its regular diet of drama, music and news.

Senior military commanders yesterday spent a second day in consultation with constitutional experts, legal advisers and prominent politicians. Having seized power in a bloodless coup, Gen Musharraf is clearly seeking a way forward that will be acceptable to both the army and to the people of Pakistan.

Whether the military would settle for the removal from power of Mr Sharif or whether they want a more radical change is not clear. Gen Musharraf could opt for a civilian caretaker administration and eventual elections. Alternatively, he could decide to impose martial law and rule Pakistan himself.

"The military are reviewing the measures necessary to formally unseat Sharif and his government," said one Western analyst yesterday. "They'll probably try to precipitate a government vote of no confidence in Sharif. Then they'll want to have him and his associates tried in court, but they're not going to take him out and shoot him."

Among those expected to be tried in military court are Lieut Gen Zia Uddin, who was named army chief when Mr Sharif tried to sack Gen Musharraf. Hundreds of supporters of Mr Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League are reported to have been prohibited from leaving the country.

One source closely connected to the military yesterday described Gen Musharraf as "a man's man and a very practical person". He said the general had no personal interest in power or in establishing a military dictatorship in Pakistan.

The military takeover in Pakistan, one of the world's newest nuclear powers, has caused serious concern throughout the world. "The coup was not pre-planned," said the source. "Or rather, it existed only in the sense of a contingency plan to be put into effect if Sharif moved against the army. Gen Musharraf had the backing of the corps commanders and he knew what he was doing. There are a number of options now, but holding elections does not appear to be one of them."

Diplomats in Islamabad yesterday dismissed the notion of a return to Pakistan of the former prime minister, Ms Benazir Bhutto, currently living in Britain. Tainted by charges of corruption, Ms Bhutto is no more popular in Pakistan than is Mr Sharif. She has said she would like to be back in Pakistan in a week to 10 days' time.

"It would be wishful thinking on her part if she believed that she can return then," said one diplomat. "If she wishes to stay out of prison, she should probably remain where she is."

As Pakistan and the world wait for Gen Musharraf's promised policy statement, the UN Secretary-General, Mr Kofi Annan, yesterday called on the Pakistani military to return the country to civilian rule as quickly as possible.