Reply #49: Pakistan's Musharraf Declares Emergency

[brooklynite]

Source: AP

President Gen. Pervez Musharraf declared a state of emergency in Pakistan on Saturday ahead of a crucial Supreme Court decision on whether to overturn his recent election win and amid rising Islamic militant violence.

Eight Supreme Court judges immediately rejected the emergency, which suspended the current constitution. The government blocked transmissions of private news channels in several cities and telephone services in the capital, Islamabad, were cut.

"The chief of army staff has proclaimed a state of emergency and issued a provisional constitutional order," a newscaster on state Pakistan TV said, adding that Musharraf, who took power in 1999 coup, would address the nation later Saturday.

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The U.S. and other Western allies urged him this week not to take steps that would jeopardize the country's transition to democracy.

Read more: http://www.abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=3815764