DATE=10/15/1999
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
TITLE=PAKISTAN / STATE OF EMERGENCY
NUMBER=5-44519
BYLINE=SCOTT ANGER
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Pakistan Army Chief, General Pervez Musharraf
has imposed virtual martial law and has declared
himself chief executive of the country. V-O-A's Scott
Anger reports from Islamabad.
TEXT: The announcement comes three days after
General Musharraf ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif
in a bloodless coup. Pakistan's political structure
has been dissolved as the country comes under full
military rule. Army spokesman Rashid Qureshi outlines
the general's order.
///QURESHI ACTUALITY///
The prime minister, the federal ministers, ministers
of state, advisors to the prime minister,
parliamentary secretaries, the provincial governors,
the provincial chief ministers, the provincial
ministers, and the advisors to the chief ministers
shall cease to hold office. The whole of Pakistan
will come under the control of the armed forces of
Pakistan. This proclamation shall come into force at
once.
///END ACTUALITY///
No indication has been given as to how long the
constitution will be suspended. The statement says
Pakistani figurehead President Rafiq Tarar will remain
in office. General Musharraf and the president have
held talks but without result.
Friday's order -- issued by General Musharff shortly
after midnight -- did not use the words "martial law."
But experts are describing the move as being close to
martial law.
Najam Sethi is the editor of a prominent Pakistani
weekly newspaper, the "Friday Times."
///SETHI ACTUALITY///
In a sense, it's different from the straight-forward
martial laws of the past. The difference lies in the
fact that their (the military's) intentions of keeping
the assemblies on the cards and their intention to try
to work within that (work with the assemblies) is
quite clear. That is why - until they (the military)
get rid of the assemblies - it is what you might call
a "half-hearted" martial law.
///END ACTUALITY///
Mr. Sethi says the army's move will end two days of
speculation and confusion that have surrounded
Pakistan after the dismissal of Prime Minister Nawaz
Shairf's government Tuesday.
///SETHI ACTUALITY ///
(General) Musharraf is basically saying, `We don't
want to delay in making decisions." We've tried in
the last day or two to see if we could work within a
constitutional framework but that doesn't seem
possible (so) now we are now going to give up our
efforts to do that. Meanwhile, we are going to get on
with business. We are going to take decisions and are
not going to allow those decisions to be challenged.
///END ACTUALITY ///
Tuesday's coup came after months of growing tension
between General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister
Nawaz Sharif. Their relationship began to rapidly
deteriorate following Mr. Sharif's order to withdraw
Pakistan-backed forces fighting Indian troops in the
disputed region of Kashmir in July. Pakistan's
military viewed the order as a betrayal by the prime
minister.
Tuesday, while General Musharraf was in Sri Lanka on
official business, Prime Minister Sharif dismissed him
and named the head of Pakistan's intelligence service
as a replacement. Within an hour of the order --
while the general was airborne on his way back to
Pakistan -- troops swiftly moved into the capital
seizing government buildings and placing the prime
minister under arrest.
General Musharraf appeared early Wednesday morning on
state-run television, wearing combat fatigues, to
announce that the 32-month government of Prime
Minister Nawaz Sharif had been removed.
Pakistan has been ruled by the military for nearly
half of its 52-year existence. The last military
dictator -- General Zia ul-Haq -- suspended the
constitution and declared martial law in July 1977.
General Zia ruled Pakistan for 11 years, until he died
in a plane crash in August 1988. His death paved the
way for democratic elections in the country.
The military says Nawaz Sharif and a number of
ministers are under what they call "protective
custody" outside Islamabad. An army spokesman says
the military has compiled evidence proving Mr. Sharif
had been plotting against the military and that he
leaked defense secrets. The spokesman would not
elaborate on the charges. But front-page newspaper
stories published Friday say an investigative body has
been established to probe the accusations against Mr.
Sharif.
Meanwhile, life is normal on the streets of the
capital. For most Pakistanis, the military takeover
of the impoverished nation will have little impact.
An informal poll conducted in three of Pakistan's
largest cities indicates about 75 percent of the
people welcomed the ouster of the increasingly
unpopular prime minister. Many say Mr. Sharif's
policies and actions did little to improve the lives
of average citizens living in Pakistan. (SIGNED)
NEB/SA / wd
15-Oct-1999 06:47 AM EDT (15-Oct-1999 1047 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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