MUSHARRAF'S PROCLAMATION OF EMERGENCY
ISLAMABAD, Nov 3 (APP): Following is the text of the Proclamation of Emergency declared by Chief of the Army Staff General Pervez Musharraf on Saturday:
"WHEREAS there is visible ascendancy in the activities of extremists and incidents of terrorist attacks, including suicide bombings, IED explosions, rocket firing and bomb explosions and the banding together of some militant groups have taken such activities to an unprecedented level of violent intensity posing a grave threat to the life and property of the citizens of Pakistan;
WHEREAS there has also been a spate of attacks on State infrastructure and on law enforcement agencies;
WHEREAS some members of the judiciary are working at cross purposes with the executive and legislature in the fight against terrorism and extremism thereby weakening the Government and the nation’s resolve and diluting the efficacy of its actions to control this menace;
WHEREAS there has been increasing interference by some members of the judiciary in government policy, adversely affecting economic growth, in particular;
WHEREAS constant interference in executive functions, including but not limited to the control of terrorist activity, economic policy, price controls, downsizing of corporations and urban planning, has weakened the writ of the government; the police force has been completely demoralized and is fast losing its efficacy to fight terrorism and Intelligence Agencies have been thwarted in their activities and prevented from pursuing terrorists;
WHEREAS some hard core militants, extremists, terrorists and suicide bombers, who were arrested and being investigated were ordered to be released. The persons so released have subsequently been involved in heinous terrorist activities, resulting in loss of human life and property. Militants across the country have, thus, been encouraged while law enforcement agencies subdued;
WHEREAS some judges by overstepping the limits of judicial authority have taken over the executive and legislative functions;
WHEREAS the Government is committed to the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law and holds the superior judiciary in high esteem, it is nonetheless of paramount importance that the Honourable Judges confine the scope of their activity to the judicial function and not assume charge of administration;
WHEREAS an important Constitutional institution, the Supreme Judicial Council, has been made entirely irrelevant and non est by a recent order and judges have, thus, made themselves immune from inquiry into their conduct and put themselves beyond accountability;
WHEREAS the humiliating treatment meted to government officials by some members of the judiciary on a routine basis during court proceedings has demoralized the civil bureaucracy and senior government functionaries, to avoid being harassed, prefer inaction;
WHEREAS the law and order situation in the country as well as the economy have been adversely affected and trichotomy of powers eroded;
WHEREAS a situation has thus arisen where the Government of the country cannot be carried on in accordance with the Constitution and as the Constitution provides no solution for this situation, there is no way out except through emergent and extraordinary measures;
AND WHEREAS the situation has been reviewed in meetings with the Prime Minister, Governors of all four Provinces, and with Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, Chiefs of the Armed Forces, Vice-Chief of Army Staff and Corps Commanders of the Pakistan Army;
NOW, THEREFORE, in pursuance of the deliberations and decisions of the said meetings, I General Pervez Musharraf, Chief of the Army Staff, proclaim Emergency throughout Pakistan.
2. I hereby order and proclaim that the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan shall remain in abeyance.
3. This Proclamation shall come into force at once."
Looks like the Musharaf is reaping the seeds he has sown lol ,the open enemy of Islam and the hypocrite musharaf days are soon comming to an end.
"Iraq is a War.
Afghanistan is an Occupation.
Suicide-Bombing is a Terrorism.
Guantanamo is a Concentration Camp.
Detention without Charge is an Inquisition."
[ Shaykh abdal qadir as sufi ]
www.shaykhabdalqadir.com
Musharraf wasn't just basing his coup d'etat of the coup d'etat on the Taliban, the proclamation went much deeper and availed the true source of his trepidations.
The entire tract mainly, concerned the Judiciary--and the imposition of martial law was justified on the Judiciary's ineptedness and interference with the executive and legislature.
This is not say that there is not an insurgency situation in Pakistan, [one that he encouraged especially, with the storming of the ["Red Mosque"] Lal Majid mosque and seminary Jamia Hafsa. Still, there are other means of combating that issue. It is as if we in the US would suspend the Constitution because of the war on terror--even so, some of that has been done through the Patriot Act and other such draconian usurpation of the US constitution.
This is merely, a ploy by herr general to sustain power because the Supreme Court was about to decide that his recent election was unconstitutional as long as his candidacy was submitted as the chief of staff of the army. Musharraf had all the power he desired in Pakistan. This proclamation only serves to titivate his influence while stifling the nascent democratic opposition--it does not add to his ability to dominate Pakistani institutions--except in the most cosmetic fashions.
______________________
"As often as Herman had witnessed the slaughter of animals and fish, he always had the same thought: in their behavior toward creatures, most of mankind are Nazis"
--Isaac Bashevis
Following is the text of the Provisional Constitution Order issued:
PROVISIONAL CONSTITUTION ORDER
In pursuance of the proclamation of the 3rd day of November, 2007, and in exercise of all powers enabling him in that behalf, the Chief of Army Staff under the Proclamation of Emergency of the 3rd day of November, 2007, is pleased to make and promulgate the following Order:-
1. (1) This Oder may be called the Provisional Constitution Order No. 1 of 2007.
(2) It extends to the whole of Pakistan,
(3) It shall come into force at once.
2* (1) Notwithstanding the abeyance of the provisions of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, hereinafter referred to as the Constitution, Pakistan shall, subject to this Order and any other Order made by the President be governed, as nearly as may be, in accordance with the Constitution:
Provided that the President may, from time to time, by Order amend the Constitution, as is deemed expedient;
Provided further that the Fundamental Rights under Articles 9, 10, 15,16,17,19 and 25 shall remain suspended.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Proclamation of the 3rd day of November, 2007, or this Order or any other law for the time being in force all provisions of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan embodying Islamic injunctions including Articles 2t 2A, 31, 203A to 203J, 227 to 231 and 260 (3) (a) and (b) shall continue to be In force.
(3) Subject to clause (1) above and the Oath of Office
(Judges) Order, 2007, all courts in existence immediately before the commencement of this Order shall continue to function and to exercise their respective powers and jurisdication.
Provided that the Supreme Court or a High Court and any other court shall not have the power to make any order against the President or the Prime Minister or any person exercising powers or jurisdiction under their authority.
(4) All personi who immediately before the commencement of this Order were in office as judges of the Supreme Court, the Federal Shariat Court or a High Court, shall be governed by and be subject to the Oath of Office (Judges) Order, 2007, and such further Orders as the President may pass.
(5) Subject to clause (1) above, the Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) and the Provincial Assemblies shall continue to function.
(6) All persons who, immediately before the commencement of this Order, were holding any service, post or office in connection with the affairs of the Federation ox of a Province, including an All Pakistan Service, Service in the Armed Forces and any other Service declared to be a Service of Pakistan by or under Act of Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) or of a Provincial Assembly, or Chief Election Commissioner or Auditor General shall continue in the said service on the same terms and conditions and shall enjoy the same privileges, if any, unless these are changed under Orders of the President.
3, (l) No court including the Supreme Court, the Federal Shariat Court, and the High Courts, and any tribunal or other authority shall call or permit to be called in question this Order, the Proclamation of Emergency of the 3rd day of November, 5007, the Oath of Office (Judges) Order, 2007 or any Order made in pursuance thereof.
(2) No judgment, decree, writ, order or process whatsoever shall be made or issued by any court or tribunal against the President or the Prime Minister or any authority designated by the President.
4. (]) Notwithstanding the abeyance of the provisions of the Constitution, but subject to the Orders of the President, all laws other than the Constitution, til Ordinances. Orders, Rules, Bye-laws, Regulations, Notifications and other legal Instruments in force in any part of Pakistan, whether made by the President or the Governor of a Province, shall continue in force until ltered, amended or repealed by the Preaidont or any authority designated by him.
5. (I) An Ordinance promulgated by the President or by the Governor of a Province shall not be subject to any limitations as to duration prescribed in the Constitution.
(2) The provisions of clause (i) shall also apply to an Ordinance issued by the President or by a Governor which was in force immediately before the commencement of the Proclamation of Emergency of the 3rd day of November, 2007.
- or is it part of the mental preparation of the US population that martial law is a distinct possibility?
Today, White House Press Secretary Dana Perino furiously denied reports that after reading Musharraf's Proclamation of emergency, that President Bush had went to Vice-President Cheney's office several times, asking permission to declare a similar state of martial law in the USA.
Perino flatly denied that Bush would have to ask Cheney for permission to declare the Bill of Rights null and void.
Perino further stated that the Bill of Rights was shredded beyond all recognition, so who would bother to protect an out of date, moribund document?
who translated it into English?
A clause I find particularly odd is:
"WHEREAS constant interference in executive functions, including but not limited to the control of terrorist activity, economic policy, price controls, downsizing of corporations and urban planning, has weakened the writ of the government;"
Looks like an economic coup to me . . .
---------------------------------------
"Money" has no value - people do.
though I characterize it as a declaration of tyranny, it's not clear who is trying to move towards social justice (with that clause on economic policy).
The best way to find out is to determine which side the US and its zionist puppeteers support.
More than likely, we can automatically support the opposition.
---------------------------------------
"Money" has no value - people do.
WHEREAS there has been increasing interference by some members of the judiciary in government policy, adversely affecting economic growth, in particular;
Therefore, Qrsware, the modifier [particular] sets up subsequent clauses as examples are listed.
This document is mostly about usurping the Judiciary. Musarraf has already appointed a new chief justice and arrested all the justices who would not plead allegiance to the proclamation abrogating the constitution.
It appears that the timing of this declaration of martial law is designed to both frustrate the attempts of the opposition leaders Javed Hashmi and Benazir Bhutto to capitalise on Pakistan's instability and to ensure that the Chief Justice, Iftikhar Chaudhry and the Supreme Court do not have the opportunity to deliver a ruling on whether or not Musharraf can both seek re-election and remain head of the armed forces.
The company she keeps speaks volumes on Benazir Bhutto. Musharraf was once Washington's man, but maybe he has decided to act independently of his masters, hence the hand-wringing in the Whitehouse and 10 Downing Street. If only they would express the same level of concern was expressed about the activities of Islam Karimov, the piece of human detritus currently ruling Uzbekistan with an iron fist and a truly deranged dictator.
Sorry, that should have read "If only they would express the same level of concern about the activities of Islam Karimov, the piece of human detritus currently ruling Uzbekistan with an iron fist and a truly deranged dictator."
Battling a heavy cold is not doing my concentration any good :)
President General Pervez Musharraf on Saturday promulgated an ordinance to amend the press, newspapers, news agencies and Books Registration Ordinance, 2002.
Following is the text of the ordinance:
(TEXT BEGINS)
Ordinance No. LXIV of 2007
AN ORDINANCE
to amend the Press, Newspapers, News Agencies and Books Registration Ordinance, 2002
Whereas it is expedient to amend the Press, Newspapers, News Agencies and Books registration Ordinance, 2002, (XCVIII of 2002), for the purposes hereinafter appearing;
And Whereas the National Assembly is not in session and the circumstances exist which render it necessary to take immediate action;
Now, Therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by clause (I) of Article 89 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the President is pleased to make and promulgate the following Ordinance;-
1. Short title and commencement. (1) This Ordinance may be called the Press, Newspapers, News Agencies, and Books registration (Amendment) Ordinance, 2007.
(2) It shall come into force at once.
2. General amendment, Ordinance XCVIII of 2002. In the
Press, Newspapers, News Agencies and Books Registration Ordinance, 2002 (XCVIII of 2002), hereinafter referred to as the said Ordinance, after the words "District Coordination Officer," wherever occurring, the words and commas "or, where the District Government has not come into being, the Deputy Commissioner" shall be inserted.
3. Insertion of new section 5A, Ordinance XCVIII of 2002.
In the said Ordinance, after section 5, the following new section shall be inserted, namely:-
"5A. Restriction on publication of certain material. (1) No printer, publisher or editor shall print or publish in any book, periodical or paper any material which consists of,
(a) photographs or pictures of suicide bombers, terrorists (except as required by law enforcing agencies for purposes of investigation), bodies of victims of terrorist activities, statements and pronouncements of militants and extremist elements and any other thing which may, in any way, promote, aid or abet terrorist activities or terrorism:
(b) graphic or printed representation or projection of statements, comments, observations or pronouncement based on sectarianism, ethnicism or racialism;
(c) any material, printed or graphic, that defames, brings into ridicule or disrepute the Head of State, or members of the Armed Forces or executive, judicial or legislative organs of the State.
(d) any material that is likely jeopardize or be prejudicial to the ideology of Pakistan or t he sovereignty, integrity or security of Pakistan;
(e) any material, photographic or in print, that is likely to incite violence or hatred or create inter-faith disorder or be prejudicial to maintenance of law and order; and
(f) any material that is in conflict with the commonly accepted standards of morality and decency and which promotes vulgarity, obscenity, and pornography."
4. Amendment of section 19, Ordinance XCVIII of 2002. In the said ordinance, in section 19, after sub-section (2), for the full stop, at the end, a colon shall be substituted and thereafter the following proviso shall be inserted, namely:-
"Provided that in a situation of emergency, pending action under this section, the District Coordination Officer, or as the case may be, the Deputy Commissioner, may suspend the declaration for a period not exceeding thirty days, as deemed appropriate in the circumstances."
5. Amendment of section 44, Ordinance XCVIII of 2002. In the said Ordinance, in section 44, for the word "Government" the words "Federal Government in consultation with the Provincial Governments" shall be substituted.
GENERAL,
(PERVEZ MUSHARRAF)
PRESIDENT
The source for this material is HERE -- Text of amended press ordinance
The whole thing stinks. None of the opposition individuals or groups or organizations is less corrupt and ideologically suspicious than Musharraf. It is not a popular grass roots uprising either. My senses are that Musharraf became bitterly ostracized and humiliated by reckless Bush gang's blind cozying up with India on nuclear issue, gas pipeline, etc. and taking Musharraf as granted. He then, clearly became less and less interested to continue to help US stabilize Afghanistan and destabilize Iran. I have strong feeling that USUKIS (yuzukiz = us + uk + israel) are behind the dissenters.
I meant also to add that, that is exactly what Turkey is getting (PKK) for not quite 'cooperating' with usukis. That's what Russia is/was getting (Chechens) too. That's what Iran got (Saddam) too. It's just Pakistan's turn. Stable and to some degree independent countries is the last thing usukis need now.
“If we don’t take those decisions then there is a grave danger to the solidarity and security of the country,” he added.
He said that he has taken the decision of emergency as his guiding principal has always been “Pakistan first”.
“My guiding principal has always been Pakistan first. I am sure the whole nation thinks on similar pattern.”
President Musharraf said terrorism and extremism had reached its pinnacle and the incidents of suicide attacks throughout the country had increased manifold. “These extremists were roaming around freely in the country while the law enforcing agencies have become demoralised creating concern among the general public,” he added. These elements, he said, were forcibly trying to impose the extremist and backward views of Islam on otherwise moderate people of Pakistan which is a direct challenge to the security of Pakistan.
President Musharraf said the working of government was semi-paralysed as the government functionaries were made to go to courts, particularly the Supreme Court, where they were subjected to humiliation. He lamented that the Supreme Court was hearing over 100 cases where the court had taken suo moto notice while another 1000 applications were pending against various government institutions.
President Musharraf also regretted that the law enforcement agencies were particularly demoralized in the federal capital as two Inspector General of Police were convicted. “This has only demoralized the police force,” he added.
He said various hurdles were being created in the democratic process under a planned strategy for personal and vested interests. Pakistan, he added, under a three-staged transition plan was smoothly moving towards democracy. He said in the first stage, from 1999 to 2002, he was in control of the situation.
In the second stage from 2002 to 2007, he said, his role was only supervisory, where the parliament, provincial assemblies and local government system was in place.
He said in the last phase, which was to be completed in the next three months, he was to act as the civilian president and the country would have moved to complete civil democracy after holding of the general election.
Musharraf said it was the third phase which was being subverted by the vested interests.
President Musharraf said it was due to the hurdles being created by some elements having political and vested interests that the upsurge in the country’s economy achieved during the last over seven years was impeding and there were indications of down-slide in the economy.
The President mentioned the economic turn-around achieved by Pakistan during the last seven years and said it brought about socio-economic improvement in the life of people.
He also mentioned unprecedented development and economic and industrial activities in the country including infrastructure development, construction of roads, fly-overs, dams, brick-lining of canals and water courses, fast track development in telecommunication, mobile phones, Information Technology and the setting up of thousands of industries.
The President said there was marked improvement in social sector including healh and education, with focus on primary and secondary health and the promotion of educational institutions at every level. He said it was a rising and forward moving Pakistan and if God forbid something happens which ruins what was achieved during the last seven years, it would be very unfortunate.
“I cannot see it going downward,” the President said and added it was due to this situation that there was a feeling of disappointment and uncertainty among the people and nation.
The President said he was receiving telephone calls from the people from home and abroad with the questions that “why I am not taking any decision” to check the situation.
“I continued to hear and see all these things quietly and with uncertainty with the hope that the judiciary and the government institutions would be able to tackle the situation”, he said and added but it could not happen and the situation continued to move from bad to worse.
President Musharraf said it was unfortunate that the media and some channels also did not help in curbing the projection of this negative thinking, rather they stimulated such negative thinking. The President said it was he and the present government that gave freedom to media as there was only PTV in 1999, adding, he still believes in the freedom of media but it should also be responsive.
He said in his view the judicial activism and interference of the judiciary in the matters of executive and legislature, after the March 9 happenings, also paralyzed the normal system.
The President recalled the issue of a legal reference against Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and said he acted upon the advice of the Prime Minister and sent the reference to the Supreme Judicial Council in line with the law and constitution and without any prejudice.
He, added that he and the government accepted the Supreme Court verdict on the issue with good faith and adopted a reconciliatory approach so as to end the situation of confrontation for the benefit of the country.
The President, however, said that it was unfortunate that the issue did not stop despite cooperation from the government side. He also mentioned the Lal Masjid (Red Mosque) issue and said it badly hit the image and standing of Pakistan with a lot of embarrassment, as some extremists were taking law in their hands, kidnapping and making the people hostage, burning shops and even made some Chinese hostage.
The President said “ultimately we had to take action.” He lauded the law enforcement agencies and their personnel who lost their lives for national causes.
He said nobody knows that some of these terrorists could be involved in the incidents in Karachi, Rawalpindi and Sargodha as these are at large.
President Musharraf said government was not against madrassa but only against those involved in extremism. He said courts also ordered to reopen those madrassa, which were involved in extremism. He said government wanted to promote high standard madrassa to promote education and prepared a comprehensive plan in this regard.
President Musharraf while referring to the issue of Lal Masjid said, some of the elements have taken over the responsibility of security of the mosque although these do not require any security.
The President said those elements and their relatives have again challenged the government and were speaking against the law enforcing agencies who are fighting against the extremists.
Referring to the process of presidential election, President Musharraf said the whole procedure was adopted purely in a constitutional and legal manner. He said Election Commission of Pakistan examined all the nomination papers and his nomination papers were accepted after completing the legal process of scrutiny.
He said acceptance of his nomination papers were challenged before the Supreme Court and proceedings were lingering on in the court and it caused uncertainty in the country.
Thanking the members of the parliament, for voting him in the presidential election, he said, he got 57 per cent votes in this election which was completed in a constitutional manner.
He said although the results of election of President were announced unofficially but due to cases in the Supreme Court, the official results could not be announced which was causing unrest and uncertainty.
President Musharraf said the Prime Minister also took serious notice of this uncertainty and wrote to him that it was difficult for him to run the government.
Musharraf said the main purpose to proclaim state of emergency was to stop the downward trend in the country in the economic sector and to create harmony in the three pillars of government, judiciary, executive and legislative.
He said with harmony in all the pillars of the state, good governance would be ensured and it could face the threats of extremism and terrorism.
The President said it was the only way to put the country back on the track for the progress and prosperity.
He said he consulted with his friends, army colleagues, government officials, political and private friends within the country and abroad before taking this step.
The President said the action taken today would ensure completion of transition to democratic process without delay and added the state of emergency would remove impediments in the way of democracy.
President Musharraf said there will be no change in the federal and provincial governments and prime minister, all the governors and chief ministers and the assemblies including the senate would continue to function.
He said in his opinion, it was the easiest way to ensure continuity in the policies and economic development of the country and to complete the last transitional phase of democracy as promised.
“I cannot allow the country to commit suicide, therefore, I had to take this action in order to preserve the democratic transition I initiated eight years back.”
He asked the international community to understand the criticality in Pakistan.
President Musharraf especially mentioned the democratic rule of 2002-07 that he oversaw as President and Chief of Army Staff.
He said, he also promised that he will be civilian President, if elected which was the third phase.
The President told the international community that they should not accept or demand their level of democracy which they learnt over four centuries.
“Please give us time. Please do not accept the same level of civil liberties and human rights that you earned over centuries,” he added.
The President said he was always ready to sacrifice his life for the country but he never surrendered to the difficulties and always faced these with courage and determination for the people and for its progress and prosperity.
He expressed the hope that the people will extend support to him so that he could put the country back on the track of progress and prosperity.
The President asked the nation to unite to face the challenges of extremists and terrorists and those who are killing innocent people.
President General Pervez Musharraf on Saturday promulgated an ordinance to amend the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority Ordinance, 2002.
Following is the text of the Ordinance:
Text of ordinance on electronic media
Ordinance No. LXV of 2007
AN
ORDINANCE
further to amend the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority Ordinance, 2002.
WHEREAS it is expedient further to amend the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority Ordinance, 2002 (XIII of 2002) for t he purposes hereinafter appearing;
AND WHEREAS the National Assembly is not in session and circumstances exist which render it necessary to take immediate action;
NOW, THEREFORE, in exercise of the powers conferred by clause
(1) of Article 89 of Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the President is pleased to make and promulgate the following ordinance:-
1. Short title and commencement.- (1) This Ordinance may be called the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Third Amendment) Ordinance, 2007.
(2) It shall come into force at once.
2. Amendment of section 20, Ordinance XIII of 2002.- In the
Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority Ordinance, 2002
(XIII of 2002), hereunder referred to as the said Ordinance, in
section 20,-
(a) in clause (d), after the word “rules” the words “and regulations” shall be inserted;
(b) in clause (h), at the end, the word ‘and’ shall be omitted; and
(c) in clause (i) for the full stop at the end, a semi colon shall be substituted and thereafter the following new clauses shall be added, namely:-
“(j) not broadcast video footage of suicide bombers, terrorists, bodies of victims of terrorism, statements and pronouncements of militants and extremist elements and any other act which may, in any way, promote, aid or abet terrorists activities or terrorism;
(k) ensure that no anchor person, moderator or host propagates any opinion or acts in any manner prejudicial to the ideology of Pakistan or sovereignty, integrity or security of Pakistan.
(l) not broadcast any programme inciting violence or hatred or any action prejudicial to maintenance of law and order;
(m) not broadcast anything which defames or brings into ridicule the Head of State, or members of the armed forces, or executive, legislative or judicial organs of the state;
(n) not broadcast any programme or discussion on a matter which is sub-judice; and
(o) not broadcast anything which is known to be false or baseless or is malafide or for which there exist sufficient reasons to believe that the same may be false, baseless or malafide.”
3. Amendment of section 25, Ordinance XIII of 2002.- In the said Ordinance, in section 25, in clause (d), after the word “organization” the words “including any foreign non-governmental organization” shall be added.
4. Amendment of section 27, Ordinance XIII of 2002.- In the said Ordinance, in section 27, after the word “operator” the words “or owner” shall be inserted.
5. Insertion of section 27-A, Ordinance XIII of 2002.- (I) In the said Ordinance, after section 27, following new section shall be inserted, namely:-
“27A Prohibition of foreign broadcasts:- A person who is issued a broadcast media license or a landing rights permission under this Ordinance shall not enter into an agreement with any foreign broadcaster to sell its air time or otherwise provide its air time to another foreign broadcaster without prior written permission of the Authority.”
6. Amendment of section 29, ordinance XIII of 2002.- In the said Ordinance, in section 29, in sub-section (6), for the word “one” the word “ten” shall be substituted.
7. Amendment of section 30, Ordinance XIII of 2002. - In the said Ordinance, in section 30,-
(a) in sub-section (1), for clause (b), the following shall be substituted, namely:-
“(b) the licensee has contravened any provision of this Ordinance or rules or regulations made thereunder or an order passed under section 27;” ,and
(b) after sub-section (3), the following new sub-section shall be inserted, namely:-
“(4) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (5) of section 29 or any other provision of this Ordinance, where the Authority takes action under sub-section (3) without notice by reason of necessity in the public interest, the Authority or the Chairman, as the case may be, may seize broadcast or distribution service equipment or seal the premises of the licensee:
Provided that in a situation of emergency the Authority or the Chairman may direct closure of any broadcast or distribution network for such period as it may determine.”.
8. Amendment of section 31, ordinance XIII of 2002.- (1) In the said Ordinance, in section 31, after sub-section (2), the following new sub-sections shall be added, namely:-
“(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Ordinance the live coverage of incidents of violence and conflict shall not be broadcast.
(4) A licensee or permission holder shall ensure that nothing is transmitted or broadcast in violation of the provisions of this Ordinance, rules, regulations and Code of Conduct and for this purpose shall install time delay equipments within its system to prevent any such violation.”,
9. Amendment of section 33, Ordinance XIII of 2002.- In the said Ordinance, in section 33,-
(a) for sub-sections (1) and (2) the following shall be substituted, namely:-
“(1) Any broadcast media licensee or its representative who violates or abets violation of any provision of this Ordinance shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or with a fine which may extend to ten million rupees or with both.
(2) Any distribution service licensee or its representative who violates or abets violation of any provision of the Ordinance shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with a fine which may extend to five million rupees or with both”.
10. Substitution of section 34, Ordinance XIII of 2002.- In the said Ordinance, for section 34 following shall be substituted, namely:-
“34. Offences to be cognizable and compoundable:- The offences under this Ordinance shall be cognizable and compoundable”.
11. Omission of section 34-A, Ordinance, XIII of 2002.- In the said Ordinance, section 34-A shall omitted.
GENERAL (PERVEZ MUSHARRAF)
PRESIDENT
"He said the foreign investors who were pumping in the heavy investments into Pakistan are now hesitant to make their investments due to internal situation and were adopting a wait and see policy. 'We have to check this situation', he added."
---------------------------------------
"Money" has no value - people do.
It would seem however, that these economic concerns of Musharraf, that is, foreign investment, would be best served by a government that featured the US State Department's maneuvers to bring in Benazir Bhutto and other opposition leaders into a liberal democratic and economic model. On that aspect, it seems that the Pentagon and Vice President Cheney won out.
My point was intimating that Musharraf's ultimate motivation was retaining power and silencing the growing assertions of the Judiciary and other emergent political forces in Pakistan. The political opposition in Pakistan was spearheaded by the bar of Paskitan who took to the streets subsequent to the dismissal of the Chief Justice by Musharraf. A mass movement was taking shape bringing together liberal forces to challenge the hold on power Musharraf maintained.
The US also showed fears for a replay of the events in Iran in 1979 that saw a conglomeration of religious forces supplanting a dictatorship Washington backed. It was based on those calculations that the state department took steps to bring Ms. Bhutto into a power sharing agreement with Musharraf. Musharraf apparently, would have none of this meddling or at least chose the option preferred by the Pentagon and Dick Cheney, which called for a strong man in Pakistan to help in the effort of the so-called war on terror and other geopolitical aims in the region.
A liberal form of goverment would offer more opportunities in the economic ledger, because then there would be more demographical fissure of the population and Pakistan's institutions than would be under a dictatorial form. It is in that respect that I suggested the true reasons for the state of emergency had less to do with econonic concers and actually, were instead machinations to subvert these liberal forces.
Nevertheless, Musharraf may believe that his form of government would offer better conditions for economic activity, still this concern is merely ancillary and is not central in his move of declaring a state of emergency.
Former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has called General Pervez Musharraf's decision to impose emergency rule a coup. In an interview with CBS News Face the Nation on Sunday, Ms. Bhutto said Saturday's move was General Musharraf's "second coup" - referring to his 1999 overthrow of then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
Ms. Bhutto also said she is deeply concerned that extremists in Pakistan will try to manipulate the volatile situation.
The twice-serving former prime minister says her opposition party, Pakistan Peoples Party will protest what she has called "martial law."
Shortly after emergency rule was imposed Saturday, Ms. Bhutto said she would meet with other political leaders to discuss a strategy for reversing General Musharraf's suspension of the constitution.
Ms. Bhutto returned to her homeland from self-imposed exile in mid-October as the first step towards a power-sharing deal with the president, who has lifted old corruption charges against her.
The state of emergency shatters the proposed power-sharing deal between the president, General Pervez Musharraf, and Ms. Benazir Bhutto, who hammered out the US-backed compromise during secret talks in the Gulf.
Since her return, Ms. Bhutto has become a fierce critic of the government and its handling of the October 18 attack that killed nearly 150 people and wounded hundreds more at her homecoming motorcade in Karachi.
However, a report from Pakistan's thenews.com reveals that: Tehrik-e-Istaqlal (TI) Chairman -- an opposition political party -- Air Marshal (retd) Asghar Khan on Sunday alleged that PPP Chairperson Benazir Bhutto was in league with President General Pervez Musharraf with regard to the imposition of emergency in the country.
Mr. Kahn suggests the state of emergency had been imposed to further the American agenda on the war on terrorism in the region.