Musharraf

Army General and President Pervez Musharraf delcared a State of Emergency in Pakistan. The Army has imposed Martial Law.

The declaration came only hours before the Supreme court were to announce the legality of Musharraf's reelection. The Supreme Court refused to endorse the declaration. They argued it was unconstitutional. Following the declaration, the Supreme Court was placed in house arrest and a new Chief Justice was appointed.

According to Najam Sethi of Rediff News Musharraf has declared a state of emergency as Army Chief and announced a Provisional Constitutional Order, which only an Army Chief can order. Meanwhile, the Provisional Constitutional Order 'confirms and upholds' Musharraf as President of Pakistan. It demands a new oath from those judges who wish to be part of the new Federal Shariat Court, High Court and Supreme Court. Sethi argues that this will create a pro-executive judiciary within a relatively short amount of time.

Demonstrations are expected from the oppostion. However, with the media blinded and the judiciary temporarily suspended it seems the army and the police will be able to crush the movement. Afterwards, Sethi believes that Musharraf will return the country to a democracy.

This weekend Pakistan's President and Army General Prevez Musharraf won the elections, after a controversial election campaign.

Musharraf won with a sweeping 152 of a 157 votes from parliament.

Musharraf also promised to take off his uniform before being reinstated in office.

According to the Daily Times of Pakistan Musharraf will have to wait 10 days for the Supreme Court to verify the legality of his re-election.

According to the Daily Times, a Pakistani newspaper, President Pervez Musharraf says that November 15th will be the last day he wears his military uniform.

He also says that staying in uniform after 2004 was necessitated by the regional and domestic political climate.

What else does Musharraf think about democracy in Pakistan?

Watch this.

Meanwhile Adil Nadjam of The Pakistaniat analyzes what will happen in Pakistan if Musharraf indeed gets re-elected. Read the full article here.

Its not been too long since the Jamia Hafsa brigade sheathed in Burqa's and armed with their weapons and Quran's tried to dictate morality to the Islamabadi elite.

Everyone knows how the Lal Masjid (Red Mosque) fiasco ended for my namesake-President Musharraf. As an Indian
Muslim I am often in a Pakistan state of mind. Events in my neighbours' country, which is a mirror in so many ways of my own (and yet not) are always paramount in my mind.

See the latest videos and articles about the upcoming elections in Pakistan on the AFP news site.
"Only these people keep saying that there is no democracy just because of my uniform" (quote from the film Dinner With The President)