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Pakistan Braces for State of Emergency

Stock market reels as Musharraf prepares to expand his powers

By Jason Farago, Newser Staff

Posted Aug 9, 2007 4:47 AM CDT

(Newser) – Pervez Musharraf held a meeting this morning to discuss the declaration of a state of emergency in Pakistan, says the Guardian. Although the government claimed that recent suicide attacks and recent belligerent talk from the White House—not to speak of the Barack Obama campaign—may necessitate emergency measures, opponents of Musharraf saw the move as a last-ditch effort to stay in power.

The Islamabad stock market took a dive as Pakistanis speculated on the consequences of a state of emergency: limits to press freedom, postponed elections, and most of all a weakening of the judiciary, lately the main counterbalance to Musharraf's regime. In July the Supreme Court delivered a landmark verdict reinstating its chief justice, whom Musharraf had suspended, and today it hears a petition to end the exile of Benazir Bhutto.

Pakistani protesters condemn President Pervez Musharraf's government, which carried out an operation against militants holding Islamabad's Red mosque, in Peshawar, Pakistan, Wednesday, July 11, 2007.... (Associated Press)

Pakistan military ruler President Gen. Pervez Musharraf addresses a news conference in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, in this February 2, 2007, file photo. Embattled President Gen. Pervez Musharraf's government... (Associated Press)

Pakistani citizens look a giant 224 feet (70 meter) x 356 feet (105 meter) national flag, prepared for the upcoming 60th Independence Day celebrations, Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2007 in Lahore, Pakistan. Pakistan... (Associated Press)

In this picture released by the Press Information Department Pakistan's President Gen. Pervez Musharraf speaks for his televised address in Islamabad, Pakistan, Thursday, July 12, 2007. Musharraf vowed... (Associated Press)

Pakistani protesters shout slogans against President Pervez Musharraf's government, to condemn the operation against militants who were holding Islamabad's Red mosque, in Pashawar, Pakistan, Wednesday,... (Associated Press)

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Pakistan Braces for State of Emergency

Stock market reels as Musharraf prepares to expand his powers

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Pakistan's New Leaders Will Open Talks With Militants

New coalition will defy US, open negotiations

Pakistan Charges 5 in Bhutto Murder

Top Taliban leader and others accused of plotting assassination

Bhutto Slumped as Shots Rang Out: Video

Husband calls official version of cause of death "useless excuse"

Bhutto Aide Sees Cover-Up in Changing Cause of Death

Finds skull-fracture theory 'nonsense'

Benazir Bhutto Killed in Attack on Rally

Former Pakistani PM dies in surgery; 15 others killed in suicide bombing

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Stock market reels as Musharraf prepares to expand his powers

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Pakistan • Pervez Musharraf • suicide bombing • Benazir Bhutto • state of emergency

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Pakistan's New Leaders Will Open Talks With Militants

New coalition will defy US, open negotiations

Pakistan Charges 5 in Bhutto Murder

Top Taliban leader and others accused of plotting assassination

Bhutto Slumped as Shots Rang Out: Video

Husband calls official version of cause of death "useless excuse"

Bhutto Aide Sees Cover-Up in Changing Cause of Death

Finds skull-fracture theory 'nonsense'

Benazir Bhutto Killed in Attack on Rally

Former Pakistani PM dies in surgery; 15 others killed in suicide bombing

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Newser By Users

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