Martial law in Pakistan

Musharraf has imposed emergency rule:

Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf has declared emergency rule, state-run TV has reported, as independent channels went off air.

Paramilitary troops have been deployed inside state-run television and radio stations in Islamabad, witnesses said.

Gen Musharraf is awaiting a Supreme Court ruling on whether he was eligible to run for re-election last month while remaining army chief.

Pakistan has been engulfed in political upheaval in recent months.

The security forces have suffered a series of blows from pro-Taleban militants opposed to Gen Musharraf's support for the US-led "war on terror".

The BBC's Barbara Plett reports from Islamabad that fears have been growing in the government that the Supreme Court ruling could go against Gen Musharraf.

In a nuclear-armed state, Musharraf is certainly preferable to Taliban-affiliated extremists. But that still doesn't mean I trust him for a second.

Damian P.

Damian adds: regular updates here.

Posted by damian at November 3, 2007 10:40 AM