OT -- State of Emergency Declared in Pakistan (UPDATE)
Pakistan declares emergency after N-tests
Reuters, Thursday, May 28, 1998 at 16:07
ISLAMABAD, May 29 (Reuters) - Pakistani President Mohammad
Rafiq Tarar proclaimed a state of emergency, giving
extraordinary powers to the government after it conducted five
nuclear tests, the official APP news agency said on Friday.
The president issued the emergency order under a clause of
the Pakistani constitution that empowers him to suspend
enforcement of fundamental rights, it said.
Pakistani authorities gave no immediate reason for the
declaration of the emergency, which followed an international
outcry over the nuclear tests and a swift imposition of
sanctions by the United States.
The order said: "...the right to move any court...for the
enforcement of all the fundamental rights conferred by chapter I
of Part II of the constitution, and all proceedings pending in
any court which are for the enforcement, or involve the
determination of any question as to the enforcement, of any of
the said Rights, shall remain suspended for the period during
which the said Proclamation is in force."
(Published on Wednesday, Reuters May 28, 1997 at 17:18)
The news agency said the president was acting on constitutional guidelines which call for a state of emergency to be declared when Pakistan's security falls under threat from external aggression.
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