Pakistan considers state of emergency

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - The government of Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf said yesterday that it may impose a state of emergency because of "external and internal threats" and deteriorating law and order in the northwest near the Afghan border.

Tariq Azim, minister of state for information, said some sentiment coming from the United States, including from Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, over the possibility of U.S. military action against al-Qaeda in Pakistan "has started alarm bells ringing and has upset the Pakistani public."

But it appeared the motivation for a declaration of an emergency would be the domestic political woes of Musharraf, a key U.S. antiterrorism ally who took power in a 1999 coup.

His popularity has dwindled and his standing has been shaken by a failed bid to oust the country's chief justice - an independent-minded judge likely to rule on expected legal challenges to Musharraf's bid to seek a new five-year presidential term this fall.

The Pakistani government's comments came hours after Musharraf abruptly announced he was canceling a planned trip today to Kabul, Afghanistan, to attend a U.S.-backed tribal peace council aimed at curtailing cross-border militancy by the Taliban and al-Qaeda.

His cancellation appeared linked to the government's deliberations over declaring a state of emergency.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice spoke at length with Musharraf in a call early today Pakistani time, a senior State Department official said. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation, declined to discuss the substance of the 17-minute conversation.

During a state of emergency, the government can restrict the freedom to move, rally, engage in political activities or form groups, and can impose other limits such as restricting the parliament's right to make laws or even dissolving parliament.

"These are only unconfirmed reports, although the possibility of imposition of emergency cannot be ruled out and has recently been talked about and discussed," Azim said.

"I cannot say that it will be tonight, tomorrow or later," he said. "We hope that it does not happen."

Pakistani television networks reported that a declaration was imminent, but other senior government officials said no final decision had been made.

Azim referred to recent Pakistani military action against militants in northwestern border areas that he said had resulted in the deaths of many soldiers.

Violence has been rising in the lawless region where critics say a September peace deal with local Taliban officials has allowed Islamic militants to thrive. The United States has called the deal a failure, saying it gave al-Qaeda an opportunity to regroup in the region.

Meanwhile, Musharraf pulled out of a "peace jirga" in Kabul that is to bring more than 600 Pakistani and Afghan tribal leaders together with Afghan President Hamid Karzai. Pakistan's Foreign Office said that Musharraf phoned Karzai yesterday to say he could not attend because of "engagements" in Islamabad, and that Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz would take his place.

In Washington, the State Department said the United States understood Musharraf's decision.