Emergency: Nov. 3, 2007 chat conversation

[Claude Almansi]

I learned about the emergency on Nov. 3 through a chat conversation with a Pakistani friend. With his authorization, I am copying here extracts from this conversation, removing all identifying info and replacing his name by P. I am boldening his words to facilitate reading. Time indications are GMT+1.


1:41 PM P.: all electronic media closed here in pakistan
no TV is on
1:42 PM rumors of imposition of emergency ot Martial Law

me: Gosh, P.
not even a message on the screen?

1:43 PM P.: or martial Law

me: Internet still accessible?

P.: no message snow falling on the TV
it is

(...)

1:51 PM me: I checked the metroblogging karachi site in case it was just a local technical problem, but it's the same in karachi: http://karachi.metblogs.com/archives/2007/11/breaking_news_n_1.phtml
1:52 PM On MBK they say: "*Welcome to the Jungle plays in the background*" - is it a song?

1:53 PM P.: I do not know

me: A comment says "Indian channels report that Emergency has been declared in the country."
Can you get Indian channels?

1:54 PM P.: no electronic communication is available only internet

1:55 PM me: and who knows for how long PTA will let the internet go on

P.: so far I do not know also for internet what will happen next

1:56 PM me: we had the same idea at the same time
1:58 PM The Hindu speaks of "High Alert" so far, otherwise nothing in Google News
2:03 PM me: More on http://lahore.metblogs.com/archives/2007/11/breaking_news_n_1.phtml though

2:07 PM P.: but for one thing u rest assure that the result of all malafiede and wrong doings will be in the in favor of people of Pakistan
2:08 PM all wrong doings of Govt will be in favor of people of Pakistan
tI mean the result of it

me: in the end, yes

2:09 PM P.: and end will also be very soon

me: again, we thought the same thing at the same time. I was surprised by your approval of BB's latest shenanigans
or were you ironic?

2:10 PM P.: at the end people of pakistan will emerge as victorious
2:11 PM no Im serious to say that BB is correct in her actions
me: You mean selling off PPP to Mush?
2:12 PM P.: not corruption

me: ah ok
if you distinguish between the 2 things

2:13 PM P.: no she is not selling off PPP to any one, but to achieve the final result
2:14 PM I mean target
she has her target
2:15 PM u see her cleverness to leave the country if emergency or Martial is to be imposed

2:17 PM me: hm to a point. She first said she would stay, because PPP asked her to. And there is the fact that high govt official already said on Oct 16 she would leave under a pretext after a few days
(...)

2:19 PM P.: now TV channels started coming up Emercency
imposed rumors to remove CJ
(...)

2:23 PM me: "6pm Update:
- President Musharraf will be addressing the nation later tonight -
According to other sources:
- An Emergency Bar council meeting has been announced
- Cable operators were given a 30 minute deadline to stop all private TV channels -
- According to ARY, roads to the Judges colony in Islamabad has been blocked" from MBK
http://karachi.metblogs.com/archives/2007/11/emergency_decla.phtml

P.: what ever happened people will win
(...)
2:28 PM P.: all private TV channels closed
2:29 PM President is awaited to address the nation
2:31 PM security meeting is on
(...)
P.: only few persons r invited
(...)
3:27 PM P.: this is not only emergency but undeclared Martial Law
3:28 PM constitution is suspended,PCO is enforced supreme court suspended
3:29 PM in emergency constitution is never suspended

me: What is PCO, please?

3:31 PM P.: provisional constitutional order
3:32 PM it is extra ordinary situation in the country

me: thanks

3:33 PM P.: Aitaiza Ahsan known lawyer is arrested, supreme court is surrounded by security forces .Judges annonced to reject PCO
3:34 PM Aitaizaz Ahsan is now supreme court bar association president
(...)
3:37 PM CJ told by the authorities ur services no longer required
3:40 PM me: At least no doubts left about Mush's opinion of democratic rules
and respect for the judiciary

4:13 PM me: About Bhutto, she apparently declared to Ary TV 6 hours ago that Mush would not impose emergency:
"http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007%5C11%5C03%5Cstor...
4:14 PM LAHORE: Imposing emergency will not benefit Pakistan and General Pervez Musharraf will not impose it despite being encouraged by “political orphans” to do so, said PPP Chairwoman Benazir Bhutto on Friday.
Talking to ARY television in Dubai, she said Gen Musharraf had earlier turned down the suggestion of imposing martial law for the betterment of the country and would not impose it now.
4:15 PM have to go out for an hour now. See you later?
(...)

6:30 PM me: Justice Hameed Dogar was administered the oath as chief justice by President Pervez Musharraf under the new provisional constitutional order,
according to http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/Pakistan_government_appoin...


7:32 PM P.: BB landed in krrachi,Govt functionaries requested her to go to Islamabad.BB refused to go to Islamabad.BB has come Pakistan on the askance of Condo Leeza Rice

7:33 PM me: yes - apparently Mush didn't apprise either Condy or Bibi of his intention to have martial law
7:34 PM BB was saying on TV that he wouldn't just before the TVs were taken down
But what can BB do?

P.: next 24 hours very very important
7:35 PM Monday may be the decisive day

7:36 PM me: Is general Fallon still in Islamabad?

7:38 PM P.: yes

7:39 PM me: is he behind Mush's decision?

7:41 PM P.: NO, if he is behind this decision then it was negative for Mush and positive for future of Pakistan

7:42 PM me: Has BB been able to get out of her plane?

P.: then it was trap
My guest r sitting in my dinning room I will talk to u after one hour
yes

me: ok, sure

7:43 PM P.: she was taken to v v v ip room to request to go to Islamabad

7:44 PM me: ok, go with you guests now - musn't keep them waiting. See you later

P.: now she is still in karachi airport