Bush ally Suspends Constitution and Fires Chief Justice in Pakistan

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The move appeared to be an effort by General Musharraf to reassert his fading power in the face of growing opposition from the country’s Supreme Court, political parties and hard-line Islamists. Pakistan’s Supreme Court had been expected to rule within days on the legality of General Musharraf’s re-election last month as the country’s president.

The emergency act, which analysts and opposition leaders said was more a declaration of martial law, also boldly defied the Bush administration, which had repeatedly urged General Musharraf to avoid such a path and instead move toward democracy. Washington has generously backed the general, sending him more than $10 billion in aid since 2001, mostly for the military. Now the administration finds itself in the bind of having to publicly castigate the man it has described as one of its closest allies in fighting terrorism.

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US warned over backing for Musharraf

When Boucher comes, the US must make a strong statement demanding the return of democracy. It’s not possible for the US to continue justifying a uniformed president heading a democracy. It’s a joke on democracy.”

Although this week’s searing heat, at times topping 50°C (122°F) in Lahore, has kept the crowds off the streets, the government remains shaken by the scale of recent protests against Gen Musharraf’s March 9 suspension of Iftikhar Chaudhary, the chief justice.

Analysts have warned that any signal from Washington of unconditional support could encourage Gen Musharraf to impose a state of emergency.

“Should this happen, Pakistanis would perceive the US as an impediment to, rather than a supporter of, democracy, and it would lose all remaining vestiges of credibility in the country,” the International Crisis Group, an advocacy group, warned.