His political support crumbling, Pakistan’s dictator-in-chief may declare emergency rule to keep himself in power:

President Musharraf was poised to impose a state of emergency, a move that would grant him sweeping powers… Emergency rule would allow General Musharraf, who seized power in a coup in 1999, to extend the tenure of the national and provincial assemblies by 12 months and to delay elections that are due at the end of the year…

… General Musharraf declared that he would seek election by the current parliament for another five-year term before October 15. He also made his intention clear that he would not step down as army chief, as demanded by the Opposition. The emergency measure, expected to be announced today, would lead to the suspension of fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution and curtail the powers of the Supreme Court. [Link]

One of Gen. Musharraf’s worries back home is a Supreme Court hearing set for Thursday of a petition in which exiled former prime minister Nawaz Sharif… and his brother are seeking to be allowed to return [to] Pakistan to contest parliamentary elections… [Link]

Minister of State for Information Tariq Azim told [the] private Geo television channel that condition was ripe for Emergency and the government is seriously considering the measure… [Link]

Condi Rice called Musharraf hastily to discuss:

Rice spoke by phone to Musharraf in a call that took place in the early hours of Thursday… the 17-minute conversation… began shortly after 2 a.m. Thursday Pakistan time. [Link]

Here’s the best part: a Pakistani minister used Barack Obama’s Pakistan policy as an excuse to declare Emergency. Is there any better measure of a candidate’s presidentialness?

He also said statements coming from the United States, including from Sen. Barak Obama, D-Ill., a presidential hopeful, over the possibility of U.S. military action against al-Qaida in Pakistan “has started alarm bells ringing and has upset (the) Pakistani public…” [Link]

Declaring emergency is just what Indira Gandhi did, and for similar reasons:

On June 12, 1975 the High Court of Allahabad declared Gandhi’s election invalid on the grounds of corrupt practices… this decision had the effect of removing her from office…

Gandhi advised President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed to declare a state of emergency, claiming that the strikes and rallies were creating a state of ‘internal disturbance’… Even before the Emergency Proclamation was ratified by Parliament, Gandhi on the night of June 26, 1975 moved to put an end to any and all opposition to order the arrest of all her principal opposition…

… Gandhi used the emergency provisions to grant herself extraordinary powers…. a draconian campaign to stamp out dissent included the arrest and torture of thousands of political activists… [Link]

It’s been said that Pakistan is not a country with an army, it’s an army with a country. Unless Pakistan starts to demilitarize its civil society, it’ll soon be one man with a fiefdom.