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Bhutto Trip Off Amid Fears Of Emergency State

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The Associated Press

Published: November 1, 2007

KARACHI, Pakistan - Pakistan's former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto abruptly canceled plans to travel abroad Wednesday, saying she had heard rumors the government could impose a state of emergency during her absence.

The opposition leader, who was targeted by suicide bombers when she returned home on Oct. 18 after eight years in exile, had been preparing to go to Dubai to see her husband and three children.

She said at a hastily arranged news conference that senior party aides told her President Gen. Pervez Musharraf might impose emergency measures if the Supreme Court found that his recent election win was unconstitutional. A ruling is expected this week.

The government denied any such plans.

'I wanted to go to Dubai,' Bhutto said, 'but when these rumors surfaced, I decided to change my program.

'If a state of emergency is imposed, we will not accept it,' she said, speaking on behalf of her Pakistan People's Party. 'If fundamental human rights are suspended, we will not accept it. The nation will not accept it, and I know other political parties will also not accept it.'

Bhutto, a two-time premier, returned to Pakistan after Musharraf signed an amnesty to drop corruption cases against her and other politicians and bureaucrats amid expectations she and Musharraf could form a pro-Western alliance to counter extremism.

A suicide blast shattered her homecoming parade in Karachi, however, killing more than 140 people and raising fears for Pakistan's stability ahead of crucial parliamentary elections.

Pakistan's top judge expressed impatience Wednesday with the current investigation and said he would open his own probe, wading into the country's deepening political turmoil.

The Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry, will review the bombing to ensure that the 'perpetrators of this barbaric act are brought to book, which will result in restoring the confidence of the nation in the system of governance,' a court statement said.

It scheduled a hearing in the case for today.

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