Musharraf suspends Pakistan constitution 

Islamabad, 2007 Nov 3, Al-Manar

President Pervez Musharraf has suspended Pakistan's constitution under an order imposing emergency rule Saturday, but the federal and provincial assemblies will still function, officials said.

"The provisional order (passed by Musharraf) suspends the constitution of 1973, but the federal and provincial government will remain intact," a senior official said on condition of anonymity.

The suspension of the constitution has normally been seen as an imposition of martial law during previous states of emergency in Pakistan's tumultuous history, but there was no official confirmation of this. When asked about reports that the Supreme Court had already passed an order barring the government from taking action that would contravene the 1973 constitution, the official said the judiciary was not above the constitution.

"Parliament is superior, not the judiciary, and they cannot undo an order which has been taken in consultation with the sitting government," the official said.

Musharraf declared emergency rule after a cabinet meeting earlier Saturday approved the step, another government official said earlier.