The restoration of democracy and the holding of elections are not imminent in Pakistan.
Military leaders yesterday met to discuss the establishment of a caretaker administration following the overthrow of the Prime Minister, Mr Nawaz Sharif, and the declaration of a state of emergency.
The meeting at army headquarters in Rawalpindi was the first between Gen Pervez Musharraf and his core commanders since a state of emergency was declared early yesterday morning. All was calm in the capital, Islamabad, yesterday and there was no evident extra military presence on the streets.
"They talked about issues of national significance arising out of the state of emergency," a spokesman, Brig Rashid Kureshi, told The Irish Times yesterday. "Gen Pervez discussed with them matters of importance such as the establishment of an efficient interim administration to ensure stability, credibility, transparency and accountability."
The army has ruled Pakistan for nearly half of its 52 years. Sources close to the military, however, insist Gen Musharraf has no personal interest in power and that he wants to set up a council of ministers, drawn mainly from the civilian population. "I'm quite sure this shouldn't take too long," said Brig Kureshi. "Certain names have already been considered. They are people known for their integrity and professional excellence. What we want is government for the people by the people. What we had was government by the few for the few." The military spokesman said Gen Musharraf would "probably" address the nation today. The general said in a televised broadcast on Tuesday that he would issue a lengthy policy statement "soon".
The military has meanwhile consolidated its hold on power by ordering banks to freeze the assets of the ousted prime minister, members of his regime and their families. While falling short of martial law, the declaration of a state of emergency has caused concern in the international community. In London a Foreign Office spokesman called the move "deeply worrying", while in the US a White House spokesman said it was "a step in the wrong direction".
Pakistan's military leaders, however, insist the West has misunderstood the situation and is being "unhelpful" by calling for an immediate return to democracy. The widely-held view in Pakistan is that democracy cannot be restored until those responsible for subverting its institutions are punished and debarred from ever again holding public office.
"This was not a coup by us", said a senior military figure yesterday. "It was an attempted coup by Nawaz Sharif against the last remaining institution in the country". The institution to which he referred, the army, is regarded in Pakistan as one of the few not compromised and destroyed by the toppled prime minister and his predecessor, Ms Benazir Bhutto.
Mr Sharif is being held in "protective custody" although the military has declined to say precisely where he is. "We are not barbaric, inhuman people," said Brig Kureshi when asked what fate awaited the deposed prime minister.
There has been no unrest and very little dissent since Mr Sharif was ousted. Any supporters he might have are remaining silent. Mr Sharif and his cronies stand accused not just of corruption but also of attempted murder following their refusal to allow an aircraft carrying Gen Musharraf to land on Tuesday.
The military says only the intervention of an army commander saved the lives of those on board as the aircraft was running short of fuel.
AFP adds: President Clinton is preparing to impose sanctions against Pakistan, in addition to those imposed after nuclear tests last year, the White House said yesterday.
"The president has asked his foreign policy and legal team to apply the ... sanctions because clearly this is a situation where the military has engaged in a coup on a democratically-elected government," the White House spokesman, Mr Joe Lockhart, said. Meanwhile, European Union foreign ministers meeting in Finland yesterday threatened to cut off international aid to Pakistan to force the military to restore democratic rule.
Britain last night announced that it is suspending aid to Pakistan and reducing contact with the military regime to protest against Tuesday's coup. The British Foreign Secretary, Mr Robin Cook, said it was likely that Pakistan would be suspended from the Commonwealth until democracy is restored.