(13 Oct 1999) English/Nat
A day after military forces overthrew Pakistan's democratically elected government, Army Chief General Pervaiz Musharraf is showing no signs that he plans to relinquish power.
That's despite condemnation from the world community, which has reacted to the military coup by suspending aid, threatening diplomatic isolation and urging a speedy return to democratic government.
The coup was staged only hours after Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif announced he was replacing General Musharraf with his close ally, General Zia Uddin, the former head of Pakistan's secret service.
Pakistani troops took over state-run media and closed airports on Tuesday before announcing that the democratically elected government had been removed.
They cordoned off the prime minister's residence in Islamabad and took over the houses of several other top ministers.
Other government buildings were also surrounded.
International phone lines out of the capital were cut, while television began broadcasting nationalistic songs and footage of Pakistani troops.
As news of the coup emerged, people gathered on the streets to read newspapers and to listen intently to a nationally televised address by coup leader General Musharraf.
He announced his forces had moved in "as a last resort to prevent further destabilisation".
The general went on to accuse the government of "systematically destroying" state institutions and driving the economy toward collapse.
Musharraf urged calm and promised "very soon" to announce his plans for Pakistan's future.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Dear brothers and sisters, your armed forces have never and shall never let you down, insha-Allah (God-willing). We will preserve the integrity and sovereignty of our country to the last drop of our blood. I request you all to remain calm and support your armed forces in the re-establishment of order to pave the way for a prosperous future for Pakistan."
SUPER CAPTION: General Pervaiz Musharraf, Pakistan Army chief
Pakistani citizens seemed unfazed by the coup.
Many danced in the streets and waved flags, celebrating the ouster of a prime minister who had become increasingly unpopular because of a deteriorating economy and his ongoing power struggle with political opponents and the military.
Tuesday's coup followed reports in recent weeks of a growing rift between the military and the civilian government in this impoverished and overwhelmingly Muslim country of 140 (m) million people.
The enmity between Sharif and Musharraf deepened this summer when the prime minister ordered militants to withdraw from Indian territory in the Kargil region of Kashmir, ending a bitter two-month border dispute with India.
The morning after the coup, the streets of the Pakistani capital of Islamabad were calm as the public caught up with events in the morning newspapers.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"There's still a feeling of uncertainty and we're just hoping that there should be a new government that would be stable."
SUPER CAPTION: Vox Pop
All national and international banks were closed for the day and the central bank ordered the suspension of all foreign exchange transactions.
The coup may have jeopardised much needed international lending programmes and put off any lingering investment interest in the cash-starved country.
International Monetary Fund managing director, Michel Camdessus, said on French radio that Pakistan would not receive further financial aid from the I-M-F until democracy was restored.
Meanwhile, Pakistan is doing its best to resume normal day to day operations.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
Find out more about AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
Twitter: [ Ссылка ]
Facebook: [ Ссылка ]
Instagram: [ Ссылка ]
You can license this story through AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
