MILITARY RULE IN PAKISTAN

October 18, 1999
		Pakistan's military leader Gen. Pervaiz Musharraf has created a military and civilian council to run the country, almost a week after he seized control from the democratically elected government. --Posted 2:00 PM ET

Oct. 15, 1999: An Online Update of the state of emergency in Pakistan Oct. 13, 1999: Four experts discuss the coup in Pakistan. Oct. 12, 1999: An Online Update on the coup in Pakistan Feb. 22, 1999: Easing nuclear tensions between India and Pakistan. June 4, 1998: Leaders meet in Geneva to discuss India/Pakistan situation. May 29, 1998: The dangers of nuclear diplomacy in the region. May 28, 1998: Pakistan responds to India's nuclear tests. May 26, 1998: Pakistan contemplates nuclear test response. May 26, 1998: Tensions rise between India and Pakistan. May 14, 1998: India conducts five nuclear tests in three days. Complete NewsHour coverage of Asia

The United States has been nervously watching the events in this country, the world's newest nuclear power, since Musharraf ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif last Tuesday. In a public address Sunday, Musharraf alieviated some of the fear that the coup might lead to a nuclear confrontation with Pakistan's neighbor, India. He said Pakistan would withdraw troops from the boarder, and promised to pursue peace talks. The general explained that he had to take "revolutionary steps" to revive the devastated economy and use "radical" means to rid the government of corruption. Pakistan had "a label of democracy, not the essence of it," said Musharraf. "I shall not allow the people to be taken back to the era of sham democracy, but to a true one. And I promise I will, if God wills it." The country remains in a state of emergency, however, and the constitution has been suspended. Even his supporters admit that what the Musharraf did was illegal and treasonous. The genderal has given no indication of when he will give up power. President Clinton said he was pleased by Musharraf's address. "A lot of what he said on the substance, including the conciliatory tone he took toward India, I thought was quite good," the president said. "But I was disappointed there was no commitment to a timetable to move toward democracy, and I hope that will be forthcoming." On Friday, the military threw remaining lawmakers and administrators out of the parliament building as they sealed it off. Meanwhile, the State Bank of Pakistan issued an order freezing accounts belonging to Pakistan's lawmakers "until further notice." The army appears to have been bolstered by the support it has received since ousting the 31-month-old Sharif government. The military seized power hours after Sharif fired Musharraf. According to Musharraf, Prime Minister Sharif remains under house arrest.