Is Pervez Musharraf Under House Arrest?

Rumours have been circulating in Pakistan and abroad that President Pervez Musharraf has been placed under house arrest by his subordinates in the military who are unhappy with his decision to impose emergency rule.

The Pakistani strongman however denied the rumours, calling it a joke of the highest order.

In the twisted, convoluted world of Pakistan politics anything is possible, even a 'joke of the highest order'.

Reuters India reports that media organisations received calls from cities all around Pakistan, including Karachi, where the stock market had fallen 4.7 percent on the political uncertainty.

Meanwhile Pakistan's sacked Chief Justice Iftikhar M Chaudhry has described President Pervez Musharraf's post-emergency set-up as "illegal and unconstitutional" in his first comments after being deposed by the general.

"Everything that is happening today is illegal, unconstitutional and against the orders of the Supreme Court," Chaudhury, who was put under house arrest after he refused to take oath under Musharraf's Provisional Constitutional Order, told The News on telephone.

Only time will tell how this new development unfolds. Although Musharraf is valuable to the U.S. in its 'War Against Terror', going by the stinging rebuke from Secretary of State Dr Condoleezza Rice, the embattled president's days in office may be numbered.
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