Pakistan 'could declare state of emergency'

A state of emergency could be declared in Pakistan because of “external and internal threats” and deteriorating law and order in the volatile north-west near the Afghan border, the government said today.

Tariq Azim, minister of state for information, said some sentiment coming from the United States, including from Democratic presidential hopeful Barak Obama, over the possibility of US military action against al Qaida in Pakistan “has started alarm bells ringing and has upset the Pakistani public.”