So it appears that the Musharraf government is backing away from the rumor reported by multiple news outlets that he was considering implementing a state of emergency. The official Pakistani government line is that a state of emergency was one of many options presented to President General  Perez Musharraf, but that he did not think that it was necessary. Besides, the government spokesperson argued, Musharraf is committed to holding free and fair elections.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice apparently placed a 17-minute phone call to Musharraf after hearing the rumors about a pending state of emergency. Hopefully her actions had a positive impact on Musharraf’s calculations and helped him realize that the decision would have negative consequences for Musharraf’s future.

I agree with this analysis that these theatrics seem to be trail balloon of sorts to gauge international and domestic reactions to a potential political crackdown. The renunciations of the rumors took way to long, and they were half-hearted when given.

Musharraf still plans to seek reelection from the sitting parliament and local councils between September 15 and October 15. The pending confrontations over whether new parliamentary elections are necessary before they elect a new president and whether Musharraf can stand for his third term while still head of the army still loom over Pakistani politics. The Pakistani courts are expected to hear arguments today about whether former prime minister Nawaz Sharif can return to Pakistan to compete in the next elections, and the decision could continue to rock Musharraf’s grip on power.