Islamabad, Nov 1 : Pakistan is plagued by serious fears that the Musharraf regime might take some drastic steps before the Supreme Court’s judgement on the eligibility of the General to contest the presidential election on Friday. No one, however, is ready to speculate on what those steps could be.

Sources said that all senior officials have given a free hand to President Pervez Musharraf to take any action that he might deem appropriate for the country and for the continuity of the system.

Even important diplomatic missions are desperately seeking information from the media about what might happen in the next 24 to 48 hours.

"An action that could transform the whole scene with change of faces might be taken by Friday or it would be too late. Then, such steps could even prove counter-productive," sources said.

They insisted that the step that could unfold in hours could change the whole scenario.

Some sources in the government said that the imposition of emergency was not the solution, but others discounted the fears and expressed the hope that rumourmongers were taking benefit of the situation.

President General Pervez Musharraf, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain have had long discussions at the Prime Minister House.

Meanwhile, former premier Benazir Bhutto has postponed her visit to Dubai, saying that she has heard rumours that the government could impose an emergency during her absence.

At a hastily arranged press conference at Bilawal House, Bhutto strongly condemned reports about the imposition of emergency or any other undemocratic action in the country and warned that the nation would resist such acts.

Bhutto warned that in case of emergency, people would come out on streets and her party would lead the nation against the extreme action, which would be against democracy and sovereignty of the country.

She advised the government and all stakeholders to accept the Supreme Court verdict on the eligibility of Musharraf to contest the presidential election.

Bhutto said that some people were wrongly advising him to take unconstitutional measures, but hoped that Musharraf would accept the Supreme Court judgement.

Benazir said she held negotiations with the government for smooth transition to democracy and the act to impose emergency would be against the spirit of reconciliation and dialogue. She said other political and democratic parties would also resist such a move.

Earlier, all arrangements were completed for her departure by Emirates flight EK-603 on October 31 night for Dubai to meet her children, The News reported. (ANI)