Islamabad: Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf decides Thursday whether to impose emergency rule to external and internal threats, a government spokesman.

Official said they thought that a declaration of state of emergency was likely following the meeting later on Thursday at the camp of president outside capital Islamabad.

“The president will chair a meeting to decide about a state of emergency in the country,” said one official source.

Tariq Azeem, Deputy Information Minister, confirmed the measures had been discussed and could not be ruled out, as Musharraf battles an upsurge in militant violence in the volatile tribal regions bordering Afghanistan.

Azeem said, “I cannot confirm whether a decision has been taken or not.”

The president considered imposing emergency rule since Tuesday, when he met with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and other senior aides.

The deteriorating security situation in Pakistan’s northwestern tribal areas that have become staging posts for Taliban and Al-Qaeda operatives, and threats by US officials and presidential hopefuls to take unilateral military action against the militant bases, are the major concerns raised at that meeting, the sources said.

Musharraf told Afghan President Hamid Karzai that he could attend a key three-day tribal council in Kabul Thursday, to end Taliban and Al-Qaeda sponsored terrorism, due to engagements in the capital, and opting to send Shaukat Aziz in his place.

Tariq Azeem said, “People are seriously worried about external threats to Pakistan,” and lawmakers had called the situation a very serious matter in parliament.

Accusation from U.S. has made Musharraf angry, that Pakistan has become a safe shelter for Al-Qaeda and regrouped Taliban.

A state of emergency declaration would minimize the role of judiciary; curtail civil liberties, restricting freedom of movement, association and expression.

According to The News newspaper’s Thursday edition, the government officials said proclamation of emergency was a lesser evil than martial law, though elections due later this year could be delayed as emergency rule would extend current parliament’s tenure by 12 months.

Other media quoted the official sources as saying that rumors of emergency rule were baseless.