Nov. 2 (Bloomberg) -- Pakistan escalated raids against pro- Taliban gunmen in the Swat Valley near Afghanistan, as GEO television said President Pervez Musharraf's Cabinet discussed imposing a state of emergency in the country to end unrest.

Security forces killed as many as 70 militants since a cease-fire collapsed Oct. 31, the military said yesterday.

Musharraf, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and ministers discussed emergency rule this week, GEO reported on its Web site, citing unidentified officials. The Swat unrest, militancy in the tribal region and court rulings that hamper the administration have created a ``grim law and order situation'' the meeting decided, according to the report.

Musharraf is experiencing the most widespread opposition to his rule since he took power in a 1999 military coup. The Supreme Court is hearing challenges to his re-election for a second five- year term last month, while security forces are facing increased attacks by Islamic militants and terrorist bombings as Pakistan prepares for general elections due by Jan. 15.

A joint session of Parliament may be called for Nov. 5 to endorse a presidential declaration of emergency regulations, GEO reported. The elections would go ahead as planned, individual rights wouldn't be suspended and the measures would be enforced for a limited time, it said, without elaborating.

Election Security

Pakistan's government is asking political parties to endorse a plan to tighten security during the elections after suicide bombers last month targeted former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's homecoming rally, killing at least 136 people. The attack came hours after Bhutto returned from eight years in self- imposed exile in Dubai and London to lead her Pakistan Peoples Party in the ballot.

Bhutto yesterday flew to Dubai to visit her family and plans to return to Pakistan before Nov. 8, according to an aide.

Martial law won't affect the work of the Supreme Court, GEO cited Justice Javed Iqbal as saying yesterday.

Musharraf, 64, won a majority of votes from lawmakers in the Oct. 6 presidential ballot. He wasn't declared the winner because the court barred the Election Commission from making an announcement until it rules on the challenges. Musharraf's present term ends Nov. 15.

Makhdoom Amin Fahim, vice chairman of Bhutto's PPP, and Wajihuddin Ahmed, a retired judge, asked the court to disqualify Musharraf on the grounds that the constitution doesn't allow him to run for president while keeping the post of army chief.

Ruling Delay

The 11-member panel of Supreme Court judges is scheduled to complete hearings today. If the case doesn't end today it will have to be heard on Nov. 12 because one of the judges has other commitments, the British Broadcasting Corp. cited Iqbal as saying.

Protests against Musharraf's rule increased after he removed the country's top judge, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, on March 9 for misusing authority. Chaudhry was reinstated by his peers in July.

Demonstrations by Islamic parties against Musharraf escalated when he ordered an army raid at Islamabad's Red Mosque on July 10, ending a challenge by clerics who wanted to impose Islamic law in the capital. More than 100 people, including 75 militants, were killed in the raid.

Since the assault, more than 460 people have been killed in attacks, including suicide bombings, across the country.

The army has battled al-Qaeda and Taliban supporters in the country since 2001 when Musharraf backed the U.S.-led campaign against terrorism.

That U.S. support gained him financial assistance that helped the benchmark Karachi Stock Exchange 100 Index climb 14- fold since 2001. Pakistan's $146 billion economy expanded at an average annual pace of 7.5 percent in the past four years.

To contact the reporters on this story: Khalid Qayum in Islamabad at kqayum@bloomberg.net; Paul Tighe in Sydney at ptighe@bloomberg.net at

Last Updated: November 1, 2007 22:05 EDT