General Pervez Musharraf on Wednesday pulled out of a long-planned grand assembly of Pakistani and Afghan tribal leaders, snubbing an initiative that had the ­personal backing of US ­President George W. Bush.

The Pakistani president’s withdrawal came amid speculation that he might be about to impose a state of emergency. Tariq Azim, minister of state for information, on Wednesday night said the government might be forced to introduce the measure due to ‘‘external and internal threats’’.