President Ends State Of Emergency In Pakistan

President Musharraf lifts emergency. Musharraf’s decision hailed by the Common Wealth and Civil Society Written by: Jawad Mazhar (Special Correspondent for BosNewsLife in Pakistan)

Islamabad, Pakistan, Dec 15th (BosNewsLife):

On the eve of Dec 15th, President of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf has finally fulfilled his promise by lifting the state of emergency from the country. Civil society, media, lawyers, business and people from all walks of life has welcomed the president’s move of ending the emergency. In his address on the state run television (Pakistan Television) PTV and Radio he announced the ending of emergency and restoration of the original constitution of the country of 1973. In his address he urged all the political parties to take an active part in the upcoming general elections. He also urged the voters to come out of their homes on Jan 8th, 2008 and cast their votes. President Musharraf justified his decision of promulgating the emergency in the country by saying that it was in the best interest of Pakistan and that his act of reinstating the emergency intended to save the country from destabilization. Discussing the fate of the judges, who denied taking oath under the PCO, The President said that such judges would no longer be in the service. Whereas all the Supreme Court and High Court judges who had taken oath under the PCO(Provisional Constitutional Order) would have to refresh their oath according to the original constitution of Pakistan. The biggest protest in the history of Pakistan was launched after President Pervez Musharraf imposed emergency in country on Nov 3rd and suspended the constitution by reinstating a PCO; he also deposed the Supreme Court and several High Court judges during the State of Emergency. Moreover he put restrictions on the media by banning number of news television channels in Pakistan including Geo, Aaj, Rang, ARY One World and Royal TV channels. An immense and intense country wide protest was launched against the President Musharraf slamming him for imposing emergency, exploiting the judiciary and putting bars on media. West also criticized Musharraf for this act, Therefore under the immense International and National pressure then President and General Pervez Musharraf was compelled to doff the military uniform and cede the powerful position of Pakistani Army Head. Although President Musharraf has lifted the emergency from the country, even then several former Supreme Court and Hugh Court Judges are yet kept under military surveillance and house arrest, especially sacked Supreme Court Chief Justice, Justice Iftikhar. Several Charitable non-governmental organization of the civil society has welcomed the President Pervez Musharraf’s act of lifting the Emergency from the country and restoring the constitution. Civil Society had demanded an immediate end of the house arrest of the deposed judges. Chairman ‘Rays of Development, Organization’, Ferhan Mazher lauded the President’s decision of eliminating the Emergency from Pakistan. Chief of ROD added that it is good but it is not enough, Former General and presently civilian President of Pakistan should restore the constitution in its original form, sacked judges must be appointed back on their positions as they were before Nov 3rd., and government should uncurbed the media. Common Wealth Secretary General John MacKinnon has also hailed the President Musharraf’s decision of lifting the emergency and with drawing the PCO. C’wealth had suspended the membership of Pakistan after President Musharraf inflicted the emergency in Pakistan.