World
Institutional
links
Welcome back on
26 -29 August,
ONS 2008
Bridging
the energy gap
is ONS 2006 theme,
from 22-25 August,
in Stavanger, Norway
Petroleumworld
Business
Partners:
Centre for
Global Energy
Studies
  |
Musharraf says will lift emergency rule on Dec 16
ISLAMABAD
Petroleumworld.com 11 30 07
President Pervez Musharraf promised Thursday to lift Pakistan's state of emergency on December 16, in a long-awaited gesture of reconciliation hours after being sworn in as a civilian leader.
Addressing the nation on state television, Musharraf said he would restore the constitution and vowed that general elections on January 8 would be held "in a fair and transparent manner."
The promise, which if carried through would meet one of the key demands of the international community, came a day after he had bowed to global pressure by stepping down as head of Pakistan's nuclear-armed military.
The moves were welcomed as "good confidence-building measures" by former premier Benazir Bhutto, who said her party planned to participate in the elections, but rebuffed by Nawaz Sharif, another key opposition leader.
"I have full resolve to lift the emergency and withdraw the PCO on December 16," Musharraf said, referring to the provisional constitutional order which officially brought in the state of emergency on November 3.
He said the emergency could be lifted because of successes against Islamic militants -- "the terrorists' back has been broken" -- and with a democratic transition to elections underway."The overall situation has improved considerably, the democratic system is functioning according to the programme, and terrorism has been controlled to a great extent," he added, speaking solemnly against a blue backdrop.
" I am happy and proud that due to these steps the country has come back on the path of democracy," Musharraf said.
" But I hope no obstacles will be created to destabilise the process as was done in the past," he cautioned.
The Pakistani leader, who seized power in a bloodless coup in 1999, cited growing militancy and a hostile judiciary when he imposed the state of emergency.
Critics charge that he wanted to rid the Supreme Court of judges he feared would invalidate his October 6 re-election.
The United States and Britain, which view Musharraf's Pakistan as a vital ally in the fight against Islamic militancy, welcomed his announcement.
" We welcome this step," White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said, noting that US President George W. Bush had called it "an essential step" on the path to democracy.
She however urged Musharraf to ensure that his critics "be able to voice their opinions, that they be able to assemble, and that they be able to have the freedom of the press that they had had before the emergency order."
In London, Foreign Secretary David Miliband said Britain "looks forward to the lifting of this state of emergency and to the lifting of all the remaining restrictions" as necessary steps toward free and fair elections.
However Sharif, who returned from exile only four days ago, dismissed the announcement.
" We reject it, we don't accept this lifting of emergency," he told a press conference, saying an opposition alliance dominated by his party would boycott the vote.
Bhutto, speaking to AFP by telephone, said her party would participate but reserved the right to pull out later.
" To take the process forward we have to take part, we believe, either to force the elections to be credible or -- if it's rigged -- to demonstrate that it has been forcibly rigged," she said.
Swearing his oath earlier for a second five-year term, but his first as a civilian, Musharraf called it a "milestone" in the transition to democracy.He vowed the elections would go ahead "come hell or high water" despite the boycott threats, and chided the West for its demands.
" We want democracy, we want human rights, we want civil liberties, but we will do it our way. We understand our society, our environment, better than anyone in the West," he said.
But in a sign of lingering tensions, clashes erupted in the eastern city of Lahore as Musharraf spoke, with police baton-charging hundreds of lawyers.
Witnesses said lawyers chanting "Go, Musharraf, Go!" hurled drink bottles and stones at police. Lawyers said up to 15 protesters were hurt, while police said some officers were injured.
Story by Rana Jawad from AFP
AFP 29 2218 GMT 11 07
Copyright© 2007 Petroleumworld. All rights reserved.
Your
feedback is important to us!
We invite all our readers to share with us
their views and comments about this article.
Write to editor@petroleumworld.com
Any
question or suggestions, please write to:
editor@petroleumworld.com
Best
Viewed with IE
5.01+
Windows
NT 4.0, '95, '98 and ME +/ 800x600 pixels