Musharraf lifts Emergency in Pakistan

After making 6 Constitutional amendments to strengthen his position and prevent legal challenges, the Pak Prez lifted Emergency.

Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf on Saturday lifted the six-week-old state of Emergency and revived Constitution as part of efforts to counter criticism by the world community and opposition parties which have expressed apprehensions that the upcoming elections would not be free and fair.

Musharraf signed three Presidential orders to end the Emergency, withdraw the Provisional Constitutional Order PCO that suspended the Constitution and fundamental rights, and revive the Constitution of 1973.

The Cabinet division then issued the formal notification about lifting the Emergency, state-run PTV reported.

Former Premier and Pakistan People8217;s Party PPP chief Benazir Bhutto, who was campaigning in Quetta for the January 8 Parliamentary polls, welcomed the lifting of the Emergency but said she still had 8220;reservations8221;.

The move came a day after Musharraf made several constitutional amendments to strengthen his position and prevent legal challenges to the actions he had taken while the Emergency was in force for six weeks since November 3.

Musharraf, 64, last month quit the post of Army Chief before taking oath as a civilian for a second presidential term on November 29.

Musharraf, who came to power in a bloodless coup in 1999, amended Constitutional articles to change the norms for the disqualification of the President and to allow the election of the President before the completion of the tenure of five years.

Story continues below this ad

He also amended constitutional articles so that deposed judges of the superior judiciary who did not endorse the Emergency would 8220;cease to hold office with effect from8221; November 3. The revival of the Constitution after the lifting of Emergency 8220;will not make them eligible to regain the charge of their offices8221;, the law ministry said.

The judges who took oath under the PCO will continue to hold office, the ministry added.

Musharraf, who was welcomed by many when he ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in 1999 lost a lot of public support after imposing emergency. Strict curbs were imposed on the media, especially independent TV news channels, and over 5,700 lawyers, rights activists and political workers were jailed.