Musharraf will change Constitution before ending Emergency: Qayyum

The US-backed leader said he acted to prevent political chaos and give authorities a freer hand against Islamic militants, though critics accuse him of a last-ditch power grab before the previous Supreme Court could declare his continued rule illegal.

Attorney General Malik Mohammed Qayyum said that the President, who has acknowledged that he breached the Constitution, will amend the charter to protect his decisions from legal challenges.

Qayyum said Government legal experts were finalising the changes and that they would be announced before Musharraf lifts the emergency on Saturday, but provided no details.

“The President will lift the emergency to restore the Constitution and the fundamental rights,” he said.

Qayyum’s comments came a day after Information Minister Nisar Memon rejected claims that the Government was trying to stifle the media ahead of next month’s parliamentary elections.

The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists accused the Government on Wednesday of “an attempt to silence the free media” by ordering TV stations to stop airing live coverage of political debate.

The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority issued a letter on Tuesday, addressed to “all satellite TV channels”, saying some were still airing live coverage and taking live telephone calls which “contain baseless propaganda against Pakistan and incite people to violence”.