Islamabad (AsiaNews) – In his first address to the nation after taking the oath of office and resigning as army chief, President Musharraf yesterday announced that the state of national emergency proclaimed on 3 November would end on 16 December. He also defended his action, blaming “media, judiciary and terrorists” whose behaviour forced “him to impose the emergency rule.”
In his speech, carried live by all stations, the president said that before he proclaimed the state of emergency and had the constitution amended he saw a clash of powers that would have brought about the collapse of Pakistan. For this reason he defended the “extraordinary measures” which were backed by his voters.
Meanwhile terrorism struck again and hard. In the last few days attacks in the Swat Valley and other tribal areas were up; the same was true for the country’s big cities.
This situation forced him to take the steps he took. For him as for any other good citizen, “'Pakistan comes first'.”
The United States welcomed President Musharraf's statement, saying that the move was “an essential step towards getting Pakistan on the road to democracy.”
Conversely, the All Parties Democratic Movement announced its intention to boycott the upcoming general 8 January elections, arguing the decision would only be reviewed if President Pervez Musharraf restored the Supreme Court judges like Iftikhar Chaudry he dismissed.
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, headed by Nawaz Sharif now back from a long exile in Saudi Arabia, and Benazir Bhutto’s Pakistan People’s Party are members of the movement.
The two leaders, whom Musharraf cited as proof of the country’s democracy, are working to oust the “civilian” version of the president.
