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.