Pakistani citizens give mixed reaction to Musharrafs emergency declaration

Pakistan President Musharrafs decision to impose a state of emergency across the country has evoked mixed reactions among Pakistani citizens visiting India.

Attari (Punjab)/Jodhpur, Nov 5 : Pakistan President Musharraf's decision to impose a state of emergency across the country has evoked mixed reactions among Pakistani citizens visiting India.

Some justified it, while others condemned it.

"The Pakistan Government was forced to take such a drastic step to invoke emergency in the country due to the troubled state of affairs there. Whatever they have done is right. The root cause behind the decision to invoke emergency is our politicians. Had the politicians been good and capable, the condition of our country would have been much better," said Ilyas Mehmood, a Pakistani citizen returning to Pakistan.

Haji Kulu Khan, a Pakistani citizen visiting Jodhpur said,"He (Musharraf) has not done a good thing. Elections are slated to be held soon as the people are extremely unhappy. The situation will only worsen after the emergency. We are helpless. There is no employment and no money."

President Pervez Musharraf imposed a state of emergency in a bid to end an eight-month crisis over his rule stoked by challenges from a hostile judiciary, militants and political rivals.

General Musharraf said he decided to act on Saturday in response to a rise in extremism and what he called the paralysis of government by judicial interference.

There had been increasing speculation that Musharraf, who seized power in a 1999 coup, might declare an emergency rather than run the risk the Supreme Court would rule against his re-election as president last month.

ANI