Musharraf blames judiciary, rising extremism for imposing emergency

Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf late on Saturday justified imposing martial law in the country by saying that the incidents of terrorist attacks and the clash between the judiciary with the executive made it imperative for him to take the latest action, as his government was unable to function in such an environment.

Islamabad, Nov 3 : Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf late on Saturday justified imposing martial law in the country by saying that the incidents of terrorist attacks and the clash between the judiciary with the executive made it imperative for him to take the latest action, as his government was unable to function in such an environment.

Blaming the judiciary for bringing down the moral and motivation of the law enforcement agencies in the country by convicting senior security officials, President Musharraf held the judiciary responsible for releasing terror elements and interfering in the decisions taken by the executive.

"What is happening in Pakistan?" the President questioned and pointed to the spate of suicide attacks in the heart of Islamabad as indication of the growing power of extremists and their ability to roam freely in the national capital.

"Pakistan comes first," Musharraf asserted, and said that his decision has been based entirely on the welfare of people of Pakistan.

"Pakistan runs in my blood, lives in my heart and soul," Musharraf said, adding, "Time for action has come lest his country would commit suicide."

"I would never allow Pakistan to commit suicide," he added in a pre-recorded televised address.

Detailing the recent turns of events that led to him take the decision today, Musharraf said that it all started with the Presidential reference sacking Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, which he said was completely 'legal' on his part.

Commenting on the Supreme Judicial Council decision to reinstate Chaudhry, Musharraf said, 'I may agree or doesn't agree (with the verdict), but I accepted the decision."

"Unfortunately, it didn't resolve," he said, indicating the beginning of executive's and legislature's clash with the judiciary, which he said went on with the release of 61 hardcore terrorists by the court, conviction of senior security officials, taking up hundreds of suo motto cases against executive's decisions and finally prolonging the arguments in the case that would decide the validity of his candidature in the October 6 Presidential polls.

"They kept on extending and thereby brought uncertainty in the administration," he said, indicating that the Supreme Court continued extending the dates and did not take decision on it in spite of his term approaching its end on November 15.

He said that the rise of extremists in the heart of Islamabad with the growing diktat of the Lal Masjid was an embarrassment for him.

"I was continuously dishonoured and had to apologise before the Chinese leadership after the radical elements in Lal Masjid captured some Chinese people and tortured them," Musharraf said.

He said that he has nothing against madrassas and would soon come out with a plan to build good madrassas where children of poor people can have "good food, and good education".

He said that he had always planned for a three-step transition to democracy.

The first step from 1999 to 2002 was in his total control. From 2002-2007, he 'oversaw' the functioning of the government, as he helped in constituting elected Senate, National Assembly, provincial assemblies and local governments.

"I was happy. Though there were some minor differences, I was happy with the functioning of it," he said.

The third step, according to him, was the period beginning 2007 when he started the political reconciliation.

"Unfortunately, I have to state that political and personal biasness affected it and started the country's downturn," he said adding, 'I will not allow this to happen."

He said that with the imposition of emergency there would be no change in the Prime Minister, members of National Assembly, members of Provincial, Assemblies, Governors and Chief Ministers.

'I hope that I would be able to bring the transition," he added.

He also said the few media houses showed more negativism and pessimism and was doing "no good for the country".

"The media should remember that there was only one state-run PTV channel in 1999, but we made them independent, which does not mean that they would forsake their responsibility to the nation," Musharraf warned.

ANI