Musharraf ends emergency rule
Saturday, 15 Dec 2007 10:20
The country's president will address the nation later today
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Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf has ended a period of emergency rule in the south
Asian country that was put in place on November 3rd.
The extraordinary measures were imposed by the head of state to help in the fight against terrorism and to tackle the threat posed by judges whom he claimed had paralysed the government.
Government spokesman Anwar Mahmood told the AFP news agency: "The emergency is lifted. President Musharraf has signed the order repealing the state of emergency." Mr Musharraf is due to address the nation later tonight.
The constitution and ordinary civil liberties were suspended under the order and curbs on media were imposed. Those measures have now been lifted but Mr Musharraf has introduced an amendment to the constitution to prevent any legal challenges to measures taken by him during the period.
Hundreds of opposition activists were detained and supreme court judges who refused to endorse the emergency were removed. In an interview with the Washington Post yesterday, the head of state said members of the judiciary that had been removed at the time would "never be restored".
Analysts have said that Mr Musharraf had imposed the emergency over fears that the supreme court would declare his re-election as the country's president invalid.
He came under pressure from western allies to restore law and order in the country during the period which eventually resulted in Pakistan being suspended from the Commonwealth.
There were also fears in the US that the country's nuclear weapons were in danger resulting in senior members of the administration and presidential hopefuls suggesting they may unilaterally intervene to ensure the deadly arms did not fall into the hands of terrorists.
Since the imposition of the extraordinary measures in the country Mr Musharraf has begun a new term as the country's president, resigned from his position as head of the army and called general elections in January.
A new chief of army staff has been appointed and former prime ministers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif have returned to the country to contest the polls.
Negotiations between leaders to boycott the polls collapsed last week and the country's major political parties are now taking part in the elections.