Islamabad, Nov 11 (IANS) Describing the emergency as a “bitter pill to swallow”, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf said Sunday that he had to impose it to “rejuvenate” the government but promised elections would be held as scheduled in January.
“I have national interest foremost,” Musharraf told a press conference here, the first after the imposition of the widely criticised emergency regime Nov 3 that has led to the jailing of judges, opposition leaders and rights activists.
Musharraf, who is under intense criticism within and outside Pakistan, said he would take oath as a civilian president when the Election Commission removed the bar on declaring the result of the Nov 6 election that he won by a huge margin.
The national and provisional assemblies would also be dissolved on completing their terms Nov 15 and fresh elections would be held as scheduled by Jan 9, the president added.
“After the destabilisation that had taken place, the country was in a state of turmoil and shock and confusion. I had to take drastic measures to save the democratic process.
“This would have been derailed had I not taken action. The government was in a state of paralysis and needed a state of rejuvenation,” he maintained.
“These were dangers… I personally took (the decision to impose emergency) after consultations and discussions with every one in the society. I discussed with politicians, individually and in groups, I discussed with the prime minister and the cabinet, individually and in groups, with the civil society and industrialists and businessmen, individually and in groups, with the military, individually and in groups.
“Then only did I come to the conclusion that here was a situation (that the emergency was required),” Musharraf said, speaking largely in English and occasionally in Urdu.
“I needed to see Pakistan as a whole. I knew international perceptions, the fallout internationally. Anyone with a little bit of common sense would know it. I had to take a decision in the interests of this nation.”
Musharraf received harsh words for ousted chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.
“As for the judiciary, I won’t say the whole judiciary (is to blame), but only one individual in the judiciary, or maybe very few in the judiciary, clashing with the legislature and the executive.
“The government found itself in a state of paralysis, the government was not functioning. It was being humiliated in the courts. The law enforcement agencies were totally demoralised and shattered. Terrorists were being encouraged and those fighting against terrorism were demoralised.”
But Musharraf declined to say how long the emergency regime will continue, saying it was necessary to fight Islamists who are increasingly gaining strength in Pakistan’s frontier areas close to Afghanistan.
“The emergency reinforces the war on terror. It has reinforced our hands to use the army in the lead role in the frontier (area). The emergency contributes to better law and order.
“I do understand that emergency has to be lifted, but I cannot give a date. We are in a grave situation, so we cannot give a date.”