By Muhammad Najeeb, IANS
Islamabad : President Pervez Musharraf Thursday announced he will lift the emergency Dec 16 and fully restore the constitution, but warned that no one should try to derail this “transitional process”.
In his first televised address to the nation after taking oath as civilian president Thursday, Musharraf said that all political parties – including the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and Pakistan Muslim League of another former prime minister, Nawaz Sharif – should take part in the Jan 8 polls.
“I will lift the emergency and the Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO) on Dec 16 but no one should try (to) derail this transitional phase,” said Musharraf, while dispelling speculation that he will lift the emergency Friday.
Musharraf, who overthrew the elected government of Nawaz Sharif in 1999, said that in last five years he was wearing two caps – president and army chief – and now “I have quit from the army and taken oath as civilian president”.
He said that now it was the third phase of transition towards a complete democratic rule.
He said Bhutto and Sharif had returned home because of his positive approach. “I think now it is responsibility of these two leaders and all other politicians to actively take part in the elections.”
The president said some elements apparently tried to derail the system according to a well-planned move.
Without naming the Supreme Court, he said that his victory in the presidential elections was sabotaged. “Moreover, at the same time, terrorism in Swat started… It was all of sudden and media presented the situation as if everything in the country was wrong.”
He said such a situation compelled him to impose emergency on Nov 3. “I did it after thinking over it twice and consulting my colleagues… I feel sad to say that I was left with no choice but to impose emergency.”
He said that he was glad that his presidential election had been given legitimacy by the Supreme Court later.
“According to my promise, I have quit the army and handed over the army chief’s position to General Ashfaq Kayani.”
He said he was proud of his 46 years of association with the army. “The army is my institution and passion…My heart will be with the army,” Musharraf said, adding that the army had brought back peace in Swat region and “I am happy that people in Swat have sided with the army”.
Musharraf said he looked forward towards betterment of the country and its democratic future.
“We need national consensus, political reconciliation and good governance… these would be the milestones of my future strategy,” he said.