|
11/08/2007
President/General Musharraf
**Next Hot Spots, Wednesday, 11/21**
Following is the text of the Proclamation of Emergency declared
by General Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan. I’ll have my own
comments in my 11/10 edition of “Week in Review”.
---
WHEREAS there is visible ascendancy in the activities of
extremists and incidents of terrorist attacks, including suicide
bombings, IED explosions, rocket firing and bomb explosions
and the banding together of some militant groups have taken
such activities to an unprecedented level of violent intensity
posing a grave threat to the life and property of the citizens of
Pakistan;
WHEREAS there has also been a spate of attacks on State
infrastructure and on law enforcement agencies;
WHEREAS some members of the judiciary are working at cross
purposes with the executive and legislature in the fight against
terrorism and extremism thereby weakening the Government and
the nation’s resolve and diluting the efficacy of its actions to
control this menace;
WHEREAS there has been increasing interference by some
members of the judiciary in government policy, adversely
affecting economic growth, in particular;
WHEREAS constant interference in executive functions,
including but not limited to the control of terrorist activity,
economic policy, price controls, downsizing of corporations and
urban planning, has weakened the writ of the government; the
police force has been completely demoralized and is fast losing
its efficacy to fight terrorism and Intelligence Agencies have
been thwarted in their activities and prevented from pursuing
terrorists;
WHEREAS some hard core militants, extremists, terrorists and
suicide bombers, who were arrested and being investigated were
ordered to be released. The persons so released have
subsequently been involved in heinous terrorist activities,
resulting in loss of human life and property. Militants across the
country have, thus, been encouraged while law enforcement
agencies subdued;
WHEREAS some judges by overstepping the limits of judicial
authority have taken over the executive and legislative functions;
WHEREAS the Government is committed to the independence
of the judiciary and the rule of law and holds the superior
judiciary in high esteem, it is nonetheless of paramount
importance that the Honorable Judges confine the scope of their
activity to the judicial function and not assume charge of
administration;
WHEREAS an important Constitutional institution, the Supreme
Judicial Council, has been made entirely irrelevant and non est
by a recent order and judges have, thus, made themselves
immune from inquiry into their conduct and put themselves
beyond accountability;
WHEREAS the humiliating treatment meted to government
officials by some members of the judiciary on a routine basis
during court proceedings has demoralized the civil bureaucracy
and senior government functionaries, to avoid being harassed,
prefer inaction;
WHEREAS the law and order situation in the country as well as
the economy have been adversely affected and trichotomy of
powers eroded;
WHEREAS a situation has thus arisen where the Government of
the country cannot be carried on in accordance with the
Constitution and as the Constitution provides no solution for this
situation, there is no way out except through emergent and
extraordinary measures;
AND WHEREAS the situation has been reviewed in meetings
with the Prime Minister, Governors of all four Provinces, and
with Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, Chiefs of the
Armed Forces, Vice-Chief of Army Staff and Corps
Commanders of the Pakistan Army;
NOW, THEREFORE, in pursuance of the deliberations and
decisions of the said meetings, I General Pervez Musharraf,
Chief of the Army Staff, proclaim Emergency throughout
Pakistan.
2. I hereby order and proclaim that the Constitution of the
Islamic Republic of Pakistan shall remain in abeyance.
3. This Proclamation shall come into force at once.
---
Musharraf talked of a three-stage transition that was still moving
Pakistan towards democracy.
In the first stage, 1999 to 2002, he was in control of the situation.
In the second stage, 2002 to 2007, he said, his role was only
supervisory, where the parliament, provincial assemblies and
local government system was in place.
He said in the last phase, which was to be completed in the next
three months, he was to act as the civilian president and the
country would have moved to complete civil democracy after
holding of the general election. Musharraf said it was the third
phase which was being subverted by the vested interests.
---
Hot Spots will return Nov. 22. I will be overseas next week.
Brian Trumbore
|
