New Delhi: Hours after lifting the 42-day-old Emergency, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf targeted the judiciary in an address on national television on Saturday evening, saying the judges had conspired to derail democracy in the country.
"It was the judiciary which is to blame for the Emergency," he said. “The judges had conspired against me. So, I declared Emergency."
Justifying the imposition of Emergency as a 'necessary' step, Musharraf claimed that a 'crisis' situation had erupted because of tension between Parliament, Judiciary and Executive. "The executive was paralysed. Now, all the three pillars are working well," he claimed.
Musharraf, who doffed his uniform last month, said the decision to impose Emergency was a 'tough' one and he even put his reputation at stake to 'save the country' and bring it back on the path of 'real democracy'.
"I imposed Emergency to prevent Pakistan for being destablised. I had no personal motives," he insisted.
In his address aimed at the domestic audience as well as the international community,
the President claimed credit for breaking the back of Islamist militants in the Swat areas of the country. "I broke the back of militancy in Swat and the credit for this goes to the Army and the paramilitary troops," he said.
He said the general elections would be held in the country on January 8 as scheduled and invited foreign observers to monitor the polls to assess their fairness. The elections will 'free, fair and transparent' with everyone welcome to participate as per the Election Commission rules.
"I would like to invite any number of observers to see the fairness," he said.
He regretted that some parties had decided to boycott the elections for 'no reason' and insisted that the political parties should allow holding of peaceful elections. "There is no justification for some parties boycotting the elections. I want to appeal to all political parties to let these elections happen peacefully," he said.
Musharraf, however, said that 'agitational politics' would not be allowed as it could vitiate the atmosphere. He also regretted apprehensions expressed by some quarters that the elections could be rigged, saying it was not justified as even campaigning has not begun yet. "Sensible democratic process will take place," Musharraf said.
The President said elections in the North-West Frontier Province would be held on January 8 as well. Referring to media gag, President Musharraf said the media would have to function responsibly and "through a code of conduct that we have promulgated."
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