ISLAMABAD, 22 November 2007 — Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf issued an ordinance saying the emergency rule cannot be challenged in any court. The order was a fresh move to bolster his position as he returned from Saudi Arabia yesterday after holding talks with King Abdullah and performing umrah.
Musharraf is expecting to be sworn in as a civilian leader within days, having already freed thousands of detainees held under emergency rule, including cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan.
Musharraf’s visit to Saudi Arabia had sparked talk that he would reach out to former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, but his spokesman Rashid Qureshi said there was no contact with Sharif. This was confirmed by Sharif, who told Reuters by telephone from Jeddah, “This time no one contacted me.”
Musharraf moved to give a solid legal footing to his Nov. 3 declaration of emergency rule, issuing an amendment to the constitution which says it cannot be overruled in court.
Separately, Attorney General Malik Mohammad Qayyum said that if the Supreme Court throws out a final challenge today to Musharraf’s re-election as expected, he would hang up his uniform within days.
“Once the court decides, the notification (of his victory) can be issued in a day or two and then he should take the oath this weekend.”
Yesterday’s ordinance amends the constitution to specify that the imposition of emergency rule was “validly made,” and “shall not be called in question in any court or forum on any ground whatsoever.” Pakistan’s main opposition leaders meanwhile are still deciding whether to boycott the Jan. 8 general election. Benazir Bhutto, a former premier who heads the largest opposition group, said she would make her decision by today.
And the Commonwealth of 53 nations, mostly former British colonies, has threatened Pakistan with suspension unless Musharraf repeals emergency rule and takes other steps.
Caretaker Prime Minister Mohammadmian Soomro has asked Commonwealth ministers meeting in the Ugandan capital Kampala today to delay their decision, arguing that the situation was returning to normal. A government spokesman said more than 5,000 lawyers, opposition and rights activists detained had now been released.
