Amnesty still concerned over abuses in Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s state of emergency has severely limited the chances of challenging President Pervez Musharraf on rights abuses, campaign group Amnesty said on Thursday.
It said it was particularly concerned about legal orders that legitimised the state of emergency and, in turn, the arrests of critics including senior judges and lawyers.
Deputy Director Amnesty for the Asia-Pacific, Tim Parritt, said Musharraf’s “warping” of the Constitution would have long-term effects on the ability of institutions, such as the courts, to hold executive power to account. “Whether he is in uniform or wearing a civilian suit, the important thing is that his powers have been augmented and the safeguards restricting his power have been weakened,” Parritt told AFP.
“We are very concerned that there is not going to be a significant difference in the exercise of executive power and the safeguards against abuses of that power.”
Source: The News
Date:11/30/2007
” 
” 
” 
” 
” 
