LEAs mishandled CJ, says Musharraf
ISLAMABAD (APP) – President Musharraf Monday categorically said there was no such situation in the country to impose state of emergency and assured that the next general elections would be held according to schedule after assemblies complete their term.
In an interview with a private TV channel, the president dispelled the rumours about imposing any state of emergency or delay in the general elections and assured the nation that the elections would be held on time and the army would not be used as there was no such situation.
The president said news about imposing state of emergency was baseless and concocted. He said, “I strongly believe in freedom of press, freedom of speech and essence of democracy” but media has the responsibility to use the press freedom with due care and responsibility.
He said the media should not misuse the freedom of press and present their reports with responsibility. The president said more than 50 television channels had been working in the private sector due to liberty given by the government in the media.
He said the inspector involved in attack on private TV channel had mysteriously disappeared.
About the issue of uniform, the president said he would not violate the constitution and follow it in letter and spirit.
He said 2007 was the year of election, and assured that the next general elections would be held in fair, free and impartial manner. He said the next elections are directly related to future of the country.
The president said all the parties would be allowed to participate in the next elections. About the visit of American leaders including Vice President Dick Cheney to Pakistan to put pressure for doing more in the war against terrorism, the president said all the US leaders including Vice President Cheney visited Pakistan for “fact finding mission” and not giving any threat to Pakistan.The president said, “We will not allow foreign forces coming and attacking, bombing our areas. We are very clear of the environment and I have the conviction they will understand the environment.”
He said Pakistan has prepared strategy, analysed the situation and is learning lessons from the mistakes at tactical level. The president said Pakistan had been doing a lot in the war against terrorism and lost over 700 soldiers in it. He said the government had taken effective steps to stop illegal movement across Pak-Afghan border.
Musharraf said there are two opposing forces in Afghanistan, one is Afghan and the other is United Forces or Coalition Forces who were fighting against the Taliban and Al-Qaeda.
He said the Taliban and Al-Qaida destabilised social environment in Pakistan and added that the government had been taking action against the terrorist elements.
He said every one had the right to peaceful protest, but political elements should not be involved in these protests.
While referring to incidents of disturbances and clashes between lawyers and police, he asked both the police and lawyers to show restraint.
He said he had personally intervened and was now overseeing the situation. President Musharraf said there should be an even and fair coverage of these protests by the media and point of view of both sides should be projected in a balanced and objective way.
The president said the reference against the chief justice was a legal issue and lawyers should handle it in a legal way. He regretted that some political elements had politicised the issue and even flags of political parties were raised at the car of the chief justice when he came to the Supreme Court.
President Musharraf said there are conspiracies to destabilise him and the government and the political forces had entered in the protests. He said the issue had been hyped in the media.
He said there had been some mishandling by the law enforcement personnel and others on some occasions.
He said let the SJC continue its work and the political parties should not make it a political case.
He said there were misleading and damaging rumours about the issue of Justice Bhagwandas, who is on leave.
He said the chief justice himself approved the leave of Justice Bhagwandas and the leave of judges of superior courts was kept confidential.
He said Justice Bhgwandas, who is on leave till March 24, should come back, adding that nobody was approaching him to come back or telling him not to come back.
He said, “ Justice Bhagwandas must resume his responsibilities and he will be Acting Chief Justice when he comes back.”
The president, commenting on the defeat of Pakistan in the World Cup, said he regretted the bad performance of the Pakistani cricket team. He said although he was fond of cricket but it was for the first time that he was not watching the cricket match.
On the death of Pakistan’s cricket team coach Bob Woolmer, he said he was a committed, hardworking and dedicated cricketer.
On the reference filed against the CJ, there had been complaints against Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and some of these complaints had also being received by him.
The president said it is totally wrong that reference against Chief Justice had been filed in retaliation to his actions on the missing persons or was related to any other suo motu action.
Referring to the missing persons, the president said he personally enquired into the incidents of missing persons and found that many of them had been led astray by extremist organisations and gone on their own will to participate in jihad.
The president said, “the chief justice came to see me on his own will and wish. He also came to see me three weeks ago and expressed concern that some people are talking against him (Chief Justice) and asked for my assistance.”
Source: Nation
Date:3/20/2007
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