President nixes timeline to lift emergency
By Our Diplomatic Correspondent

ISLAMABAD—President General Pervez Musharraf has declined to give a timeframe for lifting emergency rule in the country and made it clear that it will not be lifted till the achievement of objectives. Pakistan comes first and there are certain realities on the ground that made him decided to go with emergency law, the President said this while talking to US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte at Presidential Camp Office Rawalpindi on Saturday.
Caretaker Foreign Minister Inam-ul-Haq and US Ambassador to Pakistan Anne W. Peterson were present during the meeting in which host of issues related to next general elections, Pak-US relations, promulgation of Provincial Constitutional Ordinance (PCO), military uniform of the President, military operation in Swat, war against terrorism, emergency rule in the country and arrest of political activist and lawyers discussed, sources told Online.
The President briefed US Deputy Secretary of State about the ground realities, which led to imposition of emergency rule in the country. “I had to take drastic measures in national interest, as the move was the most difficult decision of his life. “If the decision was not taken then there would have been anarchy and crises in the country”. There was collision between judiciary and state departments. The state departments were weaken due to some elements in the judiciary”, the President pointed out.
President General Pervez Musharraf said he will try his level best to lift emergency rule in the country as soon as possible but gave no date when that would happen. The President urged International community to understand ground realities instead of mounting pressure on us. The President added that the imposition of emergency rule was helping Government to fight against menace of terrorism and extremism, adding that, despite interim setup and emergency rule, elections will be held on time. The rule will be transferred to nominated Government after elections, he pledged.
President General Pervez Musharraf also vowed to take the oath as Civilian Head of State for another term by saying that he was still waiting for the Supreme Court notification to validate his October 6 presidential election victory. He went on to say that the arrested opposition activist are being released throughout the country and every Political Party will be allowed to take part in the upcoming elections due in January. Special concentrations are being given to ensure peace in Swat and trouble tribal areas of the country after imposition of emergency rule, he said.
We are hunting terrorist and extremist while full power are being utilized against them, he said. President General Pervez Musharraf hoped that the peace would prevail in scenic valley of Swat till end of December. Speaking on the occasion, John Negroponte urged President to lift emergency rule in the country and said that US wants restoration of constitution and democratic institutions in Pakistan. However, he welcomed announcement of the President to hold general elections in January. US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte asked the President to ensure participation of all Political Parties in the elections and release of Political activists, besides ending curb placed on media, sources concluded.