President may shed Uniform next week
Staff Report

ISLAMABAD—President Gen Pervez Musharraf has reiterated that he will doff his uniform following the verdict of the Supreme Court and would fulfil his promise in this regard.
He expressed these views while talking to Attorney General of Pakistan Justice retired Malik Qayyum during a meeting with him at the Presidential Camp Office in Rawalpindi on Wednesday. Attorney General of Pakistan Justice retired Malik Qayuum briefed President General Pervaiz Musharraf regarding the progress on ongoing constitutional petitions in Supreme Court against proclamation of Emergency and PCO. Supreme Court is expected to give the verdict in next two days, Attorney General of Pakistan Justice retired Malik Qayuum informed President General Pervaiz Musharraf.
Well-Placed Sources told Online that the meeting lasted for quite a while in which AGP said that SC’s verdict is expected on Thursday or Friday adding that following the notification, President Musharraf will give a formal date regarding to doff his uniform. Sources further added that it is likely that President Musharraf could take oath as Civilian President on Saturday or Sunday.
Further, it was told that during the meeting President Musharraf clear-cut told AGP that he will doff his uniform following the verdict of the Supreme Court adding that he will fulfil his promise in this regard.
Besides, SC’s expected decisions, AGP and President Musharraf discussed host of issues regarding situation after emergency and some high-level Judicial cases in length.
Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Malik Qayyum has said imposition of emergency rule is an ultra constitutional step but such steps can be taken if a state within a state is established.
He said this while giving arguments before a 7-member larger bench of Supreme Court hearing constitutional petitions against promulgation of emergency order here Wednesday. Chief Justice of Pakistan Abdul Hameed Dogar presided over the bench. ``
He argued proclamation of emergency rule was ultra constitutional step. This step was taken for the protection of state and constitution. President or army chief is not happy over this step. But the circumstances prevalent in the country warranted so. Pakistan is more important or democracy . 400 targeted attacks were launched against the army and security forces. Bomb explosions took place. State was set up in Lal Masjid. Chinese nationals were kidnapped. Situation had become worst in Bara, Tank, Kohlu, Quetta, Dera Bugti, Mastoong, Charsada, Orakzai agency, Swat,, Karachi, Peshawar, Chaman and other places. CJP remarked if the provincial governments had failed. AGP said they did not listen to it. Situation had considerably changed following the imposition of emergency rule, he added. Referring to several cases of Supreme Court including Munno Bhel, control of vegetable prices and other cases were the jobs of administration and not of SC. There should not have been judicial activism. All the state functions were blocked through suo motu notices, he stated.
Earlier barrister Zafar Ullah Khan resuming his arguments said word like suspension of constitution had not been used in Zafar Ali Shah case. Chief of army staff should have seen that only president could impose emergency rule. Army chief should have read article 6 of constitution. Solid grounds are required for proclamation of emergency, he added.