Lifting emergency on cards

ISLAMABAD—President Musharraf will address the nation today after taking the oath as civilian president. Presidential spokesman has confirmed reports about president Musharraf address to nation. The possibility is there president Musharraf will announce revocation of emergency during his address.
A private TV channel while quoting a high functionary of government has said president Musharraf will announce to lift emergency within next 48 hours. TV channel sources said president Musharraf had given indications to his associates he would lift emergency ahead of general elections. However it has not been decided so far when the emergency will be lifted. However the sources are considering the next 48 hours were important in terms of emergency.
Sources told the decision to lift emergency was being taken under external as well as political parties particularly APDM demand. Talking to reporters attorney general Malik Qayyum told president Musharraf intended to lift emergency before general elections. “ No definite date can be given in this respect but I can say that it will soon be lifted, he added.
PML-Q president Chaudhry Shujjat Hussain has said emergency will be lifted ahead of general elections. “ Musharraf will be now civilian president. Decision to lift emergency will soon be taken. Emergency will be lifted before general elections. We don’t need the crutches of emergency”, he said this while addressing allotment letters distribution ceremony at journalist colony Lohi Bher here Wednesday.
He went on to say democratic system had moved ahead successfully. “ President Musharraf had shed uniform. He will now be president of the whole country. President is symbol of federation. We will seek no favour from him. He is president of all parties now. Therefore, he should be supported, Shujjat underscored. He held transfer of power had taken place peacefully for the first time in the history of country. It is a good tradition, he added. All the pledges made by president Musharraf now stand fulfilled, he underlined.
He regretted Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto had ararted giving statements against us soon after their return to country. We are not giving any response in this connection so that they could get any opportunity to flee from Pakistan, he noted. Whosoever emerges successful in the elections will be acceptable to us, he announced. “We have worked for the journalists cause without fear, he told We will continue it in future too, he added.
“The plan to allot plots to the journalists was worked out by me”, he added. Later the journalist made direct dialing with Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, he added. But it is I who is distributing allotment letters, he told. Chaudhry Shujjat distributed allotment letters among the journalists.Former Chief of Pakistan Army Pervez Musharraf would take oath as civilian President of the country today (Thursday) and all the preparations in this regard have been finalized.
Pervez Musharraf has relinquished the charge of the post of Chief of the Army Staff after serving more than nine years on that post and new Chief of the Army Staff took the command of the Army on Wednesday.
According to Presidential Spokesperson, Pervez Musharraf would take the oath for second term for the post of the President. Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar would administer the oath.—Online