Emergency rolls back today
Staff Report/Agencies

ISLAMABAD—The constitution after 42 days of imposition of emergency rule in the country will be restored today (Saturday) which will be followed by revoking of Provincial Constitutional Ordinance (PCO) and lifting of emergency rule.
President Pervez Musharraf will make the announcement with regard to lifting of emergency rule through a Presidential order followed by some amendment in the constitution on Saturday.
After revoking of PCO, all judges of the superior courts including Chief justices Abdul Hammed Dogar will take other of their offices under the constitution.
President Musharraf will administer oath to the CJ while he will in turn administer oath to other judges of the apex court. Chief Justices of High Courts will take oath in their respective Capitals and later administer oath to the judges of High Courts who took oath under PCO.
According to the Presidential order, the suspended article of the constitution including 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 19 and 25 will be reinstated however the judges who refused to take oath under PCO will not be reinstated.
The Government through legislation has decided to grant privileges and benefit to all judges of the superior courts who were sacked after refusing oath under PCO on November 3 last.
The retiring age of Supreme Court Judges and High Court judges would continue to be 65 and 62 respectively while minimum age for the appointment of judges will brought down from 45 to 40 through a constitutional amendment, sources maintained.
Sources said that the amendments would be carried out in the constitution sothat constitutional backing can be provided to steps taken by the President after imposition of emergency rule in the country. The steps cannot be challenged in any court after amendment in the constitution.
It may be recalled that President Pervez Musharraf as Chief of Army Staff imposed emergency rule in the country and removed Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry from his office on November 03.
President Pervez Musharraf has completed consultative process Friday with respect to revocation of proclamation of emergency order and repeal of Provisional Constitution Order (PCO).
President will sign five presidential orders today and the constitution will be revived and all the fundamental rights will be restored.
Aiwan-e-Sadr sources told Online president Musharraf also consulted his close aides and constitutional experts on Friday. President following the completion of consultations, made it clear that he was going to deliver another pledge made with the nation adding he hoped that all political parties would prefer to national interest, demonstrate responsible attitude and play their constructive role in consolidating democratic process.
Sources informed president Musharraf said he had taken oath as civilian president under the constitution. All the judges of superior judiciary will also take oath under the constitution on its revival, he told. “I have performed my obligations within constitutional framework”, he underlined.
Sources disclosed president will promulgate 5 ordinances today and he will sign them today morning. These will be presidential orders focusing on lifting of emergency, repeal of PCO, revival of constitution, pension and privileges for the judges who have not taken oath under PCO, establishment of federal high court and curtailment in age limit of judges of superior courts. However no decision has been taken to promulgate ordinance on provincial autonomy and it has been left to the next parliament.
President however made it clear the judges who had not taken oath under PCO would never be restored.