Musharraf to end military rule in two weeks

PAKISTAN: Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf promised last night to lift emergency rule by December 16th, hours after he was…

PAKISTAN:Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf promised last night to lift emergency rule by December 16th, hours after he was sworn in for a second five-year term.

A swift end to the state of emergency has been a major demand of Mr Musharraf's western allies, including US president George Bush. But the concession was immediately rebuffed by an opposition alliance headed by the former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, which threatened to boycott elections scheduled for January 8th. Mr Sharif said he had decided "in principle" to boycott the election but would take a final decision after meeting the other opposition leader, Benazir Bhutto.

Any boycott would badly damage the "democratic transition" envisaged by Mr Musharraf at an oath-taking ceremony at Islamabad's presidential palace. "This is a milestone in the transition of Pakistan to the complete essence of democracy," he told assembled army generals, political allies and western diplomats.

Mr Musharraf vowed to "preserve, protect and defend" the constitution - which he usurped on November 3rd to impose emergency rule. The constitution remained suspended yesterday.

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The newly retired military strongman defended his decision to impose emergency rule, blaming rising Islamist violence and an obstructive judiciary for forcing him to act. "This was an extraordinary situation, ladies and gentlemen, that required extraordinary measures," he said.

"No half-hearted measures could have delivered." But critics said the move had been principally aimed at silencing opposition and paving the way for his second term of office. Since November 3rd the government has arrested more than 5,000 opponents, sacked independent-minded judges and muzzled critical journalists.

About 55 of Pakistan's 93 superior court judges have refused to renew their oath while the deposed chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry remains under house arrest.

Yesterday Mr Sharif, who returned from exile on Sunday, said his party would boycott the election unless the sacked judges were restored. "It's immaterial whether the emergency is lifted now or in 15 days. The real issue is the reinstatement of the judiciary," said his spokesman Nadir Chaudhry.

Ms Bhutto's spokesman could not be reached for comment.

Mr Sharif's opposition alliance includes the country's largest religious party, Jamaat-e-Islami, and several smaller parties, including that of Pakistan's former cricket captain Imran Khan. Together they are estimated to account for at least 25 per cent of the vote.

Since March the lawyers have proven to be Mr Musharraf's most consistent and vociferous opponents. Yesterday hundreds of them clashed with police outside Lahore's city courts.

Mr Musharraf put a brave face on the return of Ms Bhutto and Mr Sharif. "This is good for the political reconciliation I have spoken of," he said after being sworn in. But he said the election would take place regardless of any boycott. "Come hell or high water, elections will be held on January 8th. Nobody derails it."