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Musharraf: I am safeguarding Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (CNN) — Pakistan’s Gen. Pervez Musharraf said Sunday that elections will go ahead in January despite a state of emergency that he defended saying t it was needed to save the country from being hijacked by its own chief justice.

His pledge came as oppostition leader Benzir Bhutto was met by hundreds of supporters in the city of Lahore where she was to attend anti-government rallies following earlier attempts to prevent her from joining outlawed protests

The president, who has come under international pressure over what many see as an effort to safeguard his grip over the nuclear-armed nation, told a news conference that elections would go ahead within months, but refused to give an exact deadline on lifting emergency rule.

I found myself between a rock and a hard surface, Musharraf said at a news conference Sunday.

The decision was made, he said, to preserve this nation, to safeguard it and to risk myself, or to let go, hoping that the nation may improve later in the turmoil that one leaves.

Musharraf said the democratic process would soon be back on track in with parliamentary elections to be held before January 9, but he would leave it to the election commission to decide the exact date. Earlier in the week he said elections would be held by February 15.

He said the emergency declaration would remain in place for the election as it countered disturbed environment, the terrorist environment, the bomb blasts, the suicide bombs.

It will ensure absolutely fair and transparent elections, because we will not interfere, he said, adding that international observers were invited to watch the process.

As for the opposition party members who have been arrested, he said: I would expect that all of them get release and participate in the elections and they will be free to do electioneering.

He said, however, they would not be allowed to disturb law and order and create anarchy in the name of democracy. Certainly, the emergency is required to ensure peace and an environment conducive for an election, he said.

Musharraf also said he would take the oath of office as a civilian president as soon as the Supreme Court issues a final ruling on challenges to his taking office. Before the emergency order, he had been scheduled to be sworn in on November 15 and had pledged to step down as military chief after that date.

In addition, the general said Pakistan’s parliament would dissolve in days. A caretaker government would take over between November 15 and 20, he said, adding this is history, ladies and gentlemen.

Musharraf’s emergency order effectively suspended upcoming parliamentary elections, the constitution and top judge. His secular opponents, the target of widespread arrests and detentions, say it amounts to martial law in Pakistan.

In Lahore Sunday, Bhutto was greeted by hundreds of opposition workers upon her arrival to the city’s airport ahead of planned protests against the state of emergency.

Bhutto, who was blocked from protesting President Pervez Musharraf’s emergency declaration last week, was slated to lead a rally on Tuesday, officials with Bhutto’s Pakistan People’s Party told CNN. She will lead the protest rally from Lahore to the capital city of Islamabad, the sources added.

On Saturday U.S. President George W. Bush has called for his Pakistani counterpart Pervez Musharraf to lift the emergency.

Speaking at his ranch in Crawford, with German Chancellor Angela Merkel at his side, Bush told reporters he knows my position, and he knows the position of the U.S. government, he said.

Our message is consistent and clear, he said.

Bush’s comments followed another day of turmoil in Pakistan as Bhutto, freed from effective house arrest that prevented her from attending an outlawed opposition rally, was barred from meeting with the country’s sacked chief justice.

The move was likely to drive a greater rift between Musharraf and Bhutto, who when she returned from exile several weeks ago indicated she was willing to work with the president, lending him much-needed support.

Bush, who said he has not spoken to the Pakistani leader since last week, noted that pledges by Musharraf to step down as army chief and hold elections next year were positive steps.

The United States and Pakistan share a common goal in their efforts to eradicate al Qaeda, Bush said. But he said he is concerned about Pakistan straying from the path of democracy. Holding scheduled elections will ensure the nation stays on that path, the president added.

The office of Pakistani Attorney General Malik Mohammed Qayyum told CNN on Saturday that the emergency declaration will be lifted within one month, but would not say when a formal announcement might come.

Bush said he believes lifting the declaration would make it easier for democracy to flourish.

But he continued to stand behind Musharraf, saying, I take a person at their word until otherwise and that he deserves time to keep his promises.

President Musharraf has been responsive to calls from his own people for clarity on these subjects, National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley told reporters later Saturday.

And I think what the president was saying is, ‘I take him at his word; we’ll see if he does what he says.’ And if he does not do what he says, then there will be issues for President Musharraf obviously with his people, and there will be issues with us.

Musharraf decided to stand with the United States against extremism after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, Bush said, and has been instrumental in bringing several al Qaeda leaders to justice.
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