Thursday, November 08, 2007

Opposition Unsatisfied as Musharraf Announces Pakistan Election Deadline

CNN reports that Pakistan's President, General Pervez Musharraf, indicated today that parliamentary elections will be held in the country by February 15, 2008.

The opposition, led by the lawyers of Pakistan, however, is not placated by this announcement. It continues to demand the reinstatement of Pakistan's Chief Justice, Iftikar Chaudry:

"The general opposition in this country want those (Supreme Court) judges to be reinstated," opposition leader Imran Khan told CNN International. "Just lifting the emergency (order) is not good enough for us."

"We intend to resist him (Musharraf) as long as he does not reinstate the chief justice," said Khan, who is in hiding after escaping from house arrest earlier this week.

Musharraf dismissed Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry and the rest of the Supreme Court shortly after Saturday's emergency declaration, and replaced them with his supporters.

Khan and other opposition leaders accuse Musharraf of imposing the emergency declaration as a "power grab" by avoiding the top court's ruling that would have nullified the parliamentary vote that gave him a third term as president.

The newly installed court is expected to approve the vote, paving the way for Musharraf to take the oath of office.

- Garry J. Wise, Toronto

Visit our Toronto Law Firm website: www.wiselaw.net

EMPLOYMENT LAWCIVIL LITIGATIONWILLS AND ESTATESFAMILY LAW & DIVORCE

1 comment:

Naushad Shafkat said...

The people of Pakistan will accept nothing short of the status quo ante- as it stood before the emergency. Musharraf has proved to be most unreliable and cannot be trusted. Just imagine the charge sheet he read out as reasons for the emergency were in fact charges against himself as he has ruled Pakistan as absolute ruler for the past 8 years. If after 8 years this is what he leaves as a legacy then the sooner e are rid of him the better. Imran Khan is absolutely right in what he says.