Shahbaz Bhatti, president of the All Pakistan Minorities Alliance, accuses Musharraf of wanting to abolish human rights in the country; Benazir Bhutto concerned by developments; the USA threatens to cut off Humanitarian aid. Meanwhile arrests of lawyers and human rights advocates continue.

Lahore (AsiaNews) – The declaration of a State of emergency and the suspension of the Constitution “is part of a conspiracy to postpone the coming elections and to prolong the dictatorial rule of Musharraf”. This is the declaration given to AsiaNews by Shahbaz Bhatti, president of the All Pakistan Minorities Alliance regarding the current political situation in the country.

According to the human rights activist, “Emergency rule will damage the process of national reconciliation and hamper the efforts for the restoration of democracy in Pakistan as the basic human rights have been suspended already through Provisional Constitutional Order emitted by Musharraf on November 3rd”.

Thanks to this ordinance the president now has the power to amend the Constitution and do away with key power positions.  In view of this Musharraf has already suspended the president of the Supreme Court, while at the same time leaving intact the power of the Senate and provincial Assemblies.

According to Benazir Bhutto Pakistan People’s Party Chairperson and candidate for Prime Minister in the upcoming elections these political moves represent “a dangerous development for the nation”.  Moreover according to Bhutto, Musharraf “had no powers under the Constitution to clamp an emergency. The Constitution must be immediately restored”.

The United States has also expressed its concern to Pakistan’s moderates.  According to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice “the annual bilateral military negotiations have already been suspended. Moreover we are reviewing our policies of aid to Pakistan”. Thanks to US aid, between 2001 to date, over 12 billion dollars have poured into Islamabad’s coffers.

In the interim arrests of the president’s main opposition continue.  The police have detained the Supreme Court Bar Association, President Aitzaz Ahsan and Lahore High Court Bar Association, President Ahsan Bhoon.  Human Rights Commission of Pakistan Chairwoman Asma Jehangir was also placed under house arrest. Hundreds of lawyers, deputies and human rights activists have also been held. (QF)

 

• pakistan
• state
• of
• emergency
• musharraf
• constitution