Musharraf in constitutional change to avoid prosecution

PAKISTAN’S President Pervez Musharraf will end the country’s emergency rule tomorrow only after changing the constitution to ensure he cannot be prosecuted for breaking it, a key aide admitted yesterday.

Mr Musharraf sacked leading judges, jailed thousands of opponents and silenced television news channels after he suspended the constitution and imposed the state of emergency in November.

He said he acted to prevent political chaos and give authorities more power against Islamic militants, though critics accuse him of a last-ditch power grab before the previous Supreme Court could declare his continued rule illegal.