Musharraf in constitutional change to avoid prosecution
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.
Yesterday, Attorney General Malik Mohammed Qayyum said the president, who has acknowledged he breached the constitution, will amend the charter to protect his decisions from legal challenges.
Mr Qayyum said government legal experts were finalising the changes and that they would be announced before Mr Musharraf lifts the emergency tomorrow.
“The president will lift the emergency to restore the constitution and the fundamental rights,” he said.
His comments came a day after Information Minister Nisar Memon rejected claims the government was trying to stifle the media ahead of next month’s parliamentary elections.
The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists accused the government of “an attempt to silence the free media” by ordering TV stations to stop airing live coverage of political debate.
The threat could prevent networks from covering speeches of opposition leaders like Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto, two former prime ministers who recently returned from years of exile.
Both have hit the campaign trail this week after abandoning threats to boycott the January 8 elections.
The media crackdown adds to concerns over whether the elections, meant to restore democracy after eight years of military-dominated rule, can be free and fair, although the president has repeatedly said that he would ensure “a level playing field” for all.
Mr Musharraf, who seized power in the 1999 coup, stepped down as army chief last month, meeting a key demand of the opposition.
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