SANSAD
South Asian Network for Secularism and Democracy
Suite 435, 205 - 329 North Road, Coquitlam, BC, Canada. V3K 6Z8
phone : (604) 420-2972; FAX: (604) 420-2970
Electronic mail : sansad@sansad.org
[Incorporated in British Columbia under the Society Act as a Non-Profit Society, # S-31797]
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We in SANSAD are shocked by General Pervez Musharraf's decision to impose the state of emergency and suspend the constitution of Pakistan.
We condemn the promulgation of the Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO). It is an assault on the already fragile democratic institutions of the country. Clause 2 (1) of the PCO issued by the Chief of Army Staff gives powers to the President to "amend the Constitution, as is deemed expedient." This is nothing but a recipe for imposing personal, dictatorial rule over 160 million Pakistanis. The PCO further gives the President and Prime Minister total indemnity as the courts cannot give any judgment that is against these individuals or anyone they give authority to.
We in SANSAD believe that such sweeping powers to the President and the Prime Minister are not only detrimental for political and civil rights of the people of Pakistan, but would also further entrench the military in the state, economy and social life of the country.
We condemn the suspension of the fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution of Pakistan and the large-scale arrests of politicians, lawyers, judges, and human rights activists.
We seriously doubt General Musharraf's stated claim that the Emergency has been imposed to fight extremists' militancy in the country. We believe that his policies of carrying out the US agenda and its "war on terror" are principally responsible for the rise of militancy in the country.
We demand that General Pervez Musharraf be removed as the Chief of Army Staff and the President without delay. We demand that a transition government of national consensus be formed which should hold fair and free elections within 90 days, so that the political power is finally transferred to the duly elected representatives of Pakistani people and the role of the military in the governance of Pakistan brought to an end.
We also demand that the United States stop all military assistance to the Musharraf regime, and stop all interferences in the internal affairs of the country.
We express solidarity with all democratic forces of Pakistan who have bravely challenged authoritarian moves of General Pervez Musharraf.
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