Special report: Pakistani
Situation
ISLAMABAD, Nov. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Pakistani government has released all
the detainees except 37 people who were arrested after the imposition of
emergency, Interior Ministry Spokesman Brig Javed Iqbal Cheema said on Tuesday.
Addressing the weekly press briefing here, Cheema said, "Out of the
remaining 37 detainees, five are detained under Maintenance of Public Order and
32 were booked under various charges for violence and violation of law of the
land." He said they had to face the courts.
President Pervez Musharraf on Nov. 3 declared a state of emergency and
issued a provisional constitutional order, suspending the constitution. As a
precautionary measure, the administration detained thousands of people across
the country.
The spokesman reiterated that the government did not in any manner want to
impede political activities but had to take all necessary measures to minimize
the threat posed by extremist forces.
The government was trying its best to provide a conducive and enabling
environment for conduct of free, fair and transparent elections ensuring even
playing field for all political parties, said Cheema.
He said it was heartening to note that a very large number of contestants
including the leadership of almost all political parties had filed their
nomination papers.
Cheema said he hoped that all political parties would now wholeheartedly
participate in the electoral process which would ensure smooth transition to
full democracy.
Referring to the security code of conduct prepared by the Interior Ministry
and sent to political parties and the Election Commission, Cheema said,
processions and rallies might be banned under the code. He said it was
recommended in the security code of conduct that only gatherings might be
allowed at specified places.
Responding to a question, Cheema said the government would provide fool
proof security to political leaders whosoever was under threat during the
electioneering.
Answering another question, Cheema said there would be no change in the
policy of war on terror after President doffed his uniform. He said that
terrorism is a very serious threat to the internal security and that the efforts
would continue to rid the country of terrorism.
To still another question, Cheema said that the name of former Prime
Minister Shaukat Aziz had not been put on Exit Control List.
Cheema said the judges of the Supreme Court were free to go to their homes.
He said, "If they want so, the government would facilitate them."
Cheema said the vacation of their houses was the jurisdiction of the
Supreme Court and that only Apex Court would decide when these houses would be
vacated.
Official: Pakistan frees over 5,000
detainees under emergency
ISLAMABAD, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- The Pakistani authorities have released more
than 5,000 lawyers, political workers and rights activists who were arrested
under emergency rule, according to local press reports. Full story
Official: Pakistan frees over 3,400
political activists
ISLAMABAD, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Pakistani Government has released a total
of 3,416 political detainees including lawyers arrested since the imposition of
emergency on Nov. 3, the interior ministry said Tuesday. Full story
Reports: Over 100 journalists arrested
in S Pakistan
ISLAMABAD, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Police in the southern Pakistani port city of
Karachi Tuesday arrested more than 100 journalists who were protesting against
curbs on the media, according to local press reports. Full story
