The New Nation - Internet Edition

Of course, emergency is one of the most unfortunate occurrences in any country. Generally it affects the routine life of people. And at long last President Gen. Musharraf declared a state of emergency in Pakistan putting an end to the speculative nature of reports about "democracy" and stopping the saga of turmoil that gripped the country for a pretty long time.

Opposition parties supported by lawyers and some judges, encouraged by the supports from Western "liberal" advices they have been harping upon the removal of Musharraf.

Lavish concerns for Pakistani democracy from across the borders have made these stalwarts to raise the issue of "uniform" to its logical conclusion now. Musharraf has finally lost his patience to clamp emergency.

Indian spokesmen say both USA and India condemn the emergency. The main opposition, the BJP which took birth as a primary consequence of Indian emergency declared in 1970 during the Congress rule and was subsequently used by the Congress to pull down the Grand Babri Mosque in Uttar Pradesh and became a ruling party at the centre, is keen to use the emergency issue to try and create a wedge between USA and Pakistan and pull Washington to the Indian street and says that those who have imposed the emergency for perpetuation of military rule in Pakistan cannot be a reliable ally in the struggle against the so-called "jihadi terrorism".

Along with the global "terror" drive of the imperialistic nations, the anti-Muslim actions by parties like BJP have harmed the life of ordinary Muslims in India.But then they have the tacit support of the State and judiciary, unfortunately.

Musharraf is also the president-elect through democratic procedures according to their constitution, but the judiciary, annoyed with Musharraf's handling of "democracy" took a different view. The anti-Islamic West and others have succeeded in making Pakistan an emergency-clad nation by their ill-advices on "democracy".

Any one who experienced or witnessed the horrid emergency days in India would not support emergency in any pat of the world, but they all would agree that emergency also did its positive role in streamlining Indian politics. Musharraf was in fact quite hesitant to declare it for quite some time, hoping that situation would improve on its own. One hopes that the emergency rule does not make the life of common people worse and, in stead, makes it better. Ordinary Pakistani masses deserve much better than what is provided to them at present. President Musharraf would do yeomen service to his country by enabling the weak common men self-supportive.

Dr.Abdul Ruff Colachal

Delhi