Defiant Musharraf starts new term as civilian leader
Friday, 30 November 2007
ISLAMABAD, Nov 29 (AFP): Pervez Musharraf was sworn in as president of Pakistan for a second term Thursday, this time as a civilian, and defiantly rejected massive international pressure to lift his state of emergency.
A day after stepping down from the army, Musharraf took the oath of office for another five years at the presidential palace in Islamabad.
He called it "a milestone" in Pakistan's transition to democracy and vowed January 8 general elections would go ahead "come hell or high water" despite threats of a boycott by former premiers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif.
But in a speech after a solemn ceremony shown live on national television, Musharraf gave no indication about when he might end the state of emergency he imposed on November 3.
Instead, he brushed aside fresh calls by US President George W. Bush and other Western allies to end emergency rule as an "unrealistic obsession."
"We want democracy, we want human rights, we want civil liberties but we will do it our way," said Musharraf, who seized power in a bloodless coup in 1999.
"We understand our society, our environment, better than anyone in the West."
As he spoke there were clashes in the eastern city of Lahore, where police baton-charged hundreds of lawyers protesting against his swearing-in. The head of the local bar association said 12 to 15 were hurt and several arrested.
Witnesses said lawyers pelted police with stones and drink bottles. Police said some of their officers were also injured.
Wearing a traditional black tunic, Musharraf recited the oath in front of hundreds of dignitaries including his handpicked heir as army chief, General Ashfaq Kiyani, who looked on impassively.
It was administered by chief justice Abdul Hameed Dogar, who was propelled into the job when Musharraf sacked the nation's previous top judge for refusing to recognise the state of emergency.
"I am grateful to the Pakistani nation for placing this confidence in me," said Musharraf.
Meanwhile, At least 12 lawyers were wounded in the Pakistani city of Lahore as police baton-charged a rally against President Pervez Musharraf's swearing-in Thursday, the head of the lawyers' group said.
Police cracked down when several hundred lawyers emerged from the eastern city's main court chanting "Go, Musharraf! Go!"
Syed Shah Mohammad, president of the local bar association, said 12 to 15 lawyers were wounded and seven arrested by police.
Lahore police official Aftab Cheema said police took action because of a ban on rallies that has been in place since Musharraf imposed emergency rule on November 3.
Cheema denied any arrests.
The lawyers called the rally in protest at Musharraf's swearing-in for the second time as president, this time as a civilian.
He resigned from the army Wednesday under intense international pressure, eight years after seizing power in a bloodless coup.
A day after stepping down from the army, Musharraf took the oath of office for another five years at the presidential palace in Islamabad.
He called it "a milestone" in Pakistan's transition to democracy and vowed January 8 general elections would go ahead "come hell or high water" despite threats of a boycott by former premiers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif.
But in a speech after a solemn ceremony shown live on national television, Musharraf gave no indication about when he might end the state of emergency he imposed on November 3.
Instead, he brushed aside fresh calls by US President George W. Bush and other Western allies to end emergency rule as an "unrealistic obsession."
"We want democracy, we want human rights, we want civil liberties but we will do it our way," said Musharraf, who seized power in a bloodless coup in 1999.
"We understand our society, our environment, better than anyone in the West."
As he spoke there were clashes in the eastern city of Lahore, where police baton-charged hundreds of lawyers protesting against his swearing-in. The head of the local bar association said 12 to 15 were hurt and several arrested.
Witnesses said lawyers pelted police with stones and drink bottles. Police said some of their officers were also injured.
Wearing a traditional black tunic, Musharraf recited the oath in front of hundreds of dignitaries including his handpicked heir as army chief, General Ashfaq Kiyani, who looked on impassively.
It was administered by chief justice Abdul Hameed Dogar, who was propelled into the job when Musharraf sacked the nation's previous top judge for refusing to recognise the state of emergency.
"I am grateful to the Pakistani nation for placing this confidence in me," said Musharraf.
Meanwhile, At least 12 lawyers were wounded in the Pakistani city of Lahore as police baton-charged a rally against President Pervez Musharraf's swearing-in Thursday, the head of the lawyers' group said.
Police cracked down when several hundred lawyers emerged from the eastern city's main court chanting "Go, Musharraf! Go!"
Syed Shah Mohammad, president of the local bar association, said 12 to 15 lawyers were wounded and seven arrested by police.
Lahore police official Aftab Cheema said police took action because of a ban on rallies that has been in place since Musharraf imposed emergency rule on November 3.
Cheema denied any arrests.
The lawyers called the rally in protest at Musharraf's swearing-in for the second time as president, this time as a civilian.
He resigned from the army Wednesday under intense international pressure, eight years after seizing power in a bloodless coup.