By Lally Weymouth
The Washington Post
Sunday, December 16, 2007; Page B1
An angry President Pervez Musharraf defended imposing a state of emergency on Pakistan and blamed the Western media for many of his problems — from increased attacks by Islamic extremists to lawyers who have taken to the streets to protest his suspension of the constitution and firing of the country’s chief justice. In an interview with Newsweek-Washington Post’s Lally Weymouth, the Pakistani president reiterated that he would lift the state of emergency Saturday but will not reinstate judges who opposed him. Despite his opponents’ doubts, Musharraf insisted he will ensure a free and fair election in January. But he refused to say whether he would endorse a constitutional amendment to allow former prime minister Benazir Bhutto to serve a third term.
Q. Is there a difference now that you have shed your uniform and relinquished your post of army chief of staff?
A. On a personal note, I loved my uniform. From th national point of view, I don’t think there is a difference. I think the overall situation will be better and stronger. The army is being managed by a chief of staff dedicated to the job, and I will be president of Pakistan, and if the two are totally in harmony, the situation is better.
available.
Read the rest:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/14/AR2007121401229.html?hpid=opinionsbox1
