Musharraf lifts emergency rule in Pakistan
{{date|December 18, 2007}}
{{Pakistan}}
[[Image:Pervez Mushrraf2 crop.jpg|thumb|left|200px|[[Pervez Musharraf]] in 2002]]
On December 15, [[Pervez Musharraf]] appeared in a nationally televised address in [[Pakistan]] to announce the end of [[w:2007 Pakistani state of emergency|emergency rule]] which had been invoked on November 3, 2007. Musharraf said that his objective of saving Pakistan from being destabilized had been achieved. However, a ban that prevents media from making live broadcasts has been left in place.

[[Benazir Bhutto]], a former Prime Minister and key opposition member, said that this is "an important step forward," however, more is need to achieve a "restoration of democracy" in Pakistan.

"We welcome President Musharraf's lifting of state of emergency and the revoking of the provisional constitutional order," Amadeu Altafaj Tardio, a spokesperson for the [[w:European Commissioner for Development & Humanitarian Aid|European Commissioner for Development & Humanitarian Aid]] told reporters at a briefing on Monday.

"It is essential for all restrictions on fundamental rights and freedoms to be lifted in advance of the parliamentary elections," Tardio continued. "We thus appeal to the government to take further steps to enhance confidence in the political process."

Pakistan is scheduled to hold a [[w:Pakistani general election, 2008|general election]] on January 8, 2008.

{{haveyoursay}}
== Related news ==
*{{wikinews|title=Musharraf quits as chief of army staff in Pakistan|date=November 29, 2007}}
*{{wikinews|title=Pakistan gets caretaker government to oversee January elections|date=November 15, 2007}}
*{{wikinews|title=Musharraf declares emergency rule in Pakistan|date=November 3, 2007}}

== Sources ==
{{wikipedia|2007 Pakistani state of emergency}}
*{{source|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSL1732214120071217
|title=EU urges Pakistan to lift all curbs ahead of vote
|author=|pub=Reuters
|date=December 17, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/1217/p04s01-wosc.html
|title=As Pakistan lifts emergency rule, Musharraf eyes next step
|author=Mark Sappenfield
|pub=Christian Science Monitor
|date=December 17, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://observer.guardian.co.uk/world/story/0,,2228223,00.html
|title=Pakistan lifts emergency rule but media curbs remain
|author=Jason Burke
|pub=The Observer
|date=December 16, 2007}}

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[[Category:Asia]]
[[Category:Pakistan]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Elections]]
[[Category:Pervez Musharraf]]
[[Category:Benazir Bhutto]]

[[de:Ausnahmezustand in Pakistan aufgehoben]]
Pervez Musharraf in 2002
On December 15, Pervez Musharraf appeared in a nationally televised address in Pakistan to announce the end of emergency rule which had been invoked on November 3, 2007. Musharraf said that his objective of saving Pakistan from being destabilized had been achieved. However, a ban that prevents media from making live broadcasts has been left in place.

Benazir Bhutto, a former Prime Minister and key opposition member, said that this is "an important step forward," however, more is need to achieve a "restoration of democracy" in Pakistan.

"We welcome President Musharraf's lifting of state of emergency and the revoking of the provisional constitutional order," Amadeu Altafaj Tardio, a spokesperson for the European Commissioner for Development & Humanitarian Aid told reporters at a briefing on Monday.

"It is essential for all restrictions on fundamental rights and freedoms to be lifted in advance of the parliamentary elections," Tardio continued. "We thus appeal to the government to take further steps to enhance confidence in the political process."

Pakistan is scheduled to hold a general election on January 8, 2008.
Asia Pakistan Politics and conflicts Elections Pervez Musharraf Benazir Bhutto