'No Question of Emergency in the Country': Musharraf
By Sarah Kamal 'Pakistan Times' Special Correspondent

RAWALPINDI: President General Pervez Musharraf on Saturday categorically stated that there was no question of imposing emergency in the country and urged the nation to stand united and peaceful.

"There is absolutely no requirement and absolutely no environment for taking such drastic measure so these undercurrents must stop," President Musharraf said while speaking about rumours of imposition of emergency in the country, at a ground breaking ceremony of a 165 mega watt power plant.

The President said the matter of reference against the Chief Justice sent to the Supreme Judicial Council should not be politicized.

"Let the Supreme Court decide in the interest of the state and absolute justice," the President said and added he hold the Supreme Court in highest esteem. The President assured the nation that there was no requirement for any drastic step at all.

Terming the situation a "temporary irritant" the President said there was an economic boom and there was a need to sustain economic growth in the country."We must stop taking this issue on to the streets and making it into a political issue," President Musharraf said.

The President on the issue of the judicial reference said he put state decisions above his personal relations with the Chief Justice.

"I was faced with a situation and took a decision in greater state interest and not in personal consideration," the President said and added "it was the demand of fair play, justice and good governance."

Election Year

President Musharraf said this was an election year and a new government will come into power after holding fair and transparent elections. He hoped a new moderate government will emerge - "it will show supremacy of moderate forces in Pakistan and we hope these moderate forces will reign supreme against extremist forces."

President General Pervez Musharraf who earlier unveiled the plaque for the ground breaking ceremony of the 165 MW power generation plant at Morgah being built with US $ 160 millions of Foreign Direct Investment said Pakistan will continue to pursue acquisition of energy from all sources.

He said Pakistan was seeking natural gas and electricity from Iran and other countries. He said a 300 MW nuclear power plant was already operational, while work was continuing on another 300 MW plant. He said the government will go ahead with the 1000 MW nuclear power plant."That is our right and we will never give that up," he said amidst a thunderous applause.

The President hoped the IPI will be operational soon and termed it a win-win situation for all.Shuaib A Malik, Group Regional Chief Executive of the Attock Group of Companies said the organisation was the only fully integrated group covering all segments of oil and gas sector from exploration, production, refining to marketing of petroleum products.

He said the Attock Refinery was today producing 40,000 barrels a day and the Attock Petroleum Limited was expanding network of retail outlets and storage facility.Minister for Water and Power Liaqat Ali Jatoi Ghaith R Pharaon Chairman Attock Group appreciated Pakistan's successful investment friendly policies and said these have accelerated economic growth over the past several years and won the confidence of foreign investors in Pakistan.

He said such projects will contribute to the growth and development of the country and said his group looked forward to more such initiatives.Adil Khattak CEO of AGL said ccountry's electricity demand is likely to double in next ten years.

He said the plant was fuel oil fired thermal power plant using an environment friendly furnace oil extracted from an indigenous crude oil processed at the Attock Refinery. The project is being built by Wartsila of Finland and was likely to begin commercial operation by August 2008.

He said electricity will be sold to National Transmission and Dispatch Company of Wapda. He said Wapda would not be charged the transportation cost of the fuel and upfront infrastructure capital cost and provide reliable electricity for Rawalpindi and Islamabad.●