Emergency Imposed in larger National Interest: Musharraf
'Pakistan Times' Wire Service

ISLAMABAD: President General Pervez Musharraf on Saturday declared that the state of emergency was imposed in the country to safeguard the national interests and counter growing terrorism and the downward trend of economy.

Addressing the nation on radio and television, he said Pakistan today was standing at cross roads and the time has come to take hard decisions.

“If we don’t take those decisions then there is a grave danger to the solidarity and security of the country,” he added.

He said that he has taken the decision of emergency as his guiding principal has always been “Pakistan first”.

“My guiding principal has always been Pakistan first. I am sure the whole nation thinks on similar pattern.”

President Musharraf said terrorism and extremism had reached its pinnacle and the incidents of suicide attacks throughout the country had increased manifold.

“These extremists were roaming around freely in the country while the law enforcing agencies have become demoralised creating concern among the general public,” he added.

These elements, he said, were forcibly trying to impose the extremist and backward views of Islam on otherwise moderate people of Pakistan which is a direct challenge to the security of Pakistan.●