Pakistan’s Supreme Court repeals former judges’ decision on emergency

Special report:   Pakistani Situation

A paramilitary soldier stands guard on a street in Karachi Nov. 5, 2007. Pakistani police used teargas and batons on Monday against lawyers protesting at President Pervez Musharraf's imposition of emergency rule and detentions mounted, prompting Washington to postpone defence cooperation talks.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
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    ISLAMABAD, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- The eight-member full court of the Supreme Court (SC) Tuesday declared a seven-judge decision against the declaration of emergency as null and void, according to local press reports.

    The full court ruled that the decision was null and void as it was taken after the declaration of emergency but those made the decision were no longer judges with the declaration of emergency.

    It was binding for the said seven judges to take oath under the Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO) to continue as the judges of the Supreme Court but they did not, and ceased as judges, the ruling said.

    The petition against the decision of the former judges of the Supreme Court was filed by Attorney General Justice (Retd) Malik Abdul Qayyum.

    Lawyers in major Pakistani cities rally against emergency rule

    ISLAMABAD, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- Lawyers in major Pakistani cities Monday staged protest demonstrations against the imposition of emergency in the country and some of them were arrested.

    According to local press reports, the biggest protest was in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore, where a number of lawyers were injured and arrested after police launched teargas shells at around 1,000 protesters outside the high court.

    China concerned about Pakistan's state of emergency

    BEIJING, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) -- China is concerned about the situation in Pakistan, and hopes the country could maintain stability and development, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao on Sunday.

    He was responding to a question concerning Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf's declaring of a state of emergency in the country.

    U.S. disappointed by Pakistani leader's declaration of emergency    

    WASHINGTON, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- The United States said Saturday that it is very disappointed by Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf's declaration of emergency rule and urged him to stick to the pledge to hold free elections in the country early next year.

    "This action is very disappointing," U.S. National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe said.