Facing the first impeachment proceedings of the country, the Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf formally announced his resignation on 18 August 2008.

After Pakistan's coalition democratic government announced their decision to impeach President Musharraf at a news conference on 7 August, the National Assembly started the proceedings to call for the impeachment on grounds of imposition of emergency rule and dismissal of nearly 60 judges last November 2007, as well as economic mismanagement.

According to international newspapers, members of the ruling coalition have been trying to resolve a split over the re-instatement of judges dismissed by Musharraf in 2007.  An ultimatum has been delivered by Pakistan Muslim League – N to the Pakistan People’s Party to consent to the return of the Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhary within 72 hours.  Departure of The Pakistan Muslim League – N is said to potentially weaken the government.

Meanwhile, the news of resignation of President Musharraf is seen as a step forward and potential to improve the country’s overall situation, according to the National Commission for Justice and Peace.  The Catholic human rights organization is optimistic that minorities will have a better voice in the society and hopes that they will have better recognition of political rights and can play a more active role in the government.

In response to the imposition of emergency rule by President Musharraf in November 2007, Hotline Asia issued SUA071108(5)to call for an end to the emergency and unconditional release of the detained lawyers and activists.


Sources:
South China Morning Post
International Herald Tribune
AsiaNews
Local source

The first act of the new Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gillani immediately after his election in parliament was to order release of all judges arrested during the state of emergency in November 2007. His inaugural speech also promised to seek a United Nations inquiry into the assassination of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Benazir Bhutto. Gillani was expected to form a new government, open to the cooperation with Nawaz Sharif’s party, the Pakistan Muslim League-N.

However, Pakistani lawyers are expected to stage a “long march” street protests starting 10 June for the re-instatement of judges removed by President Musharraf. Despite the promise to re-instate the judges, the new government missed its 2 self-imposed deadlines and appeared to be unraveling over the issue.

After imposition of Emergency in Pakistan on 3 November 2007, Hotline Asia issued SUA071108(5) to support local movements in urging the government to withdraw the emergency, lift curbs in media and release all activists, judges and political workers arrested.

Sources:
AsiaNews
International Herald Tribune

The overall procedure of the General Assembly Elections on 18 February was considered by local groups to be fair and transparent. Although local newspapers reported about 25 casualties in poll-related violence, ambassadors of major countries such as the United Kingdom, United States, Japan and China, expressed their satisfaction over the security arrangements. Such process, as well as the results raised hope towards a democratic society.

On 21 February, 258 out of 268 seats have been announced; the remaining 10 seats were reserved for minorities at the discretion of the new ruling parties. The Pakistan People’s Party got majority of 87 seats, followed by 66 seats won by the Pakistan Muslim League-N and 38 from the previous ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Q.

NCJP Pakistan, a human rights body of the Catholic Church, has urged the winning parties to adopt policies to bring the country to the track of justice, peace and prosperity.

At the first session of the new parliament in March, leaders of the 2 major political parties have agreed to re-instate judges dismissed by President Musharraf within 30 days, and announced the implementation of a Charter for Democracy aimed at bringing Pakistan back to a civilian democratic form of government. The Charter included removing the President’s power to dissolve the parliament and to appoint chiefs of the military services.

Following the declaration of emergency on 3 November 2007, Hotline Asia issued SUA071108(5) to express concern about the related human rights issues such as curbs on media, detention of activists and to urge for restoration of democracy through election. The emergency was lifted in December but elections were postponed from January to February, and partial curbs on media remained.

Sources:
Local sources

Pakistan President Musharraf lifted the national state of emergency on 15 December 2007, reportedly after making last minute changes to the constitution to strengthen his power against courts and parliament, and against challenging the legality of the emergency order.

Meanwhile, partial curbs to the media and legal system remained, which analysts say will allow the president to manipulate the polls expected to be held on 8 January 2008. The date of election was later postponed to 18 February due to the widespread violence and riots after the assassination of the main opposition leader, Ms. Benazir Bhutto on 27 December, which has “damaged some election commission offices and paralyzed parts of Sindh Province.”

Since the imposition of emergency on 3 November, thousands have been jailed and uncooperative judges sacked, along with new curbs on media under the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA Ordinance). In face of widespread international condemnation, Musharraf declared that he would normalize the situation. However, judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts, including Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhary, Justice (retd.) Tariq Mehmood, Mr. Munir A. Malik, Mr. Ali Ahmed Kurd and Mr. Aitzaz Ahsan are still under house arrest, and all the sacked judges are yet to be reinstated.
 
To support local movements, Hotline Asia issued SUA071108(5) to urge the government to immediately withdraw emergency, lift curbs on the media, release all detainees unconditionally and immediately and ensure the democratic election is held.

Sources:
AsiaNews
International Herald Tribune
Local source

Pervaiz Musharraf took the oath as President of Pakistan on 29 November 2007 after stepping down as the head of the country's military. In his first address to the nation as civilian president, he announced that the state of emergency and the Provisional Constitution Order (PCO) would be lifted on 16 December 2007.

The 55 judges of the Supreme Court and the 4 High Courts, who refused to take oath under PCO after the state of emergency, are not yet reinstated.

A large number of human rights activists, political workers and lawyers were released except a few important lawyers such as Messrs. Aitzaz Ahsan, Munir A. Malik, Ali Ahmed Kurd and the retired Justice Tariq Mehmood. The curbs on most of the private television news channels are partially lifted but a leading private channel 'Geo Television' is still banned as of 30 November 2007.
 
Hotline Asia issued SUA071108(5) on 8 November 2007 urging the government of Pakistan to withdraw Emergency and unconditionally release all political detainees immediately, after Pervaiz Musharaf imposed Emergency on 3 November 2007, promulgated the PCO and suspended the Constitution, placing the country under one-man rule.

Sources:
The Daily Times
The News (local newspaper)