Musharraf Amends Constitution To Protect Himself, His Acts

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — President Musharraf will end emergency rule on Saturday as promised, but first he will amend the constitution to protect his decisions from court review, Pakistan's attorney general said yesterday.

Attorney General Malik Mohammed Qayyum told the Associated Press that government legal experts were finalizing the amendments and that the changes would be announced before the state of emergency is lifted. He provided no details.

"The president will lift the emergency to restore the constitution and the fundamental rights," Mr. Qayyum said.

Mr. Musharraf, who has acknowledged breaching constitutional protections, purged the judiciary, jailed thousands of opponents and silenced television news channels after he suspended the constitution and declared emergency rule November 3.

The American-backed leader said he acted to prevent political chaos and to give authorities a freer hand against Islamic militants. Critics accuse him of making a power grab before the old Supreme Court could rule on the legality of his continued rule.

A new opinion poll indicated 60% of Pakistanis disapprove of the job Mr. Musharraf is doing, a finding that could bode badly for his political party going into parliamentary elections January 8 that will decide who forms the next government.

The poll by the International Republican Institute — an American government-financed group that has Republican lawmakers and officials among its directors and senior staff — said 31% of those surveyed felt a former prime minister, Benazir Bhutto, was best suited to lead the country. Some 25% backed another former premier, Nawaz Sharif, and 23% chose Mr. Musharraf.