Mush takes oath as civilian Prez
Afzal Khan writes from Islamabad

Pervez Musharraf on Thursday took oath as civilian President for another five-year term and vowed to steer the country to the “final phase of transition to democracy that may not conform to the strict western standards but suits the genius of the people of Pakistan”.

Clad in a traditional sherwani tunic after having ceded the powerful army post yesterday, Musharraf was administered oath by his handpicked chief justice Hameed Dogar. He pledged to uphold the constitution and treat all Pakistanis equally as symbol of the federation - something his detractors say he has always flouted.

The ceremony at the Aiwan-i-Sadr was attended by caretaker and outgoing cabinet ministers, leaders of Musharraf's political allies, senior civil and military officials, diplomats and an assortment of prominent figures drawn from various segments of society across the country.

The opposition parties boycotted the proceedings while lawyers all over Pakistan observed it a black day and staged rallies that clashed with the police in Lahore and some other cities. Journalists also demonstrated in major cities, denouncing curbs on the media, including continued closure of some channels.

Musharraf stoutly defended imposition of emergency and suspension of constitution on November 3, profusely praised the army and its new chief and indulged in another long harangue denouncing his nemesis, deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry.

He even accused Chaudhry of acting on a conspiracy to derail the democratic phase of transition to democracy, undermining stability and setting state institutions on a collision course.

Continuing with his partisan and tough posturing against opposition parties, Musharraf vowed that that general elections will take place on January 8 "come hell or high water".

He warned opposition politicians who are talking about boycott that it would not affect the election plans. He accused politicians and judges of creating turmoil in the country during the past several months in order to derail the final phase of transition to democracy, including his elections. He thanked the newly constituted Supreme Court for endorsing his eligibility and the October 6 election.

"Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif are back, which is a good thing," Musharraf said and hoped they would not repeat the 1990s political culture or take a confrontationist route.

Without giving any indication of lifting emergency, Musharraf said it was an extra-ordinary step that had to be taken to meet an extra-ordinary situation in order to save the country from chaos.

He said most of the objectives of the emergency had been achieved and the country put back on democratic path. The terrorism has been dealt a decisive blow, he added.

The General patted himself for introducing "complete essence of democracy" and decried the era preceding him when there was only "label of democracy". He also lectured the West not to impose its concepts of democracy, human rights and civil liberties that took centuries to mature, on developing nations like Pakistan.