The state of emergency, imposed on Nov 3, was lifted, the Constitution of Pakistan restored and fundamental rights were revived Saturday, officials said. President Pervez Musharraf amended the constitution by promulgating a set of ordinances that remove all challenges to his eligibility, and change certain rules for Supreme and High Court judges. A ban preventing government servants from contesting elections for two years has also been removed for Musharraf. A constitutional article, which restricts the contesting of general elections of any civil servant for at least two years after his retirement, has been amended so that it would not affect Musharraf s election as president. Similarly, an article, which guaranteed the doffing of military uniform by him, now stands dissolved. Former parliamentary affairs minister Dr Sher Afgan said that this absolves the president from all disqualification clauses of the constitution that could have applied to him. Another constitutional amendment promulgated now reduced the required age of High Court judges from 45 to 40 years old. It has also been amended to allow the appointment of judges at the Islamabad High Court (IHC) without seeking approval from a governor, as Islamabad has no governor. The president or his representative would administer oath to any appointed chief justice of the IHC. Another amendment pronounces the termination orders for judges who refused to take oath under Nov 3 promulgations. The amendment said that the judges who have ceased to hold office would not be reinstated with the restoration of the constitution. The president has also promulgated the Supreme Court Judges (Pension Benefits) Order, 2007, and the High Court Judges (Pension Benefits) Order, 2007, which extend retirement benefits to the judges of the Supreme and High Courts.
