Source: NDTV

By Yusra Askari

Things seemed much the same on the streets of Karachi, the morning after emergency was lifted in Pakistan after 42 days.

It was business as usual, no celebrations perhaps because people aren’t quite sure yet what this means.

The amendments Musharraf introduced into the Constitution before reinstating it ensure that certain things don’t change.

Some of the curbs are still in place, some private television channels are still off air and the judges who had been deposed have been forced to retire.

”On the international level, the over all impact (of lifting emergency) is positive because people overseas including governments don’t necessarily see the nuance or the meanings between the lines that Pakistanis can read much better,” said Javed Jabbar, Former Federal Minister for Information.

What is even less clear is how free and fair the general elections in January will be.

”For the nation of Pakistan the changes made on the 15th of December, really represent a triumph pf public opinion, a maturation of the democratic process, ”Jabbar added.

”Should they take part in the elections or not? More than 90% of the political parties that represent the people are taking part in these elections,” said Justice (Rtd) Nasir Aslam Zahid, Former Chief Justice of the Sindh High Court and Judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

With a civilian President at the helm of affairs, a new commandant of the armed forces in place and with the electoral process firmly underway, Pakistan’s return to democratic government appears to have at least begun.

But whether this process will mean the independent functioning of each of the pillars of state that is something that will be clear only after the election results come in.

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Tags: Army, Elections, Emergency, Musharraf