Kabul: The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights told AFP today the restoration of the independence of Pakistan's judiciary is as important as the holding of elections. Louise Arbour also called on Pakistan to lift its state of emergency "in plenty of time to create an environment conducive to free and fair elections."

After weeks of turmoil, Pakistan announced Tuesday a general election would be held January 8 and also released more than 3,000 prisoners jailed under emergency rule imposed by President Pervez Musharraf on November 3. "Not only is the election process an important one, but the restoration of the judiciary I think is equally important," the commissioner said in an interview in Kabul at the end of a six-day visit.

Musharraf s imposition of the state of emergency and replacement of the Supreme Court by judges who have since dismissed challenges to his election were a setback for democracy in Pakistan, she said. "The main target of this entire enterprise was a frontal attack on the judicial branch of government and that is an enormous setback for democracy and constitutionalism," Arbour said.

Musharraf sacked the chief justice and 13 other Supreme Court judges and appointed a new panel of judges who yesterday dismissed five of six challenges to his October 6 re-election. "They were all replaced and now they validated the election. I think it is very troublesome," said Arbour.

Source : PTI