Seeking to put behind the bitter tussle with the judiciary, President Pervez Musharraf has hoped to maintain harmonious ties with the Islamic nation’s top judge.
Publicly admitting for the first time that he accepted the recent Supreme Court verdict reinstating Chief Justice Iftikhar M. Chaudhry, Musharraf said he was never for the politicisation of judiciary and decided all matters on merit.
“We had family ties and hope to maintain the same harmonious ties in the future,” The News reported on Wednesday, quoting Musharraf as saying here. He stressed that personal egos must not play a part where there’re national interests.
Regarding the presidential reference against the Chief Justice, Musharraf said it was his constitutional obligation to forward the same to the Supreme Judicial Council. “I accept the judgement of the judiciary and honour it.”
He also said that the four pillars of the state — judiciary, legislative, executive and media — needed to co-exist with harmony. “They have to play their roles without fear or favour.”
On the general elections slated for later this year, Musharraf said that the media should adopt a very balanced approach and assured to provide the TV a level-playing field.
“There are no skeletons in my cupboard… I have no problem if anyone criticises me,” he said.