The US and Britain led the global community in voicing deep concern over imposition of emergency in Pakistan, describing it as a 'sharp setback' to democracy.
WASHINGTON: The US and Britain led the global community in voicing deep concern over imposition of emergency in Pakistan, describing it as a 'sharp setback' to democracy and seeking the country's swift return to rule of law.
"The United States is deeply disturbed by reports that Pakistani President (Pervez) Musharraf has taken extra-constitutional actions and has imposed a state of emergency," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said in a statement on Saturday night.
"A state of emergency would be a sharp setback for Pakistani democracy and takes Pakistan off the path toward civilian rule," he said.
White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said "this action is very disappointing." Musharraf needs to stand by "his pledges to have free and fair elections in January and step down as chief of army staff before retaking the presidential oath of office," he said in a statement.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who was on a visit outside the US, said: "Whatever happens, we will be urging for a quick return to a constitutional order, we will be urging that the commitment to hold free and fair elections be kept and we would be urging calm among the parties."
In London, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband expressed grave concern over declaration of emergency saying the country's future depended on ensuring the rule of law.
"I am gravely concerned by the measures adopted today, which will take Pakistan further from these goals," he said in a statement.
"We recognise the threat to peace and security faced by the country but its future rests on harnessing the power of democracy and the rule of law to achieve the goals of stability, development and countering terrorism."
China, a close ally of Pakistan, also expressed concern over the the situation and hoped Pakistan could maintain stability and development.
"We are concerned about the situation in Pakistan, and believe the Pakistani government and people are capable of solving their problems," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said.
Bangladesh hoped Pakistan would avoid instability while describing Musharraf's move as an "internal matter" of Pakistan.
"As a friendly country Bangladesh is observing he developments in Pakistan very closely. We view those events as their internal matter," Interim Foreign Minister Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury said in a statement. "However we hope that (it does) not lead to any kind of instability."
Japan said it "has constantly supported Pakistan's war on terror and its efforts to establish democracy."
"Japan strongly hopes that Pakistan will soon restore normalcy and return to the process of democratisation," its Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt termed the development as "serious and very worrying," saying "this is absolutely not the solution to Pakistan's problems."
Voicing concern, France's Foreign Ministry said Paris "wants dialogue between all Pakistani political forces to guarantee stability and democracy in this great country, which is a partner and a friend."
European Union's executive arm in Brussels also expressed concern over imposition of emergency in Pakistan.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, speaking in Jerusalem, said the US "does not support, and indicated to the Pakistani leadership prior to this action that it would not support, extra-constitutional means."
"The issue now is it's in the best interest of Pakistan and the best interest of the Pakistani people for there to be a prompt return to the Constitutional force, for there to be affirmation that elections will be held for a new Parliament."
Commonwealth Secretary General Don McKinnon said emergency rule "is a step in the wrong direction and a serious setback to democracy" while Australia urged Pakistan to return to constitutional rule.
Russia's state controlled electronic media justified the move by Musharraf, saying the country faced chaos amid rising wave of extremism.
Due to three-day public holidays till Tuesday to mark the Day of Peoples' Unity, the officials were not available for comment.
"Following Musharraf's crackdown on Lal Masjid in Islamabad, the radical 'jihadi' groups have posed a threat to the stability and the recent clashes in Swat had forced the re-elected Pakistani President to take firm action," state-controlled Channel 1 and Rossia TV said.
Pakistan's opposition leaders, however, sharply criticised Musharraf's action.
Former Premier Benazir Bhutto, who recently ended her self-imposed exile, told Britain's Sky News TV that Pakistan was regressing towards greater dictatorship. Later she told CNN that Musharraf's move would only encourage extremists.
Exiled ex-Premier Nawaz Sharif asked Musharraf to step down as he told Geo TV Pakistan was heading towards chaos.
Cricket-turned-politician Imran Khan, who was placed under house alert, said Musharraf had committed treason, which was punishable by death.
Meanwhile, Nepal has expressed surprise over the imposition of emergency in Pakistan and called for a return to democracy.
"I am surprised to hear the recent political developments in Pakistan," Prime Minister Girija Prasad
Koirala said and termed the recent political events in Pakistan as an "eclipse on democracy".
The Nepal Communist Party-UML has condemned the recent developments in Pakistan and asked the military rulers to "restore democracy" in the country.
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