A Conversation With Pervez Musharraf

A. If you see our press and electronic media, there is no problem criticizing the government. . . . The problem was that they were distorting realities and creating despondencies in the people of Pakistan by showing pictures of dead bodies and interviewing terrorists -- not showing the law enforcement authorities in a good light but showing the terrorists in a better light. Thus they encouraged terrorism and discouraged the law enforcers. They were undermining the good work of the government, were entirely one-sided, and some responsibility had to be brought in.

Q. In the U.S., it would be unacceptable to have a code of conduct. Don't you think you should lift that when you end the state of emergency?

A. No, the code of conduct is there in most countries of the world. Why should we compare the United States to Pakistan?

Q. Will the judges be restored to their prior positions?

A. No, not at all. What judges? Why should they be restored? New judges are there. They will never be restored.

Q. People in the West will have a hard time understanding that.

A. Let them not understand. They should come to Pakistan and understand Pakistan.

Q. Since you say you are restoring the constitution, why not also restore the courts?

A. No, there is no restoration of courts required -- the courts are already there.

Q. But these judges are handpicked by you.

A. We took action. The judges had to take oaths, and those that took the oaths are there. Those that did not are gone. This action was validated by the Supreme Court of Pakistan. . . . There was something seriously wrong with the chief justice of Pakistan. On March 9th, there were charges against him of corruption; [he was accused of] interfering [with] the judgments of judges on other courts; he was accused of interfering in the executive by taking actions on issues from traffic control to privatization.

Q. Do you feel you stuck your neck out for the United States after September 11th and the United States has not stood by you?