JOHANNESBURG, Nov 9: A group of former world leaders, including Nelson Mandela and Jimmy Carter, has denounced President Pervez Musharraf for imposing emergency and suspending the Constitution.

“These illegal acts have resulted in abuse and incarceration of judges, lawyers, human rights’ activists, journalists and other moderate and democratic opposition forces,” the group, called the Elders, said in a statement on Thursday.

“The Elders support all those freedom-loving Pakistanis who have chosen to join in peaceful expressions of opposition to these dictatorial acts and call upon political leaders throughout the world to insist on a return to a lawful government under Pakistan’s Constitution,” it said.

The group was formed earlier this year in an effort to use the influence of more than a dozen Nobel laureates and former world leaders to reduce conflict and despair around the globe.—Reuters