ISLAMABAD, Nov 5: President Gen Pervez Musharraf told foreign diplomats based in Islamabad on Monday that despite the imposition of a state of emergency in the country, transition to full democracy would be completed soon.

About 100 diplomats who were invited to the presidency for an explanation of the emergency “appreciated” his efforts “for removing the growing uncertainty in Pakistan,” president’s spokesman Maj-Gen (retd) Rashid Qurashi told Dawn.

“All the envoys said they now fully understood the situation and supported the president and the present government.”

The spokesman also confirmed that a meeting between the president and the prime minister had discussed the possibility of extending the tenure of the National Assembly for one year. Both had agreed that the state of emergency would be lifted as soon as the situation was normalised.

He reacted angrily when asked about rumours of a coup against President Musharraf which rattled stock exchanges in the country on Monday. “This was all nonsense, he said, adding that “Rumour-mongers are deliberately trying to create confusion.”

The spokesman said that none of the envoys had expressed concern over the proclamation of state of emergency.

The president told the envoys, that the superior judiciary had paralysed various organs of the state and created hurdles in the fight against terrorism.

He said Pakistan was facing challenges because of certain decisions of the superior judiciary which rendered vital pillars of the state dysfunctional.