ISLAMABAD, Dec 13: Twenty-three former ambassadors and foreign secretaries of Pakistan have denounced the imposition of state of emergency and suspension of the Constitution by President Pervez Musharraf and demanded immediate restoration of the Constitution and pre-Nov 3 judges of superior courts.

In a joint statement issued here on Thursday, they said: “As the Supreme Court of Pakistan declared on Nov 3, 2007, these steps, which amount to imposition of martial law, are unconstitutional and illegal. Besides undermining the rule of law and delivering a severe blow to the independence of judiciary, they have dangerously destabilised the country.

“They also have incurred international opprobrium and badly tarnished Pakistan’s image.”

The 23 former ambassadors and foreign secretaries — namely, Dr Humayun Khan, Riaz Paracha, Tanvir Ahmed Khan, Shamshad Ahmed, Riaz H. Khokhar, Gul Hanif, Amin Jan Naim, Touqir Hussain, Karamatullah Khan Ghori, Amir Usman, Javid Hussain, Azmat Hassan, Naeem U. Hassan, Shafqat Ali Shaikh, Karam Elahi, Afzal Akbar Khan, Mazhar Qayyum, Asif Ezdi, S. Iftikhar Murshad, Iqbal A. Khan, Shirin Safdar, B.A. Malik and Salim Khan Gandapur — have demanded an immediate reversal of all unconstitutional steps of November 3.

They demanded:

— Immediate restoration of the constitution and the judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts as constituted before the declaration of emergency on November 43, 20097.

— Formation of neutral caretaker cabinets at the federal as well as provincial levels and reconstitution of the Election Commission to ensure free and fair elections to the national and provincial assemblies.

— Immediate release of all persons imprisoned or detained under the emergency, including judges, lawyers, journalists, students and others.

— Full restoration of the fundamental rights guaranteed by the constitution and the lifting of all restrictions imposed on the media.

— Strict adherence by the armed forces to their oath and constitutional role, in accordance with the directives given by the Quaid-i-Azam.

— Strict application of the principal of accountability of holders of public office. The former envoys also called upon the parties and the candidates participating in the elections to make a solemn commitment to treat the reinstatement of judges of the superior judiciary as the top priority issue after the elections.

They said the nation also expected the political parties and members of future national and provincial legislatures to adhere to recognised democratic norms in their future conduct.