No question of imposing emergency: Musharraf

Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf on Saturday ruled out imposition of emergency in the country in the wake of violent clashes in Karachi.

"There is absolutely no requirement and absolutely no environment for taking such a drastic measure," the state-run news agency quoted him as telling reporters at the ground-breaking ceremony of a 165-megawatt power plant in Islamabad.

Musharraf said the matter of reference of allegations against the suspended Chief Justice Iftikhar M Chaudhry should not be politicised.

"Let the Supreme Court decide in the interest of the state and absolute justice," he said, adding that he held the apex court in the highest esteem.

The President described as "temporary irritant" the situation in Karachi, where 18 persons were killed on Saturday in violence, and asked the nation to stand united and peaceful.

He said there was an economic boom in the country and the economic growth needed to be sustained.

"We must stop taking this issue (suspension of the Chief Justice) on to the streets and making it into a political issue," the General said.

Speculation about emergency rose recently after Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said the government may exercise the option of imposing the tough law in the country to deal with the situation arising out of Chaudhry's suspension by Musharraf on March nine for alleged misconduct and misuse of power.