'Musharraf is a dictator'

WASHINGTON: Dubbing President Pervez Musharraf a 'dictator', Pakistan's sacked Chief Justice Iftikhar M Chaudhry has urged the international community to put pressure on the General to lift the emergency rule.
    
When asked whether Musharraf was a dictator, Chaudhry told a news channel in an interview:  "Of course....  who was the person who was not believing in the independence of the judiciary, who was not believing in the norms of the law, who was not believing that a less independent judiciary given independent decisions, who was not allying with judges to work independently?
    
"Then what one can say, that he was actually wanting to dictate and this is only the habit of a dictator."
    
Chaudhry was asked what the US and the rest of the world should do now to try to help improve situation in Pakistan.
    
"... this thing has never happened in a civilized society. Now, we expect that for a civilised society,.. they (international community including the UN) should pressurize him that he should immediately take back this issue (emergency rule). And as far as the judiciary... they should be restored with their full powers," Chaudhry said.
    
The former top judge of Pakistan, however, would not answer a question on whether Washington should suspend economic and military assistance to his country. "I think it is not a subject on which I will speak, because whatever the case may be, I have to look after the interests of my country as my - as well as my nation, as well.
    
"But I can understand that if, for the United States, otherwise puts pressure upon the President Musharraf, he will be bound to take back this issue because it has not set a good example for the country, as well as for the other nations. I may also explain to you ... we are the partners in the war on terrorism with the United States," Chaudhry said.