Pakistan on Wednesday said that the imposition of emergency in the country was temporary and aimed at restoring internal harmony.
Commenting on statements from abroad on the emergency, Foreign Office spokesman Mohammad Sadiq said that the international community needed to show understanding for a difficult decision to address an extraordinary situation.
"Our friends abroad need to appreciate that any steps that may add to the difficulties of Pakistan in these critical times could hurt the global interests for security and stability in the region," he said.
The emergency was imposed to, "avert an institutional breakdown that could have caused political instability, harmed economic growth and also undermined the efforts of the state to counter terrorist and extremist militancy," Sadiq said.
The measures under the emergency are temporary but vitally important to restore internal harmony in the country, he said.
The government and President Pervez Musharraf are committed to full civilian democratic rule and holding of elections, Sadiq said. He pointed out that the President has already stated that he remains determined to complete the return to full democracy.
Political activity has already been set in motion to maintain effective governance in the country and to take forceful action against militancy, violence and terrorism, he said.
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