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Musharraf calls for January poll | Musharraf calls for January poll |
(20 minutes later) | |
President Pervez Musharraf has said he hopes new parliamentary elections can be held in Pakistan by 9 January. | President Pervez Musharraf has said he hopes new parliamentary elections can be held in Pakistan by 9 January. |
Gen Musharraf said national and regional assemblies would be dissolved in the coming weeks and that elections would take place on a single day. | Gen Musharraf said national and regional assemblies would be dissolved in the coming weeks and that elections would take place on a single day. |
He tasked the Election Commission with preparing for the vote, and said it was up to them to determine the date. | He tasked the Election Commission with preparing for the vote, and said it was up to them to determine the date. |
Gen Musharraf was addressing his first news conference since declaring emergency rule on 3 November. | Gen Musharraf was addressing his first news conference since declaring emergency rule on 3 November. |
He defended the decision to impose emergency rule and insisted he had done nothing wrong and did not violate the constitution. | |
"I stand by it because I think it was in the national interest." | |
He added that it was "the most difficult decision" of his life. | |
But he did not say when it would be lifted. | |
Suspension | |
"I would request the Election Commission to hold the elections as soon as possible, as fast as possible, which means, if you calculate 45-60 days from 20 November, we should have the elections before 9 January, which happens to be the start of [the Muslim month of] Moharram," he said. | "I would request the Election Commission to hold the elections as soon as possible, as fast as possible, which means, if you calculate 45-60 days from 20 November, we should have the elections before 9 January, which happens to be the start of [the Muslim month of] Moharram," he said. |
Eight days ago he imposed emergency rule, suspending the constitution and firing the Supreme Court's chief justice. | Eight days ago he imposed emergency rule, suspending the constitution and firing the Supreme Court's chief justice. |
His allies abroad and political opponents in Pakistan have been calling for the emergency to be lifted as soon as possible. | His allies abroad and political opponents in Pakistan have been calling for the emergency to be lifted as soon as possible. |
On Thursday, Gen Musharraf said Pakistan would hold parliamentary elections before 15 February. | On Thursday, Gen Musharraf said Pakistan would hold parliamentary elections before 15 February. |