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Musharraf calls for January poll Musharraf calls for January poll
(40 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. He tasked the Election Commission with preparing for the vote for national and regional assemblies, and said it was up to them to determine the exact 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. He said that had been his most difficult decision. But he did not say when emergency rule would be lifted.
He insisted he had done nothing wrong and had not violated the constitution.
"I stand by it because I think it was in the national interest.""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. If they want to create anarchy... we must not allow that Gen Musharraf
But he did not say when it would be lifted. He said political leaders who had been arrested would be freed but that emergency rule was needed to ensure that the general election went smoothly.
Suspension "I would expect that all of them get released and participate in the elections, and they'll be free to go and do electioneering as per the rules given by the Election Commission."
"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. "But if they disturb law and order, and if they want to create anarchy in Pakistan in the name of elections, in the name of democracy, we must not allow that.
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. Bhutto protests
Gen Musharraf said elections should be held on schedule.
"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.
EMERGENCY RESTRICTIONS Constitutional safeguards on life and liberty curtailedPolice get wide powers of arrestSuspects can be denied access to lawyersFreedom of movement restrictedPrivate TV stations taken off airNew rules curtail media coverage of suicide bombings or militant activityChief justice replaced, others made to swear oath of loyaltySupreme Court banned from rescinding emergency order Balance of power in Pakistan
National and regional assemblies would be dissolved in the coming days once they had completed their full terms. Provincial chief ministers had agreed to holding the new election on a single day, he said.
The Pakistani leader also gave no date for when he intends to step down as army chief of staff and take an oath as a civilian president.
He said that depended on how quickly the Supreme Court could validate his recent presidential election.
His news conference came as former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto headed to the eastern city of Lahore to prepare for a large-scale protest against emergency rule.
The planned march - from Lahore to Islamabad - is due to start on Tuesday and could draw thousands of protesters if it is allowed to take place, correspondents say.