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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Pakistan emergency rule 'ended' | Pakistan emergency rule 'ended' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has lifted a state of emergency and restored the country's constitution, reports say. | Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has lifted a state of emergency and restored the country's constitution, reports say. |
| The move, which will be welcomed by Western nations, comes ahead of national elections on 8 January. | The move, which will be welcomed by Western nations, comes ahead of national elections on 8 January. |
| Mr Musharraf imposed the emergency in November, arresting hundreds of people and replacing Supreme Court justices. | Mr Musharraf imposed the emergency in November, arresting hundreds of people and replacing Supreme Court justices. |
| Elsewhere, a suicide bomber on a bicycle killed five people outside an army base in north-west Pakistan. | Elsewhere, a suicide bomber on a bicycle killed five people outside an army base in north-west Pakistan. |
| Two soldiers and three civilians died, in addition to the bomber. | Two soldiers and three civilians died, in addition to the bomber. |
| The attack, which left six injured, happened at the gates of an army services centre in Nowshehra, 120km (75 miles) north-west of Islamabad. | The attack, which left six injured, happened at the gates of an army services centre in Nowshehra, 120km (75 miles) north-west of Islamabad. |
| Doubts remain | Doubts remain |
| Media reports in Pakistan are now quoting officials as confirming the state of emergency has been lifted, although there is no formal public ceremony to witness. | Media reports in Pakistan are now quoting officials as confirming the state of emergency has been lifted, although there is no formal public ceremony to witness. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY The only concern that remains is the involvement of developed countries in our internal affairs Babar Malik, Pakistan class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=3942&edition=1&ttl=20071215093028">Send us your comments Pervez Musharraf's position seemed in peril when he declared the state of emergency, says the BBC's Jill McGivering, in Islamabad. | |
| The country's top judges seemed about to declare his re-election as president illegal because he had refused to step down from his role as head of the army. | The country's top judges seemed about to declare his re-election as president illegal because he had refused to step down from his role as head of the army. |
| He later relinquished that role and was confirmed as president for a new term by the remodelled Supreme Court. | He later relinquished that role and was confirmed as president for a new term by the remodelled Supreme Court. |
| However, his position is now more secure, our correspondent says. | However, his position is now more secure, our correspondent says. |
| Independent judges have been sacked and replaced, and media freedom has been curtailed. | Independent judges have been sacked and replaced, and media freedom has been curtailed. |
| Critics say neither of those issues are being resolved, and are concerned that the lifting of the state of emergency will make little real difference. | Critics say neither of those issues are being resolved, and are concerned that the lifting of the state of emergency will make little real difference. |
| Two former prime ministers, Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, have returned to Pakistan from exile recently and plan to contest January's elections. | Two former prime ministers, Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, have returned to Pakistan from exile recently and plan to contest January's elections. |
| The two head separate parties and failed to agree on a joint boycott of the polls, so have pledged to fight Mr Musharraf at the ballot box. | The two head separate parties and failed to agree on a joint boycott of the polls, so have pledged to fight Mr Musharraf at the ballot box. |