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Pakistan emergency rule 'ended' Musharraf ends Pakistan emergency
(40 minutes 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.
The move, which will be welcomed by Western nations, comes ahead of national elections on 8 January. The move will be welcomed by Western nations ahead of national elections on 8 January, but domestic opponents gave it a cautious welcome.
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-western 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 remainDoubts 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. Pervez Musharraf formally ended the country's state of emergency one day earlier than he announced.
HAVE YOUR SAY The only concern that remains is the involvement of developed countries in our internal affairs Babar Malik, Pakistan 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. HAVE YOUR SAY The only concern that remains is the involvement of developed countries in our internal affairs Babar Malik, Pakistan Send us your comments His first act upon restoring the constitution was to swear in new members of Pakistan's Supreme Court, giving the oath of office to new Chief Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar.
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. Iftikhar Chaudhry, the sacked former chief justice, remains under house arrest.
The president's position had seemed in peril when he declared the state of emergency, says the BBC's Jill McGivering, in Islamabad.
Under Mr Chaudhry, 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. Mr Musharraf's position is now more secure, our correspondent says.
Independent judges have been sacked and replaced, and media freedom has been curtailed. Lawyers have been at the forefront of opposition to the emergencyIndependent 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.
Ms Bhutto said the lifting of the emergency was an "important step forward", but said more needed to be done before Pakistan's democracy was fully restored.