Musharraf 'to Lift Pakistan State of Emergency'

Pakistan's president, Pervez Musharraf, is reported to be ready to lift emergency rule in Pakistan, and could announce the move as soon as he is sworn in as a civilian president tomorrow, according to reports.

This morning, Musharraf finally gave in to international and opposition demands by resigning as army chief at a ceremony in Rawalpindi.

Tomorrow he is predicted to go further, by announcing the end of the emergency rule that he imposed on November 3.

The independent TV channel Dawn News reported that the restrictions would be lifted within the next 48 hours. It also reported that everyone arrested after the imposition of emergency rule would be freed.

The Kuwaiti news agency KUNA quoted an unnamed source as saying: "The president is likely to announce the end of emergency rule in his address [after taking the oath of office]."

Pakistan's attorney general, Malike Muhammad Qayyum, told AFP: "I cannot give any exact date and time about lifting the emergency, but I can say now that is will be lifted very soon."

Lifting the state of the emergency is a key demand of the west and the opposition parties. Opposition politicians have threatened to boycott parliamentary elections scheduled for January 8 if the rule of law is not restored.

But today the returned opposition leader, Benazir Bhutto, said her Pakistan People's party would take part in the polls, according to the Associated Press of Pakistan.

However, it quoted her demanding checks to ensure that the elections were free and fair. "We need an independent election commission, sanctity of the ballot and no violation of rules," she said.