Musharraf calls for January poll

Gen Musharraf took power in October 1999

President Pervez Musharraf has said he hopes new parliamentary elections can be held in Pakistan by 9 January.
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.

Gen Musharraf was addressing his first news conference since declaring emergency rule on 3 November.

He said that had been his most difficult decision. But he did not say when emergency rule would be lifted.

His allies abroad and critics at home have been urging him to bring the emergency to an end.

They question whether free and fair elections can ever be held while constitutional safeguards are suspended.

However General Musharraf 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."

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.

"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."

"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. "