Musharraf: State of emergency to stay

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Source: CCTV.com | 11-12-2007 09:19

Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf addresses a press conference in Islamabad. (AFP/Farooq Naeem)

Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf says parliamentary elections will be held on schedule, and a state of emergency will remain in place. Meanwhile, former Pakistani Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto, has arrived in the eastern city of Lahore for Tuesday's "long march" aimed at restoring democracy to the country.

At a press conference in Islamabad - his first since imposing a state of emergency - Musharraf said the elections will be held before January 9th and that Pakistan's National Assembly will dissolve on Thursday.

Pervez Musharraf，Pakistan's President, said, "The National Assemblies and the Provincial Assemblies are about to complete their tenure as laid down in the constitution of Pakistan. National Assembly completes its tenure of five years for the first time in history on the 15 November, and therefore they shall stand dissolved on the 15 November."

But Musharraf refused to set a timeline for lifting the emergency rule.

Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has arrived in the eastern city of Lahore to an enthusiastic welcome from supporters.

Former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto addresses a news conference in Lahore. (AFP/Aamir Qureshi)

She plans to lead a "long march" -- from Lahore to Islamabad, beginning on Tuesday. It aims at putting pressure on Musharraf to revoke the state of emergency, restore the constitution, reinstate judges, quit as army chief, hold elections in January, and free thousands of detainees.

Meanwhile, in the capital Islamabad, scores of people demonstrated in support of TV stations that have been blocked from broadcasting on cable networks across the country.

Musharraf imposed the state of emergency a week ago, saying it was needed to help fight the growing threat posed by the Taliban and al-Qaida-linked militants.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei