Report: Emergency to Be Lifted in Weeks

Nov 07, 07:07 AM

Current Headlines: The head of the ruling party of Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf said emergency rule in the country would end within three weeks.

I'm sure it will end in two to three weeks as President Pervez Musharraf is aware of the consequences of long emergency rule, Chaudhry Shujat Hussain, who heads the ruling Pakistan Muslim League, told Pakistan's Dawn newspaper.

Nobody is in favor of emergency. It was promulgated reluctantly by the chief of the army staff, he said referring to Musharraf, who is also the country's military chief.

As to whether elections would be in January as previously announced, Hussian would only say postponing the elections may favor some individuals or parties but not us.

He also said any power-sharing agreement with former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's party could be considered after the general elections in which we will be rivals but not before. He added his party is ready to meet Bhutto and her aides to discuss steps which may help improve the political climate and ensure transition to full democracy.

Hussain told Dawn the Pakistani army was fully with Musharraf and so there was no question of him being ousted.