Pervez Musharraf is expected on Saturday to lift a nationwide state of emergency, six weeks to the day after imposing it, in a move that sparked worldwide criticism, officials said.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf is expected on Saturday to lift a nationwide state of emergency, six weeks to the day after imposing it, in a move that sparked worldwide criticism, officials said.
Musharraf was also set later on Saturday to address the nation on television as he gears up for general elections early next month.
The embattled president imposed the emergency on November 3 and saw thousands of people jailed, judges sacked and tough new curbs slapped on the media in what Musharraf said was a move to ensure the nation's stability.
Analysts say Musharraf will be hoping that lifting the emergency will stifle claims, chiefly from political opponents, that the key January 8 elections will not be free or fair.
But critics say its lifting now is nothing more than a sop to Western backers like the United States, which counts the 64-year-old retired general as a lynchpin in the 'war on terror' aimed at Islamic militants in the region.
Musharraf's detractors also say that with only three weeks left to campaign for the polls, and claiming dozens of those arrested are still in detention, the move will make little practical difference.
Musharraf cited a national surge in militant violence as well as what he said was interference from the courts when he imposed the emergency, a month after his controversial re-election to the presidency.
Most of those arrested under the emergency have been released, officials say, and the government insisted on Friday that basic rights abrogated when Musharraf suspended the constitution would be immediately restored.
"All fundamental rights of the citizens will stand restored with the lifting of the emergency," said Attorney General Malik Qayyum.
Musharraf amended the constitution late Friday to exempt him from sanctions in parliament for imposing the emergency rule, Qayyum said.
Officials declined on Friday to give details of Musharraf's speech which is scheduled to go out live across the country on television and radio at 8:00 pm local time on Saturday.
Qayyum said the state of emergency would be lifted before 1:00 pm Saturday.
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