The New Nation - Internet Edition

Reuters, Islamabad

Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf said on Sunday a general election would be held by January 9 but under a state of emergency he imposed eight days ago.

Musharraf, under pressure from rivals and Western allies to put Pakistan back on a path to democracy, said the National Assembly and provincial assemblies would be dissolved in coming days, upon completion of their terms.

The army chief also told a news conference he would quit the military and be sworn in as a civilian president as soon as the Supreme Court struck down challenges to his October 6 re-election. He said he hoped that would happen as soon as possible.

Musharraf, who said last week the election would be held by mid-February, said it was up to the Election Commission to decide on the date of the vote but added it had to be within 60 days of the dissolution of the National Assembly on November 15.

He also noted a Shi'ite Muslim period of mourning, when sectarian violence traditionally rises in Pakistan, was due to begin on January 9.

"We should have elections before the ninth of January," he said. "I very much hope it will be before the ninth of January."

Before Musharraf declared emergency rule on November 3, setting off a storm of criticism, elections had been expected by mid-January. Since suspending the constitution, Musharraf has sacked most judges, locked up lawyers, rounded up most of the political opposition and rights activists, justifying his steps by saying the judiciary was hampering the battle against militants and interfering with governance.

Diplomats say Musharraf's main objective in imposing the emergency was to stop the Supreme Court ruling his re-election invalid, upholding rivals' protests that he was ineligible to contest while still army chief.

Musharraf declined to say when the constitution would be restored or the emergency lifted. The emergency reinforced the battle against militants and would ensure fair polls, he said.

"It will ensure also fair and transparent elections because we are not going to interfere in the process of the elections," he said.

He also said he expected the politicians and activists detained over the past week to be freed to take part in the elections although no one would be allowed to "create anarchy in the name of democracy."

The government says 2,500 people have been detained during the emergency, although opposition leader Benazir Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party says 5,000 of its activists were picked up.

It remained to be seen if Musharraf's announcements would satisfy either his allies or opponents.

U.S. President George W. Bush, who values Musharraf as an ally in the fight against al Qaeda and the Taliban, has said he expects Musharraf, who took power in a bloodless 1999 coup, to quit the army, become a civilian leader and hold elections.

Bush said on Saturday that he took the Pakistani leader at his word.

"He knows my position," Bush said. "I do remind you that he has declared that he'll take off his uniform and he has declared there will be elections, which are positive steps.

"We also believe that suspension of the emergency decree will make it easier for the democracy to flourish."

The United States is worried the turmoil will hamper its nuclear-armed ally's efforts against terrorism. Pakistani forces are battling a growing Islamist insurgency along the Afghan border-where Osama bin Laden is believed to be hiding.

Former Prime Minister and Chairperson Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Benazir Bhutto said here on Sunday that she would launch long march from Lahore.

Speaking to mediamen and party workers on her arrival here at Allama Iqbal International Airport, she pledged to continue struggle for the restoration of constitution, democracy and removal of restrictions on media in the country.

She said, she feels lot of pleasure on her arrival in Lahore after 9 years and she would start the struggle for democracy from here.

Benazir said that any attempt from " Political Orphans from Punjab" to create hurdle in advancement of the long march would be thwarted with the force of public.

" You would see flood of people if political orphans from Punjab do not attempt to block the long march", she said.

She said that big majority of the people of Pakistan fully support the manifesto of PPP. She demanded a caretaker set up at federal and provincial level immediately.

Chanting supporters welcomed Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto to the city of Lahore on Sunday, ahead of a mass protest she is planning against President Pervez Musharraf's emergency rule this week.

Waving the black, red and green flags of her Pakistan People's Party, hundreds of frenzied activists shouted "Benazir Prime Minister!" and "Long live Bhutto," thrusting their arms in the air and making V for victory signs.

Bhutto intends to lead a procession of vehicles to Islamabad on Tuesday to demand Musharraf quits as army chief, ends the emergency rule he imposed a week ago, restores the constitution and frees thousands of detained lawyers and opponents.

Police have vowed to block the convoy, just as they stifled a planned protest rally in the city of Rawalpindi on Friday-when Bhutto was held under house arrest for most of the day.

Pakistan Muslim League (N) chief Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has written a letter to chairperson Pakistan People's Party Benazir Bhutto on the political situation of the country.

According to reports, Nawaz Sharif has written that he is pleased to see her marching against dictatorship.

Nawaz Sharif said that the ARD was formed for restoration of democracy.

He said that the message of APC has been received and our objective is the restoration of democracy.