The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Islamabad

Pakistan's election campaign began in earnest on Sunday, a day after President Pervez Musharraf lifted his unpopular emergency rule and restored the constitution.

The election commission was set to release the final list of candidates for the January 8 vote for parliament, which Musharraf's critics say has been effectively rigged against them during the six weeks of the emergency.

In a televised address late Saturday, the president insisted emergency rule had saved the nation, alleging there had been a conspiracy by unnamed people to undermine the country's democracy.

"Against my will and as a last resort, I imposed emergency rule and saved Pakistan from destabilisation," he said.

"I put my own reputation at risk, but I did it because I could not allow Pakistan to be in grave danger. It was painful and a most difficult decision."

Former premiers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif were criss-crossing the country on Sunday, drumming up support for their parties. They are taking part in the election after failing to agree on a joint boycott. Bhutto alleged Saturday that there were "big plans" in the works to rig the elections, a charge the president denied in his speech to the nation.

He pledged the vote would be "absolutely fair" and invited international observers to attend the election.

In addition to lifting the emergency, however, the president also decreed that measures imposed during emergency rule could not be challenged in the courts.