Pakistan relaxes emergency
2007-11-20 16:54
Islamabad - Pakistan freed thousands of lawyers and opposition activists held under emergency powers on Tuesday, as President Pervez Musharraf arrived in Saudi Arabia, where old foe Nawaz Sharif lives in exile.
Army chief General Musharraf has been under pressure from
the opposition and Western governments to revoke the emergency
rule imposed on November 3 and ensure elections in January are held under free and fair conditions.
In a sign that the emergency was being relaxed, Interior
Ministry spokesperson Javed Iqbal Cheema announced around 3 400 detainees had been released by Tuesday and some 2 000 more would be released soon.
Increasingly isolated at home, Musharraf flew to Saudi
Arabia leaving a trail of speculation that he would reach out
to Sharif, the prime minister he deposed in a 1999 coup, who is
now living in exile in the Saudi city of Jeddah.
Polls will be held on January 8
Musharraf was accompanied by Lieutenant-General Nadeem Taj,
head of the Inter-Services Intelligence. Musharraf was expected
to stay in Riyadh for a few hours before going to Jeddah on his
way for a pilgrimage to Mecca.
The sudden visit raised speculation that Musharraf could
turn to Sharif as prospects for a post-election power sharing
deal with Benazir Bhutto, another former prime minister, have
receded.
The Election Commission announced on Tuesday that parliamentary polls would be held on January 8, the date chosen by Musharraf, but the unpopular military leader has been warned
the election will lack credibility if the emergency remains in
place.
Opposition parties are considering whether to boycott the
election as none of them expect it to be free or fair.