 (AKI) - Pakistan's president General Pervez Musharraf announced on Thursday that general elections will be held before 15 February, but did not give an exact date.
| It seems like only a week or two ago he was saying he wouldn't institute a state of emergency... |
The announcement came just hours after US president George W. Bush telephoned Musharraf on Wednesday urging him to hold elections soon.
| "But, really, that had nothin' to do with it. The money didn't, either. Though losing it mighta. A little." |
Musharraf suspended the constitution and declared a state of emergency on Saturday, saying that the move was necessary to curb extremism in the country.
| The people he's been tossing in jug aren't the extremists, though... |
However since then the government has conducted a crackdown and arrested lawyers, opposition politicians and rights activists protesting against the imposition of martial law.
According to state media reports on Thursday, Musharraf had chaired a meeting of the National Security Council and said that the parliamentary elections would be held before 15 February. He also renewed his pledge to step down as head of the army.
| "I'm gonna do it. Really. Just not now." |
Speaking on state-run Pakistan TV, a government spokesman also said that the media blackout would be eased and international channels would be allowed on air again.
| "Just be careful not to watch the parts that make fun of us." |
The White House has welcomed Thursday's statement. A spokesperson was quoted by Reuters news agency as saying that it was a "good thing" that Musharraf clarified the election date.
| "Otherwise he'd'a been in large trouble!" |
However Benazir Bhutto, former prime minister and leader of the largest opposition party, the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), said that the new pledges were not enough and that Musharraf should give an exact election date and the date when he will doff his army uniform. |