Pakistani President to lift state of emergency by Dec. 16

Pervez Musharraf said he would restore Pakistan's constitution before January elections and lift state of emergency by Dec. 16.

Photo: Pakistani President to lift state of emergency by Dec. 16

"I am determined to lift the emergency by Dec. 16," Musharraf said in a televised address to the nation. "The elections, God willing, will be held free and transparent under the constitution."

Hours after the former military strongman was sworn in as a purely civilian president, Musharraf appealed to two former prime ministers recently returned from exile to drop their threats to boycott the Jan. 8 parliamentary elections.

"Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif have come back, and a level playing field has been given to (their parties). Now it is the responsibility of these and other parties to prepare for the elections, and participate fully," he said.