An embattled President Musharraf tried to defuse Pakistan’s worsening political crisis by promising to hold general elections in January.

Benazir Bhutto, the former prime minister held briefly under house arrest on Friday, described the move as a “first positive step”.

But she and other opponents said such elections would be deeply flawed unless General Musharraf lifted the country’s state of emergency. He has declared that the continued suspension of the constitution was essential to free and fair elections.

General Musharraf’s announcement brings the timetable for Pakistan’s elections back on track. It follows direct pressure from President Bush and meets a key demand of his critics that he return the country to a path of democracy.

Bhutto was killed by bomb blast

The team from the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command have backed the claim that Benazir Bhutto was not shot

Multimedia

• Pictures: death of Benazir Bhutto

• Pictures: Pakistan

BACKGROUND

• Pakistan in turmoil as ‘martial law’ imposed

• Bhutto escapes as bombers kill 126

• Timeline: Pakistan's period of turmoil

• The man out to oust a President

• Internal crisis gives Pakistan reason for hope

Related Links

• Bhutto tests Musharraf’s strength

• Bhutto rally takes the fight to Musharraf

National Assembly and provincial assemblies will be dissolved after completing their term next week, he said, to be followed by elections on January 9. Last week, he had threatened to delay them until February.

Ms Bhutto, who arrived in Lahore yesterday ahead of a protest she plans to lead tomorrow, said there were many other outstanding issues to be resolved and the announcement alone would not end the political crisis.

She plans to lead thousands of supporters on a 185-mile procession to Islamabad in what would be the biggest protest yet against emergency rule, in which thousands of lawyers and political activists have been arrested and rallies banned. Police have vowed to block the convoy.

Ms Bhutto called off talks on a power-sharing deal with President Musharraf after his imposition of emergency rule. Other opposition leaders hinted that they would boycott the polls, saying that General Musharraf’s continued sweeping powers and detention of opponents would make a mockery of the democratic process.

Mr Musharraf, appearing at his first press conference since imposing emergency rule earlier this month, said: “I have fulfilled my promise to hold elections on schedule and return the country to a complete civilian rule.”

His actions have escalated political tensions at home and evoked international outcry. Yesterday, he justified his steps saying the judiciary had hampered the battle against Islamic militancy and extremism.

“It was the most difficult decision I have ever taken in my life,” he said, appearing much more confident than the floundering image he had presented when announcing the emergency measures last Saturday.

“I found myself between a rock and a hard surface,” he said. “I have no personal ego and ambitions to guard. I have the national interest foremost.”

“I do understand the emergency has to be lifted, but I cannot give a date.”

The military ruler, who seized power in a bloodless coup in 1999, ousting a democratically elected government, renewed his pledge to step down as army chief once his election as President for the second term was endorsed by the Supreme Court.

Most observers regard the ruling as a formality now that he has remade the Supreme Court and ousted popular judges.

“The moment they give a decision, I should take an oath of office as civilian President. I hope that happens as soon as possible,” he said. He denied that he would lose army support if he governed as a civilian.

Times Recommends

• Would you live on the wrong side of the Berlin Wall?
• Wish you were here, says Iraq tourist board
• Russian policeman’s corruption plea to Putin