Video: Musharraf hands over military post

President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan is poised to lift his country's state of emergency within days, after relinquishing his role as Army chief of staff and becoming a civilian ruler for the first time.

Sources close to the Pakistani President said today that he was set to restore normal democratic governance to the country imminently, in the aftermath of an historic handover ceremony today in which he gave up his military leadership after nine years.

In what was hailed by the international community as a historic event in modern Pakistani history, the President finally made good his pledge to stand down as Army chief by passing the baton of command to his hand-picked successor, General Ashfaq Kayani.

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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

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• Analysis: Musharraf too weak to block Sharif

Making an emotional address at Army headquarters in Rawalpindi a tearful Mr Musharraf, who seized power in a 1999 military coup, told his audience: "The Army has given me everything, and I am leaving it with dignity and pride."

Sources have told The Times that the move is likely to act as a prelude to lifting the state of emergency, which has been widely condemned by the international community and led to thousands of political opponents being arrested.

Most opponents have now been released and it is believed he could lift the state of emergency as soon as tomorrow, when Mr Musharraf is officially sworn in as a civilian ruler.

Zahid Hussain, the Times correspondent in Pakistan, said: "By stepping down as Army chief, Musharraf has met an important demand. This is a very significant development.

"Well-placed sources have told me that Musharraf is now considering lifting the state of emergency imminently, and that this is likely to happen in the next few days."

The correspondent added that the Pakistani leader appeared to have stepped back from the brink of dictatorship and decided to restore democracy in the face of huge pressure from its Western allies and domestic opponents. "The indications are that he has stepped back from the brink," Mr Hussain said.

Mr Musharraf's conciliatory moves reflect the fact that he is feeling more secure in his position, sources say. The Pakistani President last week had his previous election victory validated by the country's Supreme Court, newly packed with his supporters, giving him the legitimacy to rule.

Another factor is believed to be the demand by opposition parties of Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, both former Prime Ministers, that the state of emergency must be lifted before the forthcoming January 8 General Election, otherwise they would refuse to participate.

Restoration of democracy is also likely to lead to Pakistan being restored to full Commonwealth membership, after its suspension at a conference in Kampala last week.

Both Ms Bhutto and Ms Sharif's parties welcomed the decision to stand down as Army chief. “We expect the army will go back to its original duty and will not interfere in politics,” Nadir Chaudhry, a spokesman for Mr Sharif, who General Musharraf ousted in 1999.

A spokesman for Gordon Brown today also welcomed Mr Musharraf's decision to become a civilian ruler, saying: “This is an important part of the process that President Musharraf has told me he wants to take to rapidly restore constitutional order.

"We understand the threats to Pakistan's peace and security. But I have urged President Musharraf to use the normal democratic processes to respond."

He added that Pakistan would be readmitted to the Commonwealth if it lifted the state of emergency and held free elections.

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