General elections including the national assembly and the provincial assemblies would be held simultaneously before Jan. 9, said Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf in Islamabad on Sunday.

 

At his first press conference in the presidential palace since the imposition of emergency eight days ago, Musharraf said that he made the announcement to refute rumors that he would delay the polls by one month.

 

He announced that Pakistan would dissolve the National Assembly on Nov. 15 at the end of its five-year term and provincial assemblies on Nov. 20.

 

Musharraf said that he would ask the chief election commissioner to begin preparations for the elections.

 

"I've committed to hold elections in time and today I have fulfilled the pledge," he said, adding that 60-day time would be given for the election campaign and all parties would have equal opportunity to take part in the election process.

 

However, Musharraf refused to give a date as when to lift the state of emergency imposed on Nov. 3.

 

As for his re-election, Musharraf said that the Supreme Court of Pakistan had ordered not to announce the results of the presidential election and the matter was now with the Supreme Court.

 

He said whenever the court would allow for the notification of results, he would take oath as a civilian president.

 

(Xinhua News Agency November 12, 2007)