Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf on Thursday announced that the state of emergency in the country will be lifted on December 16.
'I have full resolve to lift the emergency and withdraw the Provision Constitutional Order on December 16,' Musharraf, who was sworn in as a civilian President earlier in the day, was quoted as saying in a televised speech.
Musharraf clamped emergency rule and suspended the Constitution under the PCO on November 3 citing judicial interference and growing terrorism in parts of the country.
However, he has been under intense domestic and international pressure to lift the emergency and restore the Constitution.
Musharraf also urged political parties not to boycott the January 8 elections and actively participate in the poll process.