WASHINGTON, Nov 15: The US deputy secretary of state will tell Pakistani authorities when he arrives in Islamabad on Friday that the United States will not accept anything less than complete withdrawal of the emergency rule.

The message is that … it’s critically important that Pakistan get back on the road to constitutional democratic rule,” State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told a briefing in Washington when asked what message Mr Negroponte will take with him to Islamabad.

“And a critical element of that taking place is for the state of emergency to be lifted, to allow those who want to peacefully participate in Pakistan’s political process to move freely, to have access to independent media,” Mr McCormack said.

The State Department official, however, noted that some independent televisions stations have come back on air in Pakistan.

“That’s positive. But that needs to be something that happens all throughout this period in the run-up to elections, whenever they may be scheduled. It’s important to see that date,” he said.