ISLAMABAD, Nov 17: A senior official in the party that backs President Gen Pervez Musharraf said on Saturday that emergency rule should be lifted before a general election due in early January.

Mushahid Hussain, secretary general of the Pakistan Muslim League-Q, which was in government until parliament was dissolved, said his party did not need a state of emergency to win the vote.

“I personally feel that it should be appropriate and internationally welcomed to lift the emergency before elections,” Mr Hussain told Dawn News, an English-language news channel.

Ending the state of emergency imposed by Gen Musharraf two weeks ago would lead to “less conflict, less polarisation” before the country goes to the polls.

“Lifting the emergency would create a positive atmosphere. The emergency has a negative impact at home and abroad.”—AFP