ISLAMABAD, Nov 28: The government would lift the state of emergency “very soon” with President Pervez Musharraf keen to withdraw the measure before January elections, officials said on Wednesday.

“I cannot give any exact date and time about lifting the emergency but I can say now that it will be lifted very soon,” Attorney General Malik Mohammad Qayyum told AFP.

The comment came after Dawn News television, quoting unidentified sources, reported that Gen Musharraf — who stepped down as army chief on Wednesday — was set to end the state of emergency within 48 hours.

A senior government official earlier said Gen Musharraf wanted to lift the measure before January 8 elections but “is still weighing his options”.

“He has indicated to his aides that he would like to lift the emergency before the elections but it is not yet decided when to do it,” the official said on condition of anonymity.

The attorney general said there was no real use to the government in maintaining the emergency, except in tackling extremism and insurgency. Gen Musharraf had cited growing militancy and an interfering judiciary when he imposed the state of emergency.—AFP