Islamabad: Amidst mounting pressure on President Musharraf to end the emergency, a top leader of Pakistan Muslim League-Q today said it should be lifted to create a "positive atmosphere" in the country before the general elections due by 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 election.

"I personally feel that it should be appropriate and internationally welcomed to lift the emergency before elections," Hussain told Dawn news channel.
"Lifting the emergency would create a positive atmosphere. The emergency has a negative impact at home and abroad," he said.

Hussain said ending the state of emergency would lead to "less conflict, less polarisation" before the elections.
The PML-Q leader said his party "do not need emergency to either contest the election or win the election."
Musharraf is facing intense international and domestic pressure to lift the emergency imposed by the General on November 3.

US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte during a two-hour-long meeting with Musharraf here today conveyed a "strong message" to the General to end emergency and doff his uniform immediately, western diplomatic sources said. Musharraf yesterday swore in a new caretaker government to guide Pakistan through general elections.

Source : PTI