Special report: Pakistani Situation

    ISLAMABAD, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani President Musharraf on Saturday issued three presidential orders under which the state of emergency was lifted, local TV channel DAWN NEWS reported.

    According to the orders, the Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO) had been revoked and the constitution restored, said the report.

    The judges who did not take oath under the PCO, which was issued by Musharraf on Nov. 3, would cease to hold office but would still get pensionary benefits, while other judges have to take oath again after the constitution is restored.

    Musharraf promulgated the Constitution (Second Amendment) Order2007, which made some amendments to six articles of the constitution on Friday.

    Musharraf on Nov. 3 proclaimed a state of emergency in the country and promulgated the PCO, suspending the constitution. Then-chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry was sacked and some other judges of the Supreme Court and high courts declined to take oath under the PCO.

    According to the order promulgated on Friday, those judges who did not take oath under the PCO would cease to hold office but would still get pensionary benefits.

    Benazir Bhutto, former prime minister and chairperson of People' s Party (PPP), said that PPP welcomed the lifting of emergency but had reservations.

    Musharraf is scheduled to address the nation on Saturday night.

 Musharraf promulgates Constitution Amendment Order 

   ISLAMABAD, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf on Friday promulgated the Constitution (Second Amendment) Order 2007, the official Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported.

    Musharraf to address the nation

    ISLAMABAD, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- President Pervez Musharraf will address the nation on Saturday, the official Associated Press of Pakistan reported Friday. The address will be telecast live by the state and private television networks, said the report.

    Musharraf: Emergency to be lifted on Dec. 15 in Pakistan

    ISLAMABAD, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has said that he would lift the state of emergency on Dec. 15 and guarantee free and fair elections next month, local English newspaper The News reported Monday.