Pakistan’s reconstituted Supreme Court today dismissed legal challenges to President General Pervez Musharraf’s continued rule, a senior official said.

Pakistan’s military ruler General Pervez Musharraf promised that elections would be held on schedule before January 9th, in a press conference today.

Pakistan released opposition leader Benazir Bhutto from house arrest and said it will lift a state of emergency within a month.

Pakistan will lift its state of emergency within one month, a senior government official said today.

Protesters shouted “Shame on You!” as baton-wielding police empowered by Pakistan’s state of emergency violently broke up a rally today and rounded up hundreds of opposition activists nationwide. The government said parliamentary elections could be delayed by up to a year, as it tries to stamp out a growing Islamic militant threat.

Legal wrangling over President Gen Pervez Musharraf’s re-election bid intensified today after exiled former leader Benazir Bhutto accused the general’s allies of pushing Pakistan toward a dangerous crisis by refusing to restore democracy and share power.