Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto has called on the international community to stop backing Pervez Musharraf, saying it is time for him to quit as President and army chief.

Pakistan's Attorney-General says the country's revamped Supreme Court is likely to resume hearings next week on challenges against Pervez Musharraf's re-election as president.

Former prime minister Mian Nawaz Sharif has said that Gen. Pervez Musharraf's press conference is a plan to facilitate victory of the King’s party in general elections.

Pakistani Opposition Leader Benazir Bhutto is holding a strategy meeting with senior members of her party to plan further protests against the state of emergency. Ms Bhutto was allowed to drive out of her residence a short time ago after the regime lifted a blockade.

Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has announced that elections will be held before February 15 and confirmed his pledge to quit as army chief, according to state media.

Amid the mounting international pressure to conduct elections at the earliest, Pak Attorney General Malik Qayyum has said that general elections in Pakistan are likely to be held in February and Emergency could be lifted as early as within a month.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has urged the Pakistan government to immediately release political detainees, including an UN Human Rights expert and restore democracy.

According to some details of the new PCO made available to the media, the National Assembly, Senate, provincial assemblies, the prime minister, provincial chief ministers, federal and provincial ministers, governors and all those in the 'government services- will continue to function normally.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has said that general elections in Pakistan could be delayed for a year, a day after emergency rule has been imposed in the country while several opposition leaders have been detained.

Canada condemns the imposition of emergency rule in Pakistan."The acting president of Pakistan Muslim League (N), the party of the exiled former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was arrested on Sunday along with 10 party activists.

Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has declared a state of emergency amid mounting political upheaval and a wave of Islamist violence.

Soon after the proclamation of emergency by Gen Musharraf, an eight-member bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, reportedly set aside the decision. Setting aside General Musharraf's proclamation of emergency, the panel asked all members of the superior judiciary against taking oath under the new PCO.