Pak Opposition to boycott January elections

New Delhi: The opposition group in Pakistan, All Parties Democratic Movement (APDM), has decided to boycott the January elections.

Former Pakistan premier Nawaz Sharif's party is a part of the APDM so he is not contesting.

Meanwhile former premier Benazir Bhutto's party, PPP, is not a member but whether or not she will contest remains to be seen.

APDM, however, scheduled to hold talks with Bhutto and Maulana Fazlur Rehman to boycott polls after President Pervez Musharraf announced that he would lift Emergency in the country only on December 16.

“I intend to lift Emergency by December 16, repeal the PCO and hold elections within the Constitution,” said Musharraf.

Emergency was no longer necessary, Musharraf said now that his own election had been legally validated and Pakistan was successfully dealing with terrorism at home.

“Now we need national consensus, political reconciliation, good governance,” added Musharraf.

Musharraf appealed to the main opposition to participate in the January 8 elections.

But early reactions from the PPP and PML(N) indicated that they were not wholly convinced.

Musharraf is yet to agree to two of their key demands set up an independent Election Commission and restore the Chief Justice.