The party of former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has decided to take part in next month's elections.
Party officials announced the decision Sunday after opposition parties failed to agree on the terms of an election boycott pact.
Mr. Sharif's party and the party of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto had been in talks to mount a joint boycott of the January eighth elections.
But officials from Mr. Sharif's party said today the opposition failed to reach a consensus on conditions for the government to meet to prevent a boycott.
Also today, the US television network CNN aired an interview with President Pervez Musharraf in which he said he would lift emergency rule on December 15th - a day earlier than previously announced.
His statement echoes comments made by Pakistan's Attorney General Malik Quayyum on Friday.
Ms. Bhutto told VOA (Urdu Service) Thursday that there is an 80 percent chance her party will participate in the general elections set for January eighth.
Party officials announced the decision Sunday after opposition parties failed to agree on the terms of an election boycott pact.
Mr. Sharif's party and the party of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto had been in talks to mount a joint boycott of the January eighth elections.
But officials from Mr. Sharif's party said today the opposition failed to reach a consensus on conditions for the government to meet to prevent a boycott.
Also today, the US television network CNN aired an interview with President Pervez Musharraf in which he said he would lift emergency rule on December 15th - a day earlier than previously announced.
His statement echoes comments made by Pakistan's Attorney General Malik Quayyum on Friday.
Ms. Bhutto told VOA (Urdu Service) Thursday that there is an 80 percent chance her party will participate in the general elections set for January eighth.