Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has said that legislative elections should be before 9 January. He refused to give a date for ending the state of emergency.
The president hinted that emergency rule could stay in place until the elections are held, saying it was essential to ensure a fair vote.
He said the national assembly would dissolve on Thursday so elections could be held between 45 and 60 days from then.
Mr Musharraf defended his decision to impose emergency rule on 3 November, insisting he did not violate the constitution. He said he had taken the measure in the national interests, calling it 'the most difficult decision' of his life.
Mr Musharraf said he will stand down as head of the army and take the oath for another term as a civilian, as soon as the Supreme Court validates his October presidential election win.
Meanwhile, Pakistan's opposition leader, Benazir Bhutto, is to set off for the eastern city of Lahore on the latest phase of a campaign to restore democracy.
In Lahore, Mrs Bhutto is planning to lead a 'long march', a mass motorcade to Islamabad, to put more pressure on President Musharraf to revoke emergency rule.
Ms Bhutto has described Pakistan as 'a pressure cooker' and she said that 'without a place to vent, the passion of our people for liberty threatens to explode.'
