Musharraf says no to emergency declaration

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, July 19 (UPI) -- Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has no plans for an emergency declaration despite rising violence and says elections will be held this year as planned.

Musharraf, who has seen violence in his country worsen since a military assault on radical Islamic students in an Islamabad mosque last week, made his remarks to a group of editors in the capital, The New York Times reported Thursday.

Violence continues to grip the country amid growing concerns of Taliban and al-Qaida resurgence in Pakistan's restive tribal regions bordering Afghanistan. Since the outbreak of current violence, Taliban militants have said Pakistan's 10-month truce with tribal leaders is off.

The Times reported Musharrf, who also is the military chief, rejected imposing emergency rule and that he expects to be re-elected by Parliament.

"He made it clear that according to the Constitution, his election is due before the term of the current Parliament finishes," one of the editors was quoted as saying on television. Musharraf is under pressure to give up his army post before contesting the elections.

Musharraf also must confront continuing countrywide protests against his military rule and the suspension of Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry.