ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — The government freed more jailed political activists Wednesday, and a senior official said the president, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, might step down as army chief this weekend, moves that could blunt opposition threats to boycott parliamentary elections.
It remained unclear, however, when Musharraf might lift a state of emergency that has worsened Pakistan’s political turmoil just as the government confronts rising Islamic militancy.
The United States and other Western nations are pressuring him to end emergency rule if he hopes to repair his bruised credentials as a democrat and a reliable ally in the fight against international terrorism.
Attorney General Malik Mohammed Qayyum told The Associated Press that Musharraf would quickly fulfill his promise to quit his army post and be sworn in for a new five-year presidential term as a civilian.
“It may happen on Saturday. I know the president, and he will honor his commitment,” Qayyum said.
Meeting another key demand of domestic critics, Washington and the European Union, authorities said they have now freed most of the thousands of activists rounded up since Musharraf suspended the constitution and decreed emergency powers Nov. 3.
Law Minister Afzal Hayder announced on state television that the government had released 5,634 lawyers and political-party members.
He said 623 people remained in custody but that they would be let go soon.
Those freed included Imran Khan, a former cricket star who has become a firebrand in the opposition to Musharraf’s rule. Khan said he would continue a hunger strike begun in custody and boycott the election in hopes of forcing Musharraf to give up all power.
“Musharraf is staging a drama to deceive America and the West whom he scared that without him the nuclear bomb will get into extremist hands,” Khan told reporters.
Some people have voiced concerns that the crisis could undermine the security of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal, but the top U.S. military officer said this week that there were no signs of that.
Also freed was Javed Hashmi, acting president of the party of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Musharraf’s most dogged foe.
The party of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto welcomed the releases of jailed activists, but it alleged that thousands more of its supporters were in custody and said Musharraf could not be trusted.
Washington has been hoping for a rapprochement between Bhutto and Musharraf, who U.S. officials call a key ally in confronting the Taliban and al-Qaeda. Both Bhutto and Musharraf are calling for moderate political forces to reconcile and revitalize Pakistan’s campaign against Islamic militants who have gained strength in the restive tribal region along the border with Afghanistan.
Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte urged both of them to return to that agenda during his visit last weekend.
