ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf returned from Saudi Arabia on Wednesday with the prospect he could be sworn is as civilian leader in days, having already freed thousands of detainees held under emergency rule.
While critical of his imposition of the emergency on November 3, Washington has given General Musharraf, a crucial ally against al Qaeda, space to put things right before a parliamentary election on January 8 that the opposition could boycott.
"He has said he's going to take off his uniform, he's said there would be elections. Today he released prisoners, and so far I have found him to be a man of his word," President George W. Bush told ABC News in an interview overnight.
On Tuesday, Pakistan announced it had released most of more than 5,000 detained lawyers, opposition and rights activists, and a remaining 2,000 would be freed soon.
Although Pakistan is racked with militancy, one of Musharraf's main aims in declaring the emergency was to purge the Supreme Court of judges who appeared set to annul his re-election by parliament last month.
The court, now packed with pro-government judges, is expected to strike down the last of six petitions on Thursday.
The president's spokesman suggested Musharraf could quit as army chief and become a civilian president this week, if the court acted quickly.
"The moment the notification is made, he will take oath as a civilian president," spokesman Rashid Qureshi said, adding that it could happen a day after the court's clearance.
FISHING FOR FRIENDS
Musharraf's visit to Saudi Arabia had sparked speculation he would either reach out to former prime minister Nawaz Sharif or seek to prolong his exile there.
