Pakistan Police Clash With Lawyers

Police officers stand guard as lawyers protest in Multan, Pakistan on Monday, Nov. 5, 2007. Baton-wielding police fired tear gas and clashed with thousands of lawyers protesting President Gen. Pervez Musharraf's decision to impose emergency rule, as Western allies in the war on terror threatened to review aid to the troubled Muslim nation. (AP Photo/Khalid Tanveer) (AP)

Musharraf told ambassadors at his official residence that he was committed to completing Pakistan's transition to democracy.

"I am determined to remove my uniform once we correct these pillars _ the judiciary, the executive and the parliament," he was quoted by state-run Pakistan Television as saying.

"I can assure you there will be harmony ... confidence will come back into the government, into law enforcement agencies and Pakistan will start moving again on the same track as we were moving."

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz left open the possibility of a delay in parliamentary elections that had been expected in January.

"The next general elections will be held according to the schedule or a program that will be finalized after consultation with all the stakeholders," he said. On Sunday, Aziz said the polls could be delayed by up to a year.

Attorney General Malik Mohammed Qayyum gave contradicting statements on whether the elections would be held on schedule.

"Yes the elections will go ahead on time," he told The Associated Press. But then he conceded there was a small chance of a delay because some in the government wanted to put the vote off by a year.

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Associated Press writers Zarar Khan in Islamabad, Ashraf Khan in Karachi, Khalid Tanweer in Multan and Zia Khan in Lahore contributed to this report.