Pakistan is to hold elections by February 15th, Gen Pervez Musharraf announced today.
The president has been under pressure from the United States, Britain and other Western powers to go ahead with elections in the new year and scrap emergency rule that was introduced last weekend.
They also urged Gen Musharraf to go ahead with plans to step down as head of the army.
The White House lauded the announcement today. "We think it is a good thing that President Musharraf has clarified the election date for the Pakistani people," the White House spokeswoman said. Mr Bush spoke with Gen Musharraf yesterday.
Pakistan had been scheduled to hold elections by mid-January until Gen Musharraf imposed emergency powers last Saturday and suspended the constitution.
Gen Musharraf said today that a decision about resigning as army chief depended on a pending ruling in Pakistan's Supreme Court. The ruling is on whether he had been eligible to stand for re-election last month while still in uniform
"We are looking at a date where we can dissolve all the assemblies simultaneously and hold the election simultaneously for the national assembly and for provincial assemblies," Gen Musharraf said.
"Having calculated all this, we must hold elections before the 15th of February, 2008," he added. "I have been saying for the last few months that elections will be held on schedule. . . . It was my commitment and I am fulfilling it."
The United States had hoped former prime minister Benazir Bhutto would end up sharing power with Gen Musharraf after the elections, but the imposition of the emergency left US policy toward Pakistan in disarray.
Washington regards Gen Musharraf as a valued asset in the fight against al-Qaeda and the Taliban.
Ms Bhutto's party said today that police had arrested thousands of its activists overnight as a crackdown on Gen Musharraf's opponents deepened. Police had already detained hundreds of lawyers and other opposition figures and supporters since Saturday.