Islamabad, Nov 17: President Pervez Musharraf has informed US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte that emergency rule can only be lifted once the law and order situation in Pakistan improves, a presidential aide has said.

Negroponte held talks with Musharraf and key aides at President’s camp office in Rawalpindi.

The two leaders discussed the war on terror and ways to improve Pak-US cooperation.

"President made it clear to the visiting US envoy that the emergency can only be lifted once the situation regarding law and order improves, " said Musharraf’s aide.

"He told Negroponte that the emergency is meant to reinforce and strengthen the law enforcement apparatus in the fight against militancy and extremism, " the aide added.

Musharraf told the US official that the emergency would not affect the Pak-US relations and cooperation in the war on terror.

The quoted Musharraf as saying that free and fair election will be held in the first week of January.

Negroponte demanded immediate release of political workers and activists of the civil society arrested after emergency clampdown, The News reported.

He also urged that political parties should be taken into confidence over the elections.

Negroponte also called on Vice Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervez Kyani. (ANI)