Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf [Images], who quit as the army chief on Wednesday, is expected to end the emergency he imposed earlier this month "within the next 48 hours".

Musharraf will make "major political announcements", including the lifting of the emergency and freeing of detained persons, while addressing the nation after being sworn in as a civilian ruler for a second presidential term on Thursday, Dawn News channel reported.

Besides the withdrawal of the emergency "within the next 48 hours", all journalists, lawyers and rights activists detained under emergency regulations would be freed soon, the channel quoted sources as saying.

Musharraf imposed emergency on November 3, citing interference by the superior judiciary in the affairs of the government and an upsurge in militancy and extremism.

The military ruler doffed his uniform after the Supreme Court comprising hand-picked judges validated his victory in the October 6 presidential election.

He will be sworn in for a five-year term by Supreme Court Chief Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar on Thursday.