President General Pervez Musharraf on Thursday amended the Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO) to allow himself power to revoke the proclamation of emergency. The state of emergency had been imposed in the country by the chief of army staff, and under the Constitution, it could only be revoked by the chief of army staff.
Source: Daily Times

Soomro takes oath as interim PM today
Senate Chairman Muhammadmian Soomro will take oath as caretaker prime minister (PM) today (Friday). President General Pervez Musharraf will administer the oath under the interim Constitutional order, which will be followed by oaths from the interim cabinet, which stands at around 12 to 15 people.
Source: Daily Times

More than 500 militants operating in NWFP: DG ISPR 
 There are 500 to 700 militants operating in small groups in different troubled areas of the NWF. Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Waheed Arshad told a private television channel on Thursday, while commenting on the present situation in Swat. He said the militant groups do not have a broad-based support of locals therefore they terrify peace-loving civilians to cooperate with them. He asserted that the militants were being supported and funded from outside the area. There are also reports regarding presence of some foreign elements, he said
Source: The News International

Troops strike back in Swat

Troops killed 20 militants on Thursday after launching a counter-offensive against pro-Taliban militants in Swat Valley, the army said.The fighting in the troubled valley came a day after the army said that 33 militants were killed when gunship helicopters and artillery pounded insurgent hideouts. On Thursday, troops killed 12 militants while clearing rebel trenches and checkposts from a road, chief military spokesman Major General Waheed Arshad said.
Source: Daily Times