Presidential elections in Pakistan to re-elect Pervez Musharraf to the post for the second consecutive term will be held by existing assemblies between September 15 and October 15.
"My re-election will be held from September 15 to October 15 by the sitting assemblies and there should be no two opinions," President Musharraf was quoted as saying at a meeting of leaders and parliamentarians of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Q and allies convened in Islamabad on Tuesday by him to evolve a strategy to stem the crisis sparked off by Chief Justice Iftikar M Chaudhry's suspension.
About 150 lawmakers of PML-Q, Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Pakistan People's Party (Sherpao) and the PML-F besides Prime Minister Shauakat Aziz attended the meeting.
Musharraf, who appeared defiant in the face of criticism over the crisis and violence in Karachi, also asked coalition members in unequivocal terms to prepare for the next general election without bothering about the current situation.
During the meeting, Musharraf brushed aside a query by PML-Q lawmaker M P Bhandara on whether the uniform issue could be hurdle in the Presidential polls as former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has made it clear that she would not support Musharraf's re-election if he continued as Army chief.
He ruled out the possibility of a deal with the exiled leadership, saying 'we have contacts with all political forces but he will not ditch the PML by striking a deal with any party,' according to media reports in Islamabad.