The Pakistan government on Monday said that the general election will be held according to schedule, apparently bowing to international pressure for a quick transition to civilian democracy.
"Elections will be held according to schedule as we want democracy to flourish in Pakistan," Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said at a news conference at his secretariat. The polls were originally scheduled to be held in January.
Aziz did not give details about the election schedule or set a date for the polls.
However, highly placed sources said that the polls could be held on January 8. The national and provincial assemblies would be dissolved on the completion of their tenure on November 15 and the elections held within 60 days, the sources said.
Aziz also said that there would be "no hurdle in the third phase of the political process".
He was referring to the three-phased plan outlined by President Pervez Musharraf after the imposition of emergency on Saturday for the transition to civilian democracy.
The first phase, during 1999-2002, was when Musharraf was in direct control of governance. The second phase between 2002 and 2007 had Musharraf overseeing a civilian government. The third phase would conclude with the general elections, the military ruler had said.
Aziz, however, said that there is a "need to conclude some court cases, including the one pertaining to the president, before the election. The election activity will gain momentum after that."
He said a session of the National Assembly has been called at 5 pm on Wednesday at which "resolutions will be passed on the current situation in the country".
Aziz said the cabinet will also meet on Wednesday to discuss the emergency and the presidential election.
The prime minister's comments came even as the world community mounted pressure on Musharraf and his military regime to withdraw the emergency and the suspension of fundamental rights, including the freedom of the press