Pakistan rules out early elections

PAKISTAN: Pakistan’s government Thursday ruled out holding early elections amid growing speculation that a crisis over President Pervez Musharraf’s ouster of the chief justice could force snap polls.

Information Minister Mohammad Ali Durrani said the country’s federal and provincial assemblies would see out their full five-year term, which is due to end in November, and that elections would then be held.

“The elections will be held on schedule and there is no possibility of any snap polls,” Durrani told AFP. “The assemblies will complete their tenure.”

The minister’s statement indicates that military ruler Musharraf, who seized power in a bloodless coup in 1999, is set continue with his original plan to seek reelection as president-in-uniform by the current assemblies.

Officials have said this is likely to happen in September.

Islamabad, Friday, AFP