Islamabad: Pakistani national elections will take place before Feb. 15, President Pervez Musharraf said on Thursday, after Western allies and his political opponents had demanded polls be held on time.
Pakistan had been scheduled to hold elections by mid-January until the military ruler declared emergency rule on Saturday and suspended the constitution to the horror of the international community.
"We are looking at a date where we can dissolve all the assemblies simultaneously and hold the election simultaneously for the national assembly and four provincial assemblies," Musharraf told official media after chairing a meeting of the National Security Council.
"Having calculated all this, we must hold elections before 15th of February 2008," he added. "I have been saying for the last few months that elections will be held on schedule. There is no doubt in my mind that elections should be held on time as soon as possible."
"It was my commitment and I am fulfilling it," he said.
