Elections to be held on time, says Premier
Summons NA session on Wednesday
By Asghar Ali Mubarak

ISLAMABAD—Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Monday said under the third phase of the political process in the country, general elections will be held according to the schedule.
Addressing a news conference at the PM Secretariat he categorically stated that there will be no hurdle in the third phase of the political process. “Elections will be held according to schedule as we want democracy to flourish in Pakistan,” Aziz said.
He said before the elections, there is a need to conclude some court cases including the one pertaining to the President, after which the election activity will get momentum.
The Prime Minister said the National Assembly session has been called for Wednesday at 5 pm and resolutions will be passed on the current situation in the country. He said the cabinet in its meeting on Wednesday will discuss the emergency and the presidential elections.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has summoned National Assembly (NA) on Wednesday evening to discuss the political situation of the country. He was talking to a few select journalists of APP, PTV and others following the boycott by the journalists of stone laying ceremony of Baba Farid bridge in prime minister secretariat.
Prime Minister has also convened cabinet meeting today. Resolutions on post emergency situation, presidential elections and other important matters will be adopted in the meeting. He told the general elections would be held as per schedule. Efforts are underway that election schedule is not disrupted and consultation process is in progress in this connection. It will yield positive result.
He held government had no intent to slap any restriction or censorship on media. However media should demonstrate responsibility in this respect. He informed appointments of new judges of Supreme Court would be made in consultation with the chief justice of Pakistan Abdul Hamid Dogar. New judges of supreme and high courts have started performing their responsibilities.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Monday said Pakistan is a peaceful country but believes in maintaining minimum credible defence to ensure peace and stability in the region. “Strong and credible defence is the ultimate guarantee to peace,” the Prime Minister said while chairing a meeting of Defence Committee of the Cabinet at PM House.
The Prime Minister said Pakistan does not have aggressive designs against any country and believes in the peaceful settlement of international disputes through diplomatic efforts.
He said Pakistan’s defence policy is based on peaceful coexistence and is in conformity with the prevailing geo-strategic environment and the national aspirations.
The Prime Minister said the government was fully cognizant of the country’s defence needs and would make necessary resources available to modernize and upgrade its defence forces in view of the fast paced ongoing technological developments.
The Prime Minister lauded the role of the armed forces during the recent floods in various parts of the country and also for their role in facilitating the rehabilitation and reconstruction process in the earthquake affected areas. The Committee reviewed the progress on the decisions of the last meeting held on November 27 last year and expressed satisfaction over the results.
The meeting was attended among others by Senior Minister for Defence Rao Sikandar Iqbal, Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri, Minister for Defence Production Maj (Retd) Habibullah Warraich, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Muhammad Ali Durrani, Advisor on Finance Dr. Salman Shah, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Tariq Majeed, Vice Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Afzal Tahir, Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Mehmood Ahmad and other senior officials.