Tuesday, May 9 2006 16:48 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: Rejecting speculation of snap polls this year, President Pervez Musharraf has said the schedule for general elections will be announced on completion of the tenure of present national and provincial assemblies due to end in November next year.

Musharraf, who has been meeting a number of ruling party politicians in recent weeks as part of his efforts to revitalise the alliance led by ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q), told a group of legislators yesterday that that assemblies would complete their term.

The chapter of dissolving assemblies ahead of their completion of term is closed and the present National and four Provincial Assemblies faced no threat.

"No snap elections will be held. Government and assemblies will complete their tenure in November 2007. Election schedule will also be announced in that month," he was quoted as saying in the media.

Musharraf directed the legislators and chiefs of local bodies to work out a strategy to improve the performance in elections. He also asked them to accelerate the pace of development projects.

Significantly, during his meeting with the legislators mostly from the ruling alliance, Musharraf, who plans to continue as Chief of Army, has been vocal in extending his support to the present set of PML-Q politicians headed by the party President Choudhary Shujaat Hussain.