Musharraf confident about his re-election before Oct 15

Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has said that he would be re-elected from the current assemblies at any cost before October 15, and that too in uniform.

Faisalabad, Aug 17 : Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has said that he would be re-elected from the current assemblies "at any cost" before October 15, and that too in uniform.

During a meeting with over 100 legislators of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (PML), from the Faisalabad and Sargoadha divisions, Musharraf said the presidential elections would be held between September 15 and October 15, and that his re-election would be endorsed by the new assemblies.

He was quoted by the Daily Times as saying that the legislators should prepare themselves for presidential elections first, and later for their own elections.

"The President told the parliamentarians that he is going to contest the election in uniform, and that it is fully according to the law and Constitution," Minister for Textile Industries Mushtaq Ali Cheema said, adding, "We assured full cooperation and support to him, and told we stand by him."

Musharraf admitted that he met former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in Abu Dhabi, but denied reaching any power-sharing deal with her, saying the PPP would be a rival to the ruling PML in the general elections.

"I have not concluded any deal with Ms Bhutto. It was just a meeting," Online News quoted Musharraf as saying.

According to PML sources, Musharraf said that Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif were not really interested in returning to Pakistan, as they had lost popular support over the last five years, and would fare miserably in the polls.

ANI