Zardari vows to fight, rules out mid-term elections in Pakistan - India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has rejected speculations about a mid-term poll in the country, saying the Pakistan People's Party (PPP)-led government will complete its term. Addressing a meeting of PPP legislators in Senate and National Assembly at the Presidency, which was also attended by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, Zardari said: "We will continue our forward march and complete the term, no mater what the provocation. Let there be no doubt or mistake about it, there will be no mid-term elections." Tussle between the executive and the judiciary in Pakistan has increased manifold following the Presidency's decision to elevate the Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief Justice as the Supreme Court judge rejecting while sidelining Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry's recommendations. He said the government would not be deterred by provocations and would fulfil its duty of serving the country. Zardari said both his party and the government respects the judiciary and "would not let it down." He stressed that the PPP would continue to follow the policy of reconciliation.