Pakistani presidential elections to be held on time

Rejecting the Pakistani government's plea to postpone the presidential election to a post-Eid Al-Fitr date, the Elections National Commission confirmed anew that the presidential elections will be held as per schedule, falling on August 6, 2013. Ishtiaq Ahmed, the commission's undersecretary, said preparations are underway to hold the presidential elections through ballots in which national assembly’s and regional councils' representatives will take part. He said the elections will be held on time without change. President Asif Ali Zardari's term of office comes to an end on September 8 but the Pakistani constitution entitles the Election's Commission to hold presidential elections at least one month before the president's termination of office.