Gilani dismisses Sharif call for snap polls

Islamabad, Aug 19: Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Friday dismissed opposition PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif's call for holding snap polls and said the next general elections will be held as scheduled in 2013.

Gilani expressed concern at former premier Sharif's statement and said all state institutions were working within the ambit of the constitution and following democratic norms and processes.

"Nawaz Sharif has been talking about elections since the Pakistan People's Party came to power," he told reporters on the sidelines of an official function.

The current federal and provincial governments had come to power through elections and after getting the votes of the people, he remarked.

Sharif had yesterday called for fresh parliamentary elections to be held immediately in Pakistan, saying this was the only option to solve the country's numerous problems. Fresh elections are the only solution to problems like lawlessness, power outages, price hike and unemployment, Sharif said.

Prime Minister Gilani could dissolve the National Assembly or lower house of parliament and announce fresh elections, he added.

PTI