In contradictory signals, Pakistan's top government lawyer on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that the general elections would be held as per schedule while the President's Constitutional Adviser ruled out such a possibility.
Attorney General Malik Qayyum also told the apex court, "There is no martial law in the country and the army has not taken over the affairs of the government".
Civilian governments were functioning at the Centre and in the provinces, he said.
However, this contradicts comments by Sharifuddin Pirzada, President Pervez Musharraf's Constitutional Adviser, who told The News daily that there would be no general elections for at least one year. He added that the emergency imposed by Musharraf on Saturday would soon be lifted.
"The emergency imposed by the Army chief would soon be revoked. But the Prime Minister and the Parliament would get one-year extension in their terms," Pirzada was quoted as saying.
Qayyum, however, told the Supreme Court that the elections would be held as per schedule by mid-January after the national and provincial assemblies complete their tenures on November 15.
His remarks came as the full Supreme Court presided over by Chief Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar set aside an order passed by sacked judges on Saturday to annul the emergency rule.
Also see: All about the Pakistan emergency
More from rediff