LAHORE: President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday directed party leadership to start the preparation for the next general elections in the country, DawnNews reported.

President Zardari was addressing a meeting over political situation of Punjab which attended by Governor Punjab Latif Khosa, Deputy Prime Minister Pevez Elahi, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira and other prominent leaders.

The president said that the party will not issue tickets to the parliamentarians who have shown poor performance.

Zardari said that he hoped that Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) will form its government in centre and Punjab with the help of allied parties.

Earlier on Thursday speaking with BBC Urdu, Zardari said the next elections will take place on the set time.

He said that the opposition parties will not get a chance to criticise as the government would ensure transparent elections.

He said that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will have complete autonomy and authority during the period. Adding that, the government will comply with the demands of the ECP.