KARACHI: A meeting of the senior leadership of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Wednesday made it clear that elections will be held on time as stipulated in the Constitution and no delay, even for a day, will be permitted on any pretext.

The meeting, held at Bilawal House, was presided over by President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf and was attended by all prominent leaders of the party including Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and former Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.

Spokesperson for the president Senator Farhatullah Babar said the meeting, which lasted for more than two hours, discussed the current political situation prevailing in the country.

Observing that ‘some elements’ were seeking to disrupt the electoral system and postpone the upcoming elections in the country, the meeting reiterated the commitment of the government and the PPP to thwart any attempt to derail the democratic process.

The meeting noted that if elections can be held in war-torn Afghanistan and Iraq, then there was no reason that these could not be held here on time.

The meeting also decided to set up a four-member committee to talk with the political forces and also with the provincial government of Punjab on current situation with a view of holding timely elections in a transparent, free and fair manner and to confront any challenge to it.

It said that no one will be permitted to deprive the people of their right to elect their representatives and choose their government.

The four-member committee comprises of Federal Minister Khursheed Shah, Senator Farooq Naek, Nazar Muhammad Gondal and Senator Mian Raza Rabbani.

The presidential spokesman further said the meeting also expressed its determination to maintain law and order at all cost and to protect lives and property of the citizens against any ‘adventurism’ and under all circumstances.