ISLAMABAD, Aug 1: The federal cabinet on Wednesday endorsed President General Pervez Musharraf’s recent contacts with PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto and extended full support to the president for his re-election for the present assemblies.

The presidential election is likely to be held between Sept 15 and Oct 15.

The cabinet meeting, presided over by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, was briefed on President Musharraf’s recent visit to the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

It was informed that no immediate change in the present government set-up was expected as a result of the political contacts and that elections would be held on time and in accordance with the constitutional requirements.

Talking to reporters after the cabinet meeting, Information Minister Mohammad Ali Durrani said the contacts were aimed at providing an atmosphere conducive to free and fair elections acceptable to all parties.

In reply to a question about the possibility of imposition emergency and amendments to the Constitution as a result of the recent government-PPP contacts, he said: “There is no need for amendments and there is no suggestion under consideration to impose emergency in the country.”

Regarding the recent defections from the ruling PML to the PPP, the minister said: “It is a routine that some people not expecting party tickets extract conclusions before the elections and make such hasty decisions.”

About the Senate foreign relations committee’s resolution asking the government to withdraw its support from the US-led war on terror, the minister said the prime minister had discussed the matter in the cabinet and made it clear that no country would be allowed to interference in Pakistan’s internal affairs and the country was capable of defending its borders against all threats.

Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri briefed the cabinet on various aspects of a law passed by the US Congress to impose regulatory curbs on Pakistan’s assistance and subsequent steps taken by the government in this regard.

Mr Durrani denied reports that PPP chairperson Benazir’s bank accounts had been frozen. “There is no truth about these reports,” he said.

The minister said the opposition was expected to respond positively to the government’s proposal for holding an All Parties Conference to move the political process ahead.

The cabinet approved the new building code, particularly for the quake-hit areas and directed the ministry of housing and Nespak to jointly launch an awareness campaign about the new code.

The cabinet was informed that both the prime minister and the president respected and supported the independence of the judiciary and would continue to do so in the interest of democratic, stable and progressive Pakistan.