No deal with any political party: Musharraf

He said the Pak Govt was also considering to debar any politician presently living abroad to come and contest the elections.

Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf has categorically refuted suggestions that the government was "contemplating" any deal or seat adjustments with any political party.

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He said the government was also considering not allowing any politician presently living abroad to come and contest the elections in the country.

"The government is also not considering to allow any politician currently living abroad to enter the country," the Daily Times quoted Musharraf as saying at a dinner hosted by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.

He said the government was committed to fulfilling its pledge of holding free, fair and impartial elections in the country, and all political parties would be free to contest them.

The elections would be held on schedule, he added.

He said the PML and its allies would contest the upcoming general elections as coalition partners, adding the party should participate in the polls on the basis of their "impressive performance".

"The PML and its allies could take pride for bringing political maturity and economic stability in the country.

Parliament was poised to complete its tenure, and this would benefit Pakistan in its quest for democracy," he said.

"It is a matter of great satisfaction that all essential attributes of democracy have taken root in the political system, and this is fully reflected on a daily basis in our free and flourishing media.

Pakistan's economy and per capita income had doubled over the last seven years.

"More legislation would be introduced in parliament for the protection of women's rights.

The government wanted to remove all man-made laws and social practices that discriminated against women," he added.