'Pak's presidential polls around Sept 15'

ISLAMABAD: The presidential polls in Pakistan would be held in mid-September instead of October, the country's top lawyer has said.

"The presidential elections would take place around September 15 and would not be delayed till the month of October," Attorney General Malik M. Qayyum told a private TV channel.

Announcement of the schedule of the presidential polls -- to be held before the general elections slated for later this year -- would be announced ten days before the polling day in mid-September, he said.

Qayyum's statement came in the wake of media reports that President Pervez Musharraf has been facing mounting political pressure over his plans to seek re-election in uniform, particularly after the recent Supreme Court verdict.

Considering petitions filed by deposed Premier Nawaz Sharif and his brother Shahbaz, the Supreme Court had ruled on Thursday that they were free to return to the Islamic nation after seven years in 'forced' exile.

Sharif has also vowed to return to the Islamic nation to take part in the general elections -- a move, which according to political observers could affect Musharraf's re-election plan from the present assemblies.

Even former self-exiled Prime Minister, who had reportedly entered into a political deal with Musharraf recently, has been opposing the military ruler's plans to seek re-election in uniform.

The Attorney General, however, denied that it was his idea to prepone the presidential polls.