ISLAMABAD, March 5: Whether it was mere slip of tongue or a calculated move, Federal Minister for Shipping Babar Khan Ghauri’s statement seeking one-year extension in the tenure of assemblies has caused a stir in the capital, with some opposition politicians terming it a pre-planned move to gauge the mood of the public.

Political observers described it as a highly significant statement, in view of the fact that the ground situation for the government was not conducive for general elections at least in the current year.

They said that the MQM minister’s statement was a trial balloon to find out how the people would react to such a move.

Earlier, some elements had run a news story in the press that the government was considering declaring emergency in the country to postpone general elections by one year.

PML President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Parvaiz Elahi have hinted on several occasions about the possibility of postponing the general elections by one year which they said was permissible under the Constitution.

However, leaders of PPP Parliamentarians said that this was a calculated government move to assess the public reaction. The MMA leadership backed the view of the PPP Parliamentarians.

However, Prime Minister Shuakat Aziz, at a Press briefing at the PM House on Monday, toned down the importance of statement and said: “When his (Babar’s) own party disowns the idea why should we bother about giving reaction.” He, however, did not go for an outright rejection of the move.

MQM’s Party’s Parliamentary leader Dr Farooq Sattar has termed Mr Ghauri’s remarks his personal opinion.

But Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, while giving his reaction to a TV channel on Monday, said: “Although there is nothing of the sort under consideration by the government right now, such an eventuality cannot be ruled out altogether in view of the possibility of a sudden jump in terrorist activities or the situation becoming vjolatile in the event of the US attacking Iran.

PML Secretary-General Mushahid Hussain, however, refused to comment, saying: “When the MQM leadership has itself disowned the statement of its minister why should we be dragged in the fray?”