TAXILA, April 7: President Pervez Musharraf said on Saturday that the present assemblies would not be dissolved. "Some people do not want the democratic system to function. They want me to dissolve the assemblies, but these will not be dissolved," the president said while addressing a public gathering at the Heavy Mechanical Complex (HMC) Colony in Taxila.

He said the elections would be held and representatives of the present government would return successfully.

President Musharraf said that with the introduction of the local government system and empowerment of women and minorities through joint electorate system, true democracy had been established in the country.

“It is for the first time that the national and provincial assemblies, Senate and local bodies will complete their term,” he added.

About the reference against Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, the president said it was a right step and taken on the basis of certain reasons. He pointed out that since it was a judicial and constitutional matter, the government would accept the decision of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC).

The president asked the people not to be misled by those elements which were politicising the judicial issue and said the lawyers’ community should have trust in the judicial system. The president appealed to the people not to support the agitating elements and let the SJC do its job.

President Musharraf said there was no threat to Islam in Pakistan because the majority of people were Muslims and the rights of minorities were being fully protected.