ISLAMABAD, Aug 3: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Friday took strong exception to statements from US officials and presidential candidates threatening military action against Pakistan and Islam’s holiest places in their war on terror.

“These statements are totally unacceptable. Pakistan is a sovereign country. We will not allow any country to launch strikes inside our territories. We will defend our sovereignty and security at any cost,” the prime minister said while talking to reporters after inaugurating the construction of a new secretariat block in Islamabad.

“These statements are part of the (presidential) election campaign in the US,” the PM said.

In reply to a question regarding the formation of an interim government to hold elections, Mr Aziz said there was enough time for the existing assemblies to continue functioning. “It is not the time to form a caretaker government,” he said.

About the president’s election, he said according to the Constitution, polls for the president would be in between Sept 15 and Oct 15. “Gen Musharraf is our candidate and he will be elected by the present assemblies.”

He said the present allies, including the PML, PPP-Sherpao and MQM, would contest elections from the same platform.