LAHORE, Aug 20: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Monday dismissed as speculative and untrue reports that the country was heading towards another martial law or a state of emergency.

“This is speculative. In my opinion there is no truth in such reports”, the prime minister said while talking to Dawn at the Governor’s House.

He was asked whether he shared the views being expressed by Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed and Sindh Chief Minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim that the country could face trouble, even martial law or emergency, in case President Musharraf was not re-elected.

His attention was also drawn to press reports about the possibility of another martial law.

Extremely cautious in the choice of words, the prime minister said : “Imposition of emergency is not being contemplated at the moment. This is an act which can be undertaken under the Constitution. But this is not being contemplated”.

About the possibility of another martial law, Mr Aziz said the report on the subject was “speculative, untrue”.

He said Gen Musharraf’s re-election for another term would be in the country’s interest as it would ensure the continuity of his policies. The president, he said, had improved Pakistan’s image at the international level and deserved another term in office.

Asked how would the presidential election be possible in case the opposition legislators resigned from the assemblies, the premier said it was a hypothetical question. He said the assemblies were about to complete their term.

When pointed out that this fact made it likelier that the opposition lawmakers would quit their seats for political mileage, Mr Aziz said: “It’s the prerogative of every member to decide (about his line of action)”.

Replying to a question, the prime minister said reservations expressed by some members of the ruling PML about the ‘contacts’ between the government and former prime minister Benazir Bhutto stood cleared after they were told about what was discussed by the two sides.

The ruling party members, he said, were told that the ‘contacts’ were aimed at making the election atmosphere more conducive, not setting up an election alliance between the PML and the PPP. “It’s in the national interest that various parties show a spirit of reconciliation”.

The prime minister said views were exchanged on various national issues, but made it clear that he would neither confirm nor deny a meeting between the president and the PPP chairperson.

Asked why the contacts were established by the president when the prime minister and the ruling PML chief were also there, Mr Aziz said all three were in contact with other parties both in parliament and outside.

“It’s a legal issue, and I think legal advisers will advise what’s tenable”, said the prime minister when asked if the PPP chairperson would now be allowed to return home.

When pointed out that the general perception was that the NAB was not properly pursuing the cases against the PPP chairperson, he said: “I think they are doing what is necessary, based on the situation of every case”.

About the possibility of the government withdrawing these cases, he said: “It’s a question of law”.

In response to a question whether the president had directed the ruling PML to make pre-election seat adjustments with the PPP, the prime minister said there was no such directive.

The PPP, he said, was an opposition party, and PML and its allies would contest the election from the same platform.

Questioned if the government would produce before the Supreme Court the agreement Mian Nawaz Sharif had reportedly signed before being banished to Saudi Arabia, the prime minister said the government was in touch with the third country involved in the matter and was working out modalities.

He said any decision on the issue would be taken in the light of the legal advice rendered by the Attorney General.

Asked what would Mr Sharif have to do to come back to Pakistan, the prime minister said both the exiled leaders were to take a decision in the light of the law.

“The law will take its own course”, replied Mr Aziz when asked what would the government do in case Mr Sharif came back immediately.

Questioned if the government would take any initiative to improve ties with the judiciary after the rejection of the presidential reference against the Chief Justice of Pakistan, he said the executive, the legislature and the judiciary were supposed to work with in their own domains in accordance with the Constitution.