WASHINGTON, Aug 25: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz is expected to represent Pakistan at the United Nations General Assembly this year instead of President Gen Pervez Musharraf who would be busy with his re-election campaign when the assembly begins early next month, diplomatic sources told Dawn.

The sources, however, said that Gen Musharraf is likely to visit the United States in October, soon after his re-election, for a farewell meeting with President George W. Bush who completes his second and last term early next year.

President Musharraf has been regularly attending the UN General Assembly since he assumed power in October 1999, but political observers in Washington say that it would be difficult for him to leave Islamabad in the middle of a re-election campaign.