ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira said Wednesday that Supreme Court verdict in Asghar Khan case has proved that the government installed after the 1990 elections was illegitimate and its decisions need validation.

During a press briefing after the federal cabinet’s meeting in Islamabad, the minister said that in the past, mandates of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) were stolen, adding either direct martial laws or ‘indirect martial laws’ were imposed through alliances such as Islami Jamhoori Ittehad (IJI).

“There is a serious debate over the legitimacy of the then government and the issue should be resolved. There is a need to hold trial of people like Hameed Gul,” he said.

To a question he said that there was baseless propaganda about delay in the coming elections as there is a free media and independent judiciary which will never allow this.

The government and the parliament duly get the credit for completion of terms of the assemblies as well as a democratic transition of power will take place in the country, said Kaira. “By delaying the elections, all credit will become a discredit,” he observed.

Moreover, Kaira said that the interim set up will take over around March 18, 2013, after the incumbent government completes its five year term.

He added that general elections will be held no later than 40 days after the interim set up takes over, meaning elections will be held by May 10 next year.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf had renewed the government's pledge to hold free‚ fair and transparent elections in the country during the federal cabinet meeting earlier today.

Addressing the meeting‚ the premier said that election activity was prevailing in the country and it would be a milestone for the PPP government what it has achieved during its five year in office.