He issued these remarks while talking to a delegation of Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) which was led by Convenor Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui. Zardari claimed that polling would take place only when it is scheduled to do so, and that the incumbent government intends to complete its full term.
He also asked the delegation to refrain from issuing statements on early polls for now.
During the meeting, which took place at Bilawal House, the two sides discussed the ongoing political situation, and especially talked about the bilateral agreement signed between the MQM-P and the PPP days before the vote of no confidence against Khan.
The meeting also included discussions about amendments to the local bodies system of Karachi, and agreed to resolve the issues through dialogue in the near future.
Zardari has been quoted by sources as telling MQM-P that they should not give statements for early elections, allegedly saying, “The elections will be on time. We have burned the boats, why would anyone back down now."
“The current economic situation of the country is bad, first it has to be fixed,” Zardari said.
The MQM-P complained that PPP was not progressing on the bilateral agreements, at which Zardari assured them that Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah would sit with them and progress would be made.