Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf [Images] has asserted that holding free and fair polls in the country will be his top priority.

In his first interaction with the ruling alliance on Sunday after the proclamation of the emergency, Gen Musharraf made it clear that there would be no change in the election schedule.

The News quoted highly placed sources as saying that a final decision in this regard will be taken within a week.

The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, PML president Chaudhary Shujaat Hussain and other senior leaders.

It was resolved that the state of emergency would not be prolonged. The ruling alliance is reportedly divided over the schedule of the general polls and for that reason no decision could be finalised in the meeting, the paper reported.

While a group favoured extending the tenure of the present assemblies by at least six months, the other group was of the view that the elections must be held without any delay and the announced schedule should be adhered to.

Sources said President Musharraf was in favour of holding early elections, but a splinter group of the ruling Muslim League did not support the idea.

The high-level meeting also discussed the implications of the laws promulgated by the government on Saturday to control and regulate the media. It was decided that the outcome of the contacts between the government and the media bosses would be carefully studied once it is over.

The meeting also reviewed the law and order situation in the country.