Pakistan's Election Commission on Monday issued the final list of five candidates for the October 6 presidential poll. The candidates include Pervez Musharraf, Mohammedmian Soomro, Wajihuddin Ahmed, Makhdoom Mohammad Amin Faheem, Faryal Talpur.
It was being speculated that the polls could be postponed following the assassination of Pakistan People's Party chief and former premier Benazir Bhutto on Thursday.
Addressing the caretaker Cabinet led by Prime Minister Mohammedmian Soomro at his camp office in Rawalpindi near Islamabad, Musharraf said the government's priority should be the holding of "free, fair and transparent elections and the peaceful transfer of power to the elected government."
The ceremony was attended by former Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, members of his Cabinet, National Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain, governors and provincial chief ministers, services chiefs, senators, federal secretaries, political leaders, diplomats and high civil and military officials.