Pakistan plans to hold national elections in May

Islamabad: Pakistan's information minister says the government plans to hold landmark national elections next May.

Qamar Zaman Kaira's comments on Tuesday were the first indication of a timing for the vote.

The election would be a milestone for Pakistan because it would represent the first time that a civilian government has completed a full five-year term.

Past governments have either been deposed in military coups or dismissed by presidents allied with the generals.