Pakistan plans to hold national elections in May

ISLAMABAD (AP) - Pakistan plans to hold landmark national elections in May, the country's information minister said on Tuesday.

The vote would mark the first time a civilian government completed a full five-year term in the country and transferred power through the ballot box.

Previous governments have either been deposed in army coups or dismissed by presidents allied with the generals. That history has led to fervent speculation in the past few years about whether the government would make it to the finish line this time around.

Despite repeated predictions that the government would be forced to call early elections because of political pressure, it now appears the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party will serve out its full term, which expires in March.