In an interview with The Associated Press, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz projected an air of confidence for the government and Musharraf's leadership, playing down signs of a spread in Islamic extremism in the country and predicting parliament would finish its full five-year term for the first time in the country's history.

Aziz said Pakistan's economy has grown and the country now has record reserves of $15 billion.

"The whole nation hopes, and I'm sure President Musharraf wants, to stand for re-election. We are very sure he will contest and he will be elected for another term," said Aziz, seated in a state reception room in his official residence overlooking the capital.

Both Musharraf's and Aziz's political futures have been thrown into question by the outpouring of opposition to the March 9 suspension of Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry, which has provoked deadly unrest and accusations of authoritarian rule by the military leader.

Last week the government announced rules to contain an increasingly critical independent media coverage, but withdrew the proposal over the weekend after scathing domestic and international reaction. In the interview, Aziz went out of his way to defend the government record in tolerating criticism.

"We believe in freedom of the press. The government is very much at peace with itself, so if people criticize us we welcome it as long as there is a code of conduct and norms of fair reporting are followed," he said. He added that the institution of the army should be spared unfair attacks.