Pakistan parliament completes full term PAKISTAN'S current parliament has made national history by becoming the first to complete a full term in office, dissolving in a low-key session that paves the way for elections. The nuclear-armed country of 180 million, where Taliban attacks and record levels of violence directed against the Shi'ite Muslim minority has raised fears about security for the polls, is due to elect new leaders by mid-May. "The session that started on February 18, 2013 has prorogued on completion of its business," said Yasmeen Rehman, MP for the main ruling Pakistan People's Party, reading out a letter from President Asif Ali Zardari. Rehman stood in for the national assembly Speaker, who was not present. Very few MPs turned out on Thursday for what was the last session of Pakistan's 13th national assembly, consisting mostly of farewell speeches. "I pray that Allah gives us success and that democracy should continue and the next parliament should also complete its term," Rehman said. Zardari has yet to announce a date for the election. Politicians are still negotiating the make-up of a caretaker administration, which is set to replace the government within days, for the duration of the election campaign. A senior official told AFP on Thursday the Election Commission had recommended polling on May 8, 9 or 10, and was fully prepared for whichever date Zardari would announce. The dissolution of the national assembly is a milestone in Pakistan, where the military has seized power three times in coups and ruled for around half the country's existence. Analysts attribute the success to Zardari's wheeler-dealer ability to keep the coalition intact, the army chief of staff's determination to keep out of politics and the opposition's unwillingness to force early elections.