Islamabad, Jan 6 (IANS) The ruling Pakistan Peoples Party leadership has decided to hold the Senate elections in mid-February, the Dawn quoted a senior party member as saying.

The decision came amid speculations that the coalition government might be wrapped up or face a “big blow” before Senate elections scheduled for March 11, the Dawn said.

It said the decision was taken at a meeting of the PPP’s core committee, jointly presided over by President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani at the Presidency.

The Senate elections are held every three years on the retirement of 50 percent of its members. The term of a senator, however, is six years.

Last elections were held March 3, 2009.

The PPP leadership also decided to hold by-elections to seats recently vacated by legislators who had joined the Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf.

“The meeting decided to hold by-elections to all vacant seats and complete legal formalities for the purpose at the earliest,” said the president’s spokesman, Farhatullah Babar.