TV anchors, political pundits, leading journalists and opposition politicians have started dishing out dates.
Some say it will be Oct. 15, while others are a bit more optimistic and say it will be between November and January.
"Unfortunately, bets are being placed on future of the government," Interior Minister Rehman Malik told reporters outside Parliament on Thursday.
Former Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif termed the Army chief's meeting both with President Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani a "mere photo op."
Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira also responded to the speculation by saying the current democratic government was not under any threat and it would continue to strengthen the political system.
The federal minister termed the recent speculation of a regime change as "conspiracies by the followers of dictatorship who can never tolerate the democratic system."
He said that such elements exist among in all segments of society with designs to benefit from dictators and they cannot survive in a democracy.
