President rejects rigging accusations; assures elections to be fair, transparent

President Pervez Musharraf rejecting the accusations of rigging in the upcoming elections as ‘baseless’ on Tuesday reiterated that the elections will be absolutely faistyle=”float: left; margin: 0px 10px 5px 0px”r and transparent.

“These elections of January 8 are going to be absolutely fair and transparent. That is my assurance”, he said while addressing a function held in connection with the birth anniversary of Quaid-e-Azam here at the Mazar-e-Quaid.

The President said any number of foreign observers will be welcomed to the country to watch and see these elections. “We would like to invite any number of foreign observers coming to Pakistan and watching and seeing these elections being held.”

Referring to the accusations of rigging in the upcoming elections, the President said, “there are certain quarters where threats are being given that these elections will be rigged.”

“There are threats by those who may be loosing (elections). Otherwise they have no right to criticize before an event and try to undermine the government that these elections will be rigged”, he added.

The President further stressed that any part winning the election will have the right to govern this country. “These elections will be fair and transparent, and whoever wins let’s govern this country.”

“We invite all observers to come, watch and see the holding of these elections,” he added.

The President rejected the threats of not accepting the election results - being given by some political parties - under the garb of rigging accusations and said those who will not accept the results will be confronting the government.

The President in his address spoke about the achievements made on the socio-economic and political fronts during the last eight years as well as his three-phased strategy to put the country on the path of true democracy.

He said sincere efforts have been made over the last eight years to take this country forward on the path of progress and prosperity according to the vision of Quaid-e-Azam.

“I make this pledge in front of the Quaid’s Mazar that we will continue to make headways with the vision of Quaid in the coming years as well,” the President stressed.