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Musharraf warns against pre-judging results or violence during polls

By admin | February 14, 2008

President Pervez Musharraf Thursday, ensuring free, fair, transparent and peaceful elections on time, warned against pre-judging the election results, raising undue hopes and resorting to violence during or after the polls. Speaking here at a seminar arranged by the Information Ministry to create awareness among the people about the election, the President said the February 18 election was vitally important for Pakistan as its future depended on it.

He said it was critical that the media, political parties, their workers and the foreign organizations understand their responsibility and play their due role.

“Do not incite trouble in Pakistan, by pre-judging election results, by creating hopes and expectations, that may be unrealistic … Let [the] results speak for themselves.”

President Musharraf said Pakistan was not only critical for the region, but also for the world.

“I would like to say it to all these foreign organisations; specially those conducting surveys; don’t disturb the peace of this country, don’t disturb the peace of this region. You are playing with the peace of the world.”

He said it was vital to understand that this region was critical for the world. “Those, who do not understand, will eventually realise it,” he added.

The President said the election will be on time. “This is my pledge to the nation,” he said and added “I assure you elections will be fair, free and transparent.

“The world is watching us; our national prestige is at stake; peace and harmony is at stake; our future is at stake,” President Musharraf said.

He, however pointed that “it was equally important that the elections are also seen to be fair, free and transparent, and peaceful”. “The entire world is watching us,” he said.

“In this situation of extremism and terrorism, no agitation, anarchy or chaos can be acceptable.”

He said to ensure the peaceful conduct of elections, the government and the Election Commission will use civil armed forces, with the backup from the armed forces.

President Musharraf said the role of media and international organizations was vital, wherein they must not create an environment where an aspersion is cast that the February 18 elections are rigged or the elections are a fraud.

He said some talk-shows were raising hopes for some candidates for the forthcoming polls.

“There should be no exaggerated expectations”, he said and pointed to the claims being made by party representatives of obtaining 80 per cent seats.

He said certain parties were working on dual channels of going on with the election campaign, while others are preparing dossiers that if they lose, they will come up with allegations of rigging.

However, the President warned that “let there be no doubt that anyone will resort to lawlessness in the garb of allegations about rigging in the elections.

“Let this serve as a warning to all those who think they can disturb the peace of the country. They will not be allowed. Do not test the resolve of the government,” President Musharraf warned

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