LAHORE, Dec 11: President Pervez Musharraf said on Tuesday the participation of maximum parties would enhance the credibility of the general elections.

Speaking to the caretaker Punjab cabinet at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat here, he said as a result of elections, democracy would further be strengthened in the country.

Governor Khalid Maqbool and Chief Secretary Salman Siddique were present.

The president said the government was committed to ensuring continuity of the economic development by holding transparent, free and fair elections.

He directed the provincial government to maintain law and order and to make extensive arrangements to conduct polls in a free and fair atmosphere.

The president said police should particularly play an effective role in maintaining law and order, and redress complaints of people.

Caretaker Chief Minister Justice Ijaz Nisar (retired) said the provincial government had helped the Election Commission of Pakistan hold free and fair elections.

He said the government machinery had been fully mobilised to create an atmosphere conducive for voters to exercise their right of franchise in a free atmosphere. There were equal opportunities for all political parties to contest the general elections, he said.

Earlier, President Musharraf met the governor and the chief minister at the latter’s secretariat. Matters of national importance came under discussion during the meeting.