ISLAMABAD, Dec 21: President Pervez Musharraf on Thursday warned the ruling Pakistan Muslim League that it would be difficult for it to win next year’s general election without unity in its ranks.

“The 2007 general elections will be a deciding factor for the future of the country and the PML must forge complete unity for winning this election so as to ensure sustained socio-economic development across Pakistan," he said while addressing the concluding session of the four-day international conference of All India Muslim League, held in connection with the party’s centenary celebrations.

The president urged the leadership of the party to rise above ‘personal ego and self-interest’ to succeed in the elections, saying that unity would be the key element. “If you are not united then I am afraid you would not succeed,” the president said, adding that the obscurant and backward forces must be defeated in the polls.

“These elements continued to remain active throughout the Pakistan movement and are again out to disrupt the process of progress and prosperity in the country,” he said, stressing that the forces of backwardness must be defeated for the country’s continued march on the path of socio-economic development and for attaining rightful place in the comity of nations. “Retrogressive elements are acting as obstacle to Pakistan’s growth, its progress and prosperity.” These elements, he said, were against enlightenment, progress and harmony in the country.

The president said the struggle for an independent homeland led by an enlightened, progressive and moderate leadership had given the Muslims a free country.

President Musharraf said the struggle for independence had been opposed by the obscurantist and retrogressive elements but they were defeated by the leadership of the Muslim League.

He said the same extremist forces were maligning today the name of Islam, which stood for peace, tolerance and harmony. He said such forces had failed in the past and they would fail again.

The president said the government had addressed issues of vital national interest displaying boldness and courage.