KARACHI, Dec 25: President Pervez Musharraf has vowed to take the country forward on the path of progress and prosperity according to the vision of the Quaid-i-Azam.

Addressing a function in connection with the birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation here on Tuesday at his mausoleum, he said: “I make this pledge in front of the Quaid’s Mazar that we will continue to make headway with the vision of the Quaid in the coming years as well”.

The president said sincere efforts had been made over the past eight years in that direction. He spoke about “achievements made on the socio-economic and political fronts” as well as on a “three-phased strategy to put the country on the path of true democracy”.

Rejecting the accusations of rigging as ‘baseless’, he reiterated that the elections would be absolutely fair and transparent.

“These elections of Jan 8 are going to be absolutely fair and transparent. That is my assurance,” he said.The president said: “We would like to invite any number of foreign observers coming to Pakistan and watching and seeing these elections being held.”

He said: “There are certain quarters where threats are being given that these elections will be rigged. There are threats by those who may be losing (elections). Otherwise they have no right to criticise before an event and try to undermine the government that the elections will be rigged”. The president stressed these elections would be fair and transparent, and whoever wins let’s govern this country.—APP