Musharraf pledges upcoming elections will be free and fair

Islamabad: President Pervez Musharraf pledged Thursday that next week's elections would be free, air and held on time, after political opponents accused him of planning to rig the vote so he could maintain his grip on power.

He vowed to deal sternly with anyone who tried to disruptthe electoral process.

"Despite all rumors, insinuations and every type of apprehension, these elections will be free, fair,transparent and peaceful," Musharraf told a gathering of intellectuals in Islamabad.

Ex-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, a leading opposition politician, was among those who accused Musharraf of planning to rig the election.

"We stand for democracy. He stands for dictatorship," Sharif said "In order to survive he has to rig the election. He knows that," Sharif added