Mush accepts election verdict | Options before him | Poll Diary

Islamabad: President Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday hinted at his readiness to accept the political change in Pakistan, saying the "winners of the general elections will form the future government."

Musharraf insisted that the elections were free and fair and there was no rigging. He urged all candidates to accept the results gracefully, saying it is important for the nation to focus on reconciliation to take on the challenges confronting it.

"Instead of crying foul, we should all show magnanimity," he said during a programme on state-run TV. All parties "must accept the results gracefully," he said.

In the face of challenges like extremism and terrorism confronting the country, it is important for Pakistan to stand united and exhibit reconciliation instead of confrontation. "The election is the voice of the nation and we all, including myself, should accept these results," he said.

Musharraf said there is a need for political reconciliation to ensure a secure and stable democracy in the country. Replying to a question about his comments on opinion polls, Musharraf said such surveys are good, but they do not necessarily reflect the views of the masses.

He lauded the law-enforcement agencies, the Election Commission and other authorities for providing effective security to ensure that the elections were free, fair, transparent and peaceful. Pakistan has been in the global focus and media representatives and international observers from across the world are in Pakistan to monitor the election process.

"Keeping these factors in view, we can say that these elections are the most important elections in the history of Pakistan," he said.

Pakistan Chief Election Commissioner Qazi Muhammad Farooq announced the first official results of two National Assembly and one provincial assembly seats. Shaukatullah and Syed Akhuzada Chitan, both independent candidates from the northwestern tribal regions, were elected to the National Assembly.

Pakistan People's Party candidate Shafiq Ahmed Khan was elected to the provincial assembly of Balochistan from a seat in Quetta, Farooq told a news conference. Farooq said the Election Commission had fulfilled its responsibility of holding free and fair elections in a peaceful atmosphere. He said the elections were relatively calm and there were no major incidents.