Islamabad/London : Opposition leaders targeted Pervez Musharraf alleging that Monday's elections in Pakistan will be rigged with PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari warning that the country will "break up" due to "massive violence" in such an eventuality but the President declared that polls will be "free, fair,transparent and peaceful."
PML leader Nawaz Sharif at a news conference in Lahore claimed that "it is more than clear that a massive rigging plan is in place and it has been implemented." This could plunge the country into chaos and lead to some sort of anarchy, he warned.
As Zardari, Sharif and Tehreek-e-Insaaf's Imran Khan alleged that Musharraf will resort to rigging of the polls to favour the ruling PML-Q, the President told international observers in Islamabad that "despite all rumours and insinuations these elections will be free, fair, transparent and peaceful."
Musharraf also said the government had taken several steps to address concerns of rigging voiced by the political parties, which has raised tensions in the poll bound country.
Zardari, who is PPP co-Chairman, in an interview to 'The Sunday Times' warned that his party will be forced to take to the streets that will lead to the break-up of the nation if the government tries to to carry out alleged plans to rig or disrupt polls.
"Up till now I've shown absolute patience. My wife (former Premier Benazir Bhutto) has been killed, yet I've calmed people down, stopped them protesting. I've called no strike. But I'm telling you, people are absolutely on the warpath. If the elections are rigged the situation will go out of my hands. We'll have no choice but to take to the streets," Zardari said.
Sharif told BBC that atmosphere is not conducive for free and fair elections since they are being stage-managed by Musharraf, who is "bent upon rigging." The ruling parties are"going to lose very badly. They are heavily reliant on his(Musharraf's) rigging plans."
Imran Khan said "these elections for him (Musharraf) are Heads I win Tails you lose. He wants to win the elections any way."
Chief Election Commissioner Qazi Muhammed Farooq in a statement broadcast on state Television said "strict action will be taken if anybody tries to rig or disrupt the election process."
Meanwhile, a PPP spokesman said the party will frame an "appropriate response" along with the PML-N if the rigging takes place.
"We are all set for the polls, even though the government has done all it could do to rig the polls," Farahtullah Babar said.
Warning the government to desist from "further rigging" on election day, he said the consequences of such a move would be bad for the country.