(Lead)
By Muhammad Najeeb
Islamabad, Feb 18 (IANS) Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf vowed Monday to work in harmony with the new government elected after the polls. “I will work in total harmony with the new government,” Musharraf said after casting his ballot along with family members including his mother.

“Whosoever wins the polls, I’ll have no problem in working with them,” Musharraf, dressed in a light blue jacket and open-necked shirt, told state television.

“Confrontational politics is damaging Pakistan. We should engage in conciliatory politics, which will be good for the country. I will cooperate,” he added.

Musharraf said that those who were saying that elections would not take place on Feb 18 should “be ashamed of themselves.”

Meanwhile Musharraf’s spokesman contradicted Monday media reports quoting him as saying that the party backed by him - Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid - will win the polls.

“President never said that PML-Q will win the Monday’s elections,” president’s spokesman Rashid Qureshi said on GEO television. “He called our channel and contradicted the media reports,” the television channel said.

On Sunday Musharraf was quoted by London’s Independent daily as saying that PML-Q and its allied parties would win the polls. The interview was conducted by Jemima Khan, former wife of cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan.

Opposition leaders have vowed protests if allegations of widespread rigging are proven, but Musharraf urged them to “accept the results gracefully.”

Winners should show humility and the losers also should demonstrate grace. The trend of crying foul on results should end now,” he said.

“I will myself congratulate those who win. If a party wins it can bring its prime minister and if there is a hung parliament they can form a coalition.”

More than 80 million people were eligible to vote in the elections, which have been overshadowed by violence including Bhutto’s assassination at a political rally Dec 27.