Faced with severe electoral reverses and an apparent challenge to his eight-year reign, President Pervez Musharraf on Wednesday said general elections have strengthened moderate forces in Pakistan and the country now needed a harmonious coalition for peaceful governance.
Musharraf's comments came in the wake of the rout of the PML-Q, the party which backed him, and the emergence of the opposition Pakistan People's Party and the PML-N as the largest groups after the general election.
"The elections have strengthened the moderate forces in the country," Musharraf told US Congressman Elton Gallegly, who called on him in Rawalpindi to discuss bilateral relations and political developments in Pakistan, including the elections.
Highlighting the importance of the polls, the President "emphasised the need for a harmonious coalition in the interest of peaceful governance, development and progress of Pakistan," said a statement issued by the Foreign Office.
Musharraf's aides on Tuesday met PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari to discuss the formation of the next government and urged him not to forge an alliance with the PML-N.
During the meeting with Gallegly, Musharraf underlined Pakistan's commitment to a closer and broad-based relationship with the US based on "commonality of interests and enhancement of areas of agreement".
Pakistan had faced many challenges and always come out well, he said. "The future looked better with successes in the fight against terrorism," Musharraf said.