Describing the upcoming parliamentary polls as the 'mother of all elections', Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf [Images] on Thursday warned that there would be zero tolerance for any protests during and after the exercise.

Musharraf also took a pot-shot at political parties, saying they lacked internal democracy and made it clear that he would continue to exercise checks and balances in the democratic order, which would be formed after the February 18 general election.

"There is a mother of all battles in Iraq, and this will be the mother of all elections from Pakistan's point of view. They (polls) are very, very critical," he said in an address to the National Library is Islamabad.

 He said, "I am extremely conscious of the fact that these polls have to be free, fair and transparent and they have to be seen to be free, fair and transparent and also peaceful. The entire world is watching us. National prestige, peace and harmony and our future are at stake."

Asserting that the polls to the national and four provincial assemblies will be conducted in a peaceful manner under security cover provided by the army, Musharraf said: "In this environment of terrorism and extremism, any agitation, anarchy, chaos will not be tolerated."

"Let this serve as a warning to all those who think that they can disturb the peace of the country. They will not be allowed to do so. Do not test the resolve of the government," he said, adding there would be zero tolerance if the peace is disturbed during and after the polls.

The major problem among political parties, he said, is that they were not "throwing up leadership through the democratic process".

"Unfortunately, democracy is lacking in our political parties, and therefore you don't get leaders. Leaders and office-bearers are appointed from the top. Their power should come from the people who have put them in those offices," Musharraf said.

"There is no democracy within the parties and till that is not there, proper leadership will not be forthcoming." Musharraf also made it clear that he intended to play a key role in the new order to be established after the polls.

"We cannot have democracy which takes us in a direction that the country becomes a failed state. I believe in democracy that takes the state forward and leads to socio-economic development. This can only happen when there are checks and balances," said Musharraf, who came to power in a military coup in 1999.

"Democracy has to be tailored according to our environment," he said, indicating that he intended to retain constitutional powers that would allow him to sack an elected government. The opposition has been saying it will repeal these powers if it gets a majority in the polls.

Musharraf also asked all political leaders to show grace in accepting the election results. "They should not show arrogance if they win, and they should show grace if they lose by accepting the result. We don't know who is going to win or lose."

"Give up developing exaggerated expectations. Every leader is saying we will get 80 per cent of the votes and it is as if there is a total of 480 per cent of votes. I don't know what the assessments and the ground realities are," he said.

Musharraf alleged that some leaders were already 'making dossiers about rigging' to use in protests if they lose the polls. "The government will not allow anyone to come out on the streets to protest about rigging after losing in the polls. Whoever wins will form the government," he said.

Musharraf also took a swipe at foreign organisations that have conducted surveys, which showed a sharp fall in his popularity. The latest poll by BBC said 64 per cent of Pakistanis believed the country would become stable if Musharraf resigned.

"Surveys and polls by foreign organisations have some value in developing countries like Pakistan but they are not final," he said. Such surveys were not representative as they focused on small groups in urban areas and were conducted by bodies that were always criticising the government and the President, he said.

"Do not incite trouble in Pakistan by pre-judging election results. Let the results speak for themselves. This country is critical for the region and this region is critical for the world," Musharraf said. "Those who are conducting all these surveys -- don't disturb the peace of this country, don't disturb the peace of the region. You are playing with the peace of the world."

Musharraf said the government formed after the polls would have to focus on defeating terrorism and maintaining economic growth.

"Everything can be capped through democracy. Free and fair polls and the peaceful formation of a government, either a majority administration or a coalition, will help resolve these problems," he said.