Holding President Pervez Musharraf [Images] responsible for Pakistan being dubbed as a 'dangerous country,' former premier Nawaz Sharif on Monday demanded that he should resign and a government of national unity formed to ensure free and transparent polls.

"Musharraf has become highly controversial and elections would not be free and fair under him," Sharif told a news conference after chairing a meeting of his Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz party to chalk out its strategy for the February 18 parliamentary polls.

"Pakistan is being described as a dangerous country in the international media because of Musharraf's eight-year rule," Sharif, who was deposed by Musharraf in a military coup in 1999, said.

The PML-N cancelled its electioneering after the assassination of former premier Benazir Bhutto [Images] on December 27 and has not yet resumed its campaign.

Pakistan's Election Commission postponed the general election scheduled for January 8 till February 18 following Bhutto's killing.

Sharif said Pakistan was on the 'brink of a serious crisis' and Bhutto's assassination had proved to be a 'big blow to the forces of federalism in Pakistan.'

Bhutto's killing has had negative and serious consequences for the country and there is a need for general reconciliation, he added.

"After the December 27 tragedy, it is imperative to move towards genuine democracy and fair elections. Controversial elections will be disastrous and will throw the country into anarchy and turmoil," Sharif said.

Sharif said Musharraf should step down and a government of national consensus should be formed.

"The acting president must invite all political parties to form a national unity government to hold fair elections under an independent Election Commission," Sharif said.

Demanding the reinstatement of all judges who were sacked for not endorsing the emergency imposed by Musharraf in November last year, Sharif said the PML-N meeting also took note of 'rigging plans and misuse of state machinery' by candidates of the ruling PML-Q.

The PML-N, Sharif said, is opposed to allowing any other country to conduct military operations in Pakistan. He said Pakistan is a responsible state and there is no threat to its nuclear arsenal.

"Pakistan's nuclear programme is of a peaceful nature and it will safeguard its nuclear assets," he said, adding that leaders from other countries should desist from making 'irresponsible' statements about Pakistan's nuclear weapons.

He condemned Musharraf's economic policies, saying they had led to unprecedented power cuts that have hit the economy.     

Sharif said, "Musharraf has pursued anti-poor policies."

He also expressed concerned at the State Bank of [Get Quote] Pakistan's report, which mentioned that all economic indicators are showing a downward trend.

Meanwhile about 2,000 supporters of the All Parties Democratic Movement, a coalition of opposition parties, held a protest in Chaman near the Afghan border, demanding arrest of the killers of Bhutto.