US in fix on Pak polls: Musharraf pledged free and fair.

Musharraf, a top US confident "war on terror" ally, vowed to crush any opposition protests against result of the poll he pledged would be free and fair.

Musharraf popularity has eroded as per Poll conducted by BBC and further adds Pakistan citizen feels Pakistan security and stability to be better if president resigns.

In case of any post-election violence, a confrontation between President Pervez Musharraf or the powerful military and moderate democratic forces could force Washington to make a difficult choice on who to back.

"Just about every political player in the Pakistani elections has already declared in words or deeds that 'good elections' are not going to happen," said the Center for American Progress, a Washington-based think tank.

"The United States must be prepared for deeply flawed results and the risk of ensuing violence," it said in a commentary Thursday.

US-based human rights group, Qayyum appeared to be advising an unidentified person on what political party the person should approach to become a candidate in the February 18 general election.

The Human Rights Watch claimed the recording was made during a phone interview with a media person on November 21 last year. Qayyum, while still on the phone interview, took a call on another telephone and his side of that conversation was recorded.

Qayyum, a retired judge who is a close aide of President Pervez Musharraf, is heard telling the unidentified person in Urdu and Punjabi to "leave" former premier Nawaz Sharif and seek a ticket from the party that "will massively rig to get their own people to win".

The recording was made the day after the Election Commission announced the schedule for polls. The polls were originally set for January 8 but were postponed after former premier Benazir Bhutto was assassinated.

"They will massively rig to get their own people to win. If you can get a ticket from these guys, take it," Qayyum purportedly said. It was not known which party he was referring to.