No option but to Pak delay polls: Musharraf

8220;I had always wanted the polls to be held as scheduled on January 8 and there should be no delay. But the Election Commission said there was so much disruption in its preparations, especially in Sindh, that it was not possible to hold the polls as scheduled. The new date is absolutely reasonable,8221; he said in an address to the nation.

The army and paramilitary Pakistan Rangers will be deployed across the country to ensure 8220;free, fair, transparent and peaceful8221; elections.

8220;The deployment of the army and Rangers across the country has now become vital to ensure the holding of peaceful elections,8221; Musharraf said.

Earlier, Musharraf said, he had not intended to deploy the army to protect the force from any sort of allegations.

But in the prevailing law and order situation, it was critical to deploy the army and Rangers across the country 8220;during and beyond8221; the elections so that persons intending to disturb the peace can be dealt with sternly, he said.