Mr Musharraf, who was speaking at a military parade marking Pakistan's national day, added that he hoped the new administration would maintain peace and economic growth and vigorously combat terrorism and extremism.

The man set to become Pakistan's new premier, former parliamentary speaker Yousuf Raza Gilani, was nominated by the party of slain ex-premier Benazir Bhutto - the Pakistan People's Party (PPP).

'I can only assume that we are here to deliver; we are not here just to stay for a period,' Mr Gilani told reporters outside Parliament, where he filed his nomination papers ahead of today's premiership election.

He was named on Saturday by the PPP as its candidate for premier, more than a month after it won the most seats in the general election.

The PPP has agreed to form a coalition government with the party of ex-premier Nawaz Sharif, who was ousted by Mr Musharraf in a coup in 1999, and other smaller groups who trounced the United States-backed President's allies in the election.

Mr Gilani, 58, a low-key but stalwart aide to Ms Bhutto and her husband Asif Ali Zardari, is almost certain to win the election for permier.

He was imprisoned for five years under President Musharraf's rule on corruption charges, which many saw as politically motivated.

Speculation remains, however, that Mr Gilani will only be a stop-gap premier until Mr Zardari - who is not an MP - becomes eligible to stand for the post by contesting a by-election in May.

Meanwhile, the former ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Q party, which backed Mr Musharraf in the previous Parliament, yesterday named former chief minister Pervez Elahi to run against Mr Gilani in today's vote.

A nominee of Mr Musharraf's allies on Saturday quit the race for the premiership in a dramatic about-face, saying he would give 'unconditional support to the PPP nominee'.

The President is set to swear in the new premier tomorrow.

The government appears set for a confrontation with Mr Musharraf after vowing to reinstate judges whom he sacked in November. If restored, they could overturn his re-election as president in October.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE