Pervez Musharraf rejected “misconceived” standards of Western human rights yesterday as he defended his removal of Pakistan's top judges and preparations for next month's elections.

The Pakistani army chief-turned-President pledged to uphold the essence of democracy during “free, fair and transparent” voting next month, but insisted that stability and economic prosperity were more important than Western notions of human rights.

Mr Musharraf's appearance at Davos marked the latest leg of his week-long European charm offensive to try to restore his reputation after months of unrest in Pakistan and the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, the former Prime Minister, in December.

He argued that fraud was not possible in the elections scheduled for February 18 because counting would take place with observers from all political parties present - and he had introduced transparent ballot boxes to replace the old wooden ones. “We are a victim of misconception and distortion,” Mr Musharraf said.

“I have upheld the constitution and laws of Pakistan. Please, look at Pakistan from Pakistan eyes and not from any foreign idea.

“You should see the performance of how the Government is doing in the welfare of the people, not with the eyes of your misconceived Western ideas of human rights and democracy.”

Mr Musharraf rejected angrily suggestions that the poll had been undermined by his sacking in November of Pakistan's Chief Justice and other members of the Supreme Court bench, replacing them with supportive judges.

The court would be the final arbiter of any legal challenge to the election result on grounds of fraud.

The Pakistani President said yesterday that his focus was on economic growth because that was the best way to guarantee the welfare of ordinary people. He insisted that the judges had been sacked for “corruption and nepotism” and that the independence of their replacements was not in question.

Mr Musharraf took power in a military coup in 1999 and only gave up his position as chief of the army last year with elections looming. He imposed emergency rule in November and used it to sack judges who were on the brink of annulling his re-election by Parliament to a second five-year term as President.

Answering concerns that polling could be rigged, he added: “If all the votes will be counted in front of every agent of every candidate, you tell me where the fraud can take place.”

He added: “Obviously, the elections must be fair, free and transparent, and I've added a new word - peaceful. We will make sure they are peaceful.”

But apparently rejecting Western notions of universal human rights, he said: “After all, human rights have to serve the people. The people are not there to serve them.”

As he spoke yesterday, Pakistani riot police used tear gas and batons in Islamabad to disperse hundreds of protesters chanting slogans against him over the removal of the Chief Justice, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.

Mr Musharraf will also visit the European Parliament in Brussels, President Sarkozy in France, and London.

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