Controlling extremism vital for eliminating terrorism: Musharraf

MANSEHRA: President Gen. Pervez Musharraf has said that terrorism and extremism are two major hindrances in the way of national development adding we will have to check both the menaces. “Pakistan comes first. We will have to check terrorism and extremism”.
He expressed these views while speaking at a memorial ceremony held in connection with the October 8, 2005, devastating earthquake here on Sunday. The President said that we would have to check extremism before terrorism because extremism gives birth to terrorism. He said that we would have to restore peace in the tribal areas and have to stop the elements coming from abroad. “Peace cannot be restored in the country until unrest prevails in the Frontier Province,” he added.
Musharraf said the entire Ummah was in turmoil. He said that bomb blasts and suicide attacks are carried out in the Islamic countries. “The killers and the victims are Muslims,” he regretted saying the situation should be changed. For change, he said, there were two options, either the Muslim Ummah should raise arms and confront it and secondly to bow down against the enemy. However, he said, both the options were not appropriate and could bring bad name to the Ummah. “The Ummah’s grievances should be redressed politically,” he added.
Politics: Talking on the political situation in the country, the president called upon the gathering to vote for his supporters if they know that development in underway and extremism is being eliminated in the country. He asked the people to reject extremists in forthcoming elections for smooth continuation of the development process in the country.
Hudood Ordinance: President while talking on the proposed amendments in the Hudood Ordinance (Women Protect Bill) said that the bill to be presented in the National Assembly would be in line with Islamic injunctions. “No Bill contrary to Islam will be passed from NA,” the President assured.
Reconstruction: Earlier, President Musharraf said that he was pleased to see development made in the area in only one year. He said that compensation had been paid to about 90 per cent affected people while the remaining 10 per cent would get compensation soon.
He said that Balakot city would be reconstructed in Bakrial and before shifting, 5000 houses would be constructed for the smooth shifting of the affected people.
Pervez Musharraf said that he had inaugurated Hazara University aimed at to provide better education facilities to the people of NWFP. “It is a temporary university; however, the facilities provided in it are not inferior than any high level national university,” he added.
He said that the federal government and the ERRA (earthquake reconstruction and rehabilitation authority) would cooperate and assist the affected people till their complete rehabilitation.
Earlier, Minister for political affairs, Engineer Amir Muqam hailed the President Musharraf efforts in rehabilitation of the quake-hit people. He said that the President highlighted soft image of Pakistan during his visit to US and UK and the Pakistani nation is proud of him.