Musharraf seeks to be reelected as the president by present assemblies

Amid consultation meetings with the government allied parties, which continued here on the second consecutive day, President General Pervez Musharraf said Monday that he will be reelected as the president in uniform by the present assemblies.

However, he said, the decision whether to shed the uniform or not will be taken after the forthcoming general elections.

He was addressing the parliamentarians and notables of Pakistan Muslim League at the Chief Minister House.

“The talks on the uniform issue could be held after the holding of the forthcoming general elections,” he was quoted as saying.

The country has made unprecedented progress during the past eight years’ time, the president said.

Briefing media, spokesman of the President, Maj. Gen. (Retd) Rashid Qureshi, emphasised on the occasion that the country has made a record progress during the past seven to eight years.

He said the President pointed out that from the brink of bankruptcy, Pakistan is now at a level which was never achieved in the past six decades of its existence.

Pakistan is at a jump off point where the rise of the country cannot be stopped.

The President said the country needs support of the masses as well as the political parties in the struggle against terrorism, extremism and violence.

This, he added, requires concerted efforts of the people as well as the leaders.

The spokesman said President Gen. Musharraf informed that last year there was a direct foreign investment in the country to the tune of dollar 6.7 billion.

He said any act of terrorism or extremism affects the investment climate.

The spokesman said the President stressed that we would have to resolve the issue of terrorism and extremism through our own efforts.

He pointed out that he had the honour of entering the Holy Kaaba and visiting “Roza-i- Rasool (PBUH)” six or seven times and he first prayed for the solidarity, progress and prosperity of Pakistan and its people then he prayed for himself and his family.

The President also apprised the PML parliamentarians about his thinking with regard to the problems being faced by the country.

The address of the President was followed by a question answer session.

The audience demonstrated appreciation of the President’s stance by lively clapping on a number of occasions during his address.

All the participants expressed agreement with the point of view of the President.

They were of the view that this is the way of carrying the country forward.

They further said if the country continues to progress at the same pace it will become a leading nation in South Asia in the next four to five years.

Expressing his views, Sindh Chief minister Dr. Arbab Ghulam Rahim, said Pakistan really needs President Pervez Musharraf.

He said the PML would always continue to support President Musharraf.

Sindh Chief Minister said Pakistan has achieved a record progress under the leadership of President Musharraf.