Extremists trying to divide society on economic lines: President

President General Pervez Musharraf said that the fringe of the society is afflicted with the unfortunate malaise of extremism and terrorism and this is the only threat from within the country faces today.
Addressing the students of Education City of Heavy Industries, Taxila on Tuesday, the President underlined that extremists are trying to divide the society on economic lines between rich and poor which is a lopsided logic. He said there is no external threat to Pakistan as the armed forces are strong enough and fully capable of repelling any aggression.
President Musharraf said it pains him what we are doing to ourselves. He said people who are not educated enough to understand Islam claim to understand it which is a terrible thing. He said in Islam suicide bombings is haram (illegal) and stressed that our religion does not allow anybody to take his life or life of his fellow human beings.
The President underscored that the extremists ignore that part of the teachings of Islam, which does not suit their purpose. He said the extremists are claiming that they want Islamic system in the country but they forget that the system in Pakistan is Islamic. The constitution of the country does not permit any law repugnant to its teachings. He said Pakistan is an Islamic republic.
The President said Pakistan, like any other society has its ills and we are trying to remove them but that does not mean that it is not an Islamic State. He said the country is following the vision of the Quaid-e-Azam, which espouses an enlightened and forward-looking Islamic State.
He said no nation could prosper and progress if its security is not guaranteed from external and internal threats. He said the peace comes through strength and not through weakness as the weak does survive.
The President was briefed about research and development activities at AARDIC on his visit that AL-KHALID and AL-ZARAR project has helped save seventy-three million dollars of foreign exchange. He was further informed about the production of these state of the art battle tanks. The HIT is manufacturing two hundred and thirteen AL-KHALID and three hundred and five AL-ZARAR tanks and also developing T-80 UD tanks.
The President directed the HIT to go for aggressive marketing and hire more PhDs in Science and Engineering. The AL-KHALID main battle tank has been upgraded with more powerful engine and armour. It has 125mm smooth bore gun and fire control system, which is fully computerised. The tank among the top notches in service has 70kilometer of maximum speed.