President General Pervez Musharraf on Monday appealed to the people to rise against the menaces of extremism and terrorism threatening peace and prosperity of the country.
Addressing the launching ceremony of National Internship Programme (NIP) and President's Rozgar Scheme at the Governor's House here, he said a handful of elements are bent upon keeping the country underdeveloped and creating intolerance in the society.
"Therefore, you people have to stand up against such elements to foil their nefarious designs. I know majority of the people are against these elements and want to purge the country of the scourge of extremism," he said.
He suggested that the people should form committees to counter the curse of terrorism and extremism for which the government would provide a timely and effective back up support. God forbids if the miscreants succeed in their mission, it would be disastrous for the entire nation, he remarked.
The President agreed that the militancy in South and North Waziristan Agencies has spillover effects in the frontier province's southern districts of Tank, DI Khan, Lakki Marwat and Bannu.
However, he assured that the government would take appropriate action to maintain its writ and provide peace and security to the people. The President urged the masses to unite against the miscreants so that the nation keeps moving forward on the road to economic development and progress.
President Musharraf made it clear that nobody could foist his ideas and will on others through use of force. Referring to threats to barber shops and attacks on the video centers in some pockets of the NWFP, he said this amounts to snatching the morsels from the hands of the poor people.
The government would not allow such actions to continue and deal sternly with such activities, he assured. He said the people should come forward and give unflinching support to the government for restoration of peace and harmony and frustrate the designs of elements trying to create chaos and anarchy.
"We all are Muslims and these people have no right to categorise the people as good and bad Muslim. Religion and belief is a matter between Allah and his creature and no one has the right to cast aspersions on beliefs of others," he told the audience. The President maintained that people are temperamentally moderate and want and have the potential to lead a peaceful life in a climate of peace and harmony.