President Pervez Musharraf on Friday said he would summon the National Assembly session in a week or two and the coalition government would get his fullest support.
Addressing a gathering here at the inauguration of a Rs 1.25 billion water supply scheme, the President said it was vital for the political parties to focus on formation of a stable government for next five years. "I will fully support the new government," the President said.
He termed it a positive development that the people elected the moderates and rejected extremists particularly in NWFP. He said: "Now we must concentrate on sustaining the economic growth and continue fight against extremism and terrorism."
The President also dispelled the impression of differences with the army, being cast by vested interests. He said there was a need for strong governments both at the federal and provincial levels for the next five years to achieve this objective.
He said the world has acknowledged the holding of free, fair, transparent and peaceful elections. The President said people should now hold those accountable who levelled baseless allegations about massive rigging in the February 18 polls. He said he was fully supportive of an independent and free media, however it must play a responsible role and continue to report objectively.
About the water scheme, he said it will be completed in 18 months and provide water to the town, meeting a long standing demand of the people. President Musharraf asked the politicians to now move towards governance, as they have to demonstrate their sense of responsibility.
Appealing to the politicians the President asked them to uphold peace. He said if there is no peace there would be no development. Governance should proceed along with development, he said. There are two factors important in his view the President said. One is to maintain the country's economic stability and the other is to continue the war against extremism and terrorism.
He said the incoming government should be aware that presently development schemes worth billions of rupees are underway in the country and that these schemes should continue. President Musharraf expressed optimism that the economy of Pakistan will continue to flourish and schemes meant for welfare of the people will also continue.
He said it is his wish that the incoming government should be a stable government and it should complete its term. He will continue to fully support the incoming government, the President said. President Musharraf said even now certain misunderstandings were being created. He said the elements fanning these misunderstandings are the same band of people who spread propaganda.
The fact is that these people neither have regard for the country nor the masses. "This band of people is currently spreading propaganda that there is a distancing between me and the army, which is totally unfounded and concocted."
"There is no distancing between me and the army. It is my army. It is the army of Pakistan. It can not forget me as well as the masses of Pakistan," he said. President Musharraf said those spreading dissension wish that there should be no peace, the country should be surrounded by problems. He said the other rumour being fanned is that convening of the National Assembly will be delayed or it will not be convened, which is aimed to spread anarchy.
The President categorically said the session of National Assembly will be will be convened in the next 10 or 12 days. Musharraf said he has fulfilled all the promises he made. "I had promised that I had to take off the Uniform in accordance with the Constitution. I had promised that the elections will be conducted in a peaceful, fair and transparent manner. I fulfilled these promises," he declared.
He said the masses should now hold those elements to account who had made rigging allegations before the polls and ask them whether or not the elections were held in a fair, transparent manner. The President said he was proud that he had laid the foundation of water supply scheme in Jacobabad and he had now inaugurated the same.
The President announced Rs 50 million for mitigating the damages caused to the buildings. He said a Commission will be set up by the federal government will present its report. Further amount will be provided in the light of the Commission's report, he said.
Caretaker Prime Minister Muhammedmian Soomro, Sindh Governor Dr Ishrat-ul-Ibad Khan, Chief Minister former Justice Abdul Qadir Halepota, District Nazim Jacobabad Begum Saeeda Soomro, provincial ministers and notables were present on the occasion.