PESHAWAR, Jan 13: President Gen Pervez Musharraf’s address to the nation on Saturday night evinced support from the general public with strong reservations that the resolve to eliminate militancy and terrorism might not yield desired results if government failed to implement the measures in letter and in spirit.

People from all walks of life, except the extremists groups, appreciated President Pervez Musharraf’s address in which he insisted on religious tolerance, banned five extremists groups and set some rules and regulations for mosques and seminaries.

Wali Mohammad, a shopkeeper, told Dawn, “I am not sure that the government would take action against militant groups. In the past rulers had made the same commitments but they never honoured their words, he said.

Fazl Raziq, a middle-age farmer while commenting on president’s speech remarked: “Musharaf has pointed out the core issues that led the society to violence and ignorance”. In the name of Islam the entire nation was made hostage, he maintained, saying that in the presence of national army no body has the right to wage war against another country on his own.

Many people said the decisions announced in president’s address were overdue, but the previous regime were not serious to get rid the nation of the dilemma.

“These decisions should have been taken long before, but unfortunately the political regime had no guts and courage to deal with the situation that had criminally ruined the society as a whole and caused a major security risk to the country,” said Murtaza Malik, a writer of two books.

Some politico-religious parties including Jamaat-i-Islami and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam(S) bitterly criticized president Musharraf for taking action against Jihadi organizations and seminaries.

Provincial JI chief, Prof Mohammad Ibrahim, while speaking at the party provincial Shoora remarked that Musharraf’s speech pleased only western countries agents. He alleged that he (the president) had struck a deal with America and violated constitution and law of the country.

The chairman of Pakistan Afghan Defence Council, Maulana Sameeul Haq, said that the government had taken inappropriate action to ban Jihad organizations. “The armed forces can not fight war alone. The army should have to take guidance from religious organizations”, the council chairman remarked in a statement, issued here on Sunday.

Former interior minister, Naseerullah Babar, said that the President Musharraf had disappointed the nation and adopted very week stand on national issues. He said that even the British Empire did not take such harsh action against political and religious organizations.