August 20, 2003	Wednesday	Jumadi-us-Sani 21, 1424

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window).

ISLAMABAD, Aug 19: Pakistan will propose at the upcoming Organisation of the Islamic Conference summit that Dr Mahathir Mohammad be made the ‘Muslim Elder Statesman,’ Dawn has learnt through reliable sources.

Dr Mahathir Mohammad is going to step down from the premiership of Malaysia in October this year.

As a roving ambassador of the 57-nation body Dr Mahathir Mohammad will be the man who will hold dialogue between civilizations and work for the development of the Muslim world.

Pakistan will formally float this proposition at the 10th OIC summit in Kuala Lumpur this October, sources said.

Pakistan is currently engaged in consultations with the OIC members on this matter. Reportedly President Pervez Musharraf has been writing to all OIC countries about the importance of the forthcoming summit and the need to make Mahathir the elder statesman representing the Muslim world.

Given the respect that Dr Mahathir Muhammad commands as the sole spokesman of the Muslim world, Pakistan is optimistic that all other OIC members will endorse its proposal.

Dr Mahathir Mohammad is considered a dynamic and progressive statesman-leader of the Muslim world, who has been critical of the West for demonising and targeting the Muslims after 9/11 incident and linking Islam with extremism.