October 15, 2003	Wednesday	Sha'aban 18, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, Oct 14: President Gen Pervez Musharraf said on Tuesday that the 10th OIC summit is taking place at a critical juncture for the Muslim world and Pakistan will present a strategy to emancipate the Ummah.

In a brief press talk prior to his departure for Malaysia, the president stated at Chaklala airbase that Pakistan’s stand on Iraq is very clear and it will see how other countries react to the issue at the Organization of Islamic Conference Summit.

Replying to a question about the visit of the Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah immediately after the OIC Summit, the president said the visit of the Saudi leader is “very important and it means a lot.”

“The visit will reinforce the already very close fraternal relationships between the two countries, it reflects unanimity of views on all issues between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.”

The president will overfly China on his way to Malaysia with a flight time of about 10 hours. Diplomatic sources said that Pakistan did not opt to seek a waiver for overflight from India.

Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali was present at the airbase to see off the president. Senate Chairman Mohammedmian Soomro, Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed and Vice Chief of the Army Staff Gen Mohammad Yousaf Khan were also present at the airbase.—APP

President Pervez Musharraf will meet key world leaders on the sidelines of the Summit, Our Staff Reporter adds. President Musharraf left here on Tuesday to attend the Summit.

“President Musharraf will have bilateral talks with his Russian, Iranian and Afghan counterparts in Putrajaya during the two-day-long summit,” he said.

Besides, separate meetings with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Iranian President Mohammad Khatami.

Meetings with other heads of OIC states, including the Egyptian president are also expected, sources said.